GREATER SPRINGFIELD – When people think of arts and entertainment options in the Pioneer Valley in the past, the inevitable response was to see what was happening in Northampton.

Today, that has changed a great deal as more people have become aware of entertainment offerings within Hampden County. One might have to look a bit more carefully for them, but the arts and entertainment scene here is alive and growing.

Springfield Technical Community College, the Elms College, Bay Path University, Holyoke Community College and American International College all offer arts and entertainment events open to the public.

The Indian Orchard Mills is home to many artists who regularly open their studios to the public. Art for the Soul Gallery in Springfield brings national acclaimed artists and their work to the region for exhibitions and programs.

The Springfield Museums and The Wistariahurst Museum offer many programs and exhibits and the cultural offerings by the Polish Center of Discovery and Learning, the Italian Cultural Center of Western Massachusetts, the Pan African Historical Museum and the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England reflect the diversity of our area.

Musically, the region runs the gamut from having the Springfield Symphony to clubs that offer live performances. Theodore’s, known nationally as a venue for blues and roots music, also has an open mic night allowing area musicians an opportunity to perform before a live audience.

MGM Springfield has started a comedy club and is presenting acts at the MassMutual Center. The Regal Theater offers more movie options for the region as well.

Gateway City Arts

In Holyoke, Gateway City Arts on Race Street is providing a venue for a wide variety of music, arts and activities.

The non-profit center describes itself as “Gateway City Arts (GCA) is a community-focused music, dining, and arts venue located in the heart of Holyoke’s Arts and Innovation District along the canal. Before or during the show you can enjoy a delicious meal at The Bistro at Gateway City Arts, open until 10 p.m. on Thursdays. GCA is proud to be a space where some of the best local and nationally touring acts perform during their time in the valley.”

Upcoming events at GCA include:

• Feb. 23 The Massachusetts Walking Tour Celebrates its 10th Anniversary by bringing Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards to Gateway City Arts. They are joined by The Hoot and Hollers. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17.50 at the door. The show begins at 8 p.m. and doors are at 7 p.m.

• March 1, Signature Sounds brings The Back Porch Festival to Gateway City Arts with a Mardi Gras Ball featuring CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band joined by Green Mountain Playboys. This concert will also be home to a costume contest, come out with your New Orleans spirit! The show starts at 8 p.m. and doors are at 6 p.m. There will be Mardi Gras dance lessons prior to the show. Tickets are $25 adv/ $30 dos.

For more information, visit gatewaycityarts.com.

The Bing Arts Center

The Bing Arts Center in Springfield has been presenting exhibitions, spoken word performances, music, comedy and films for a decade. It has done so as a non-profit, relying on box office receipts, memberships, donations and grants.

The center takes up part of the former Bing Theater on Sumner Avenue. Older Springfield residents will remember the single screen theater as a classic neighborhood movie house that served residents for decades.

The change in the movie industry to multiplexes hurt theaters such as the Bing. The building’s two retail sections are now gallery spaces and the lobby has been converted into a performance space. The auditorium awaits restoration and redevelopment, having suffered water damage when its owner abandoned the Bing many years ago.

Brian Hale, the executive director of the center, is proud of what he and the Bing’s volunteers have accomplished in the past decade, but is candid about the challenges that confront the center.

“It’s tough to fill the seats in this little room,” he said. “We’re not a sports bar, we don’t have tons of cover bands.”

With understatement, he said, “We try to mix things up.”

Looking at the center’s schedule, one can see the variety of events.

Coming up, among other offerings, are:

• Feb. 16, 8 p.m. House Concert: Galen Passen & Rob Morrison Sitarist/composer Galen Passen, accompanied by Rob Morrison on tabla, present an evening of Hindustani classical music: India’s melodic form of ecstatic meditation! $15. $10 students. Media Sponsor NEPR

• March 1, 8 p.m. First Friday: Jim Armenti The Bing welcomes old friend, accomplished singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jim Armenti. His music is finger picked or flat picked, sometimes easy going but just as often bluegrass, swing, or rockabilly. $5.

• March 9, 8 p.m. Jazz Club: The New England Nevilles The Bing is pleased to welcome back Khalif and Talyn Neville for a performance dedicated to the memory of their father, New Orleans legend Charles Neville. Their repertoire includes an expansive catalog of traditional standards as well as original compositions that pay homage to their musical roots. $15, $10 students. Media Sponsor NEPR

• March 16, 8 p.m. Jazz Club: The Michael St. George Power Trio featuring Jo Sallins Electrifying ensemble led by guitarist Michael St. George and featuring bassist extraordinaire Jo Sallins will present an unforgettable show! $15, $10 students. Media Sponsor NEPR

• April 6, matinee 3:00 p.m., evening 8 p.m. Independent Film Screening: “Farmer of the Year” After selling his farm, an aging farmer struggles to maintain his youth by road tripping across the country in a ’73 Winnebago. He sets out to attend his 65th WWII reunion in California with his directionless and unreasonably self-confident granddaughter. Producer Vince O’Connell and writer-director Kathy Swanson of YellowHouse Films screen their award-winning feature film at the Bing. $10.

• April 26, 8 p.m. Student Short Film Festival

Middle school, high school, and college students from the region are invited to participate. Films must be submitted with registration by April 22, at BingArtsCenter.org. No charge for submitting entry. $5 admission.

Hale is justifiably proud of the artists who are featured at the Bing. “There are a lot of really freaking top shelf musicians [who appear here.] It’s not just dance, pop or rock. People ask us, ‘How did you get this guy?’ [The answer is] he called us up. I get two to the requests a week. I can’t even respond to everybody.”

Speaking of the performing space, he said, “It’s a really good room for small stuff. There aren’t that many rooms that are intimate and social.”

The efforts have built something more than just a space for art and entertainment. “You can feel a sense of community relationships here.”

Hale is looking for volunteers with the staging of events, as well as audiences who want to experience something only offered in larger cities.

He believes that all arts venues need support that comes outside of ticket receipts.

“All need subsidies to offer high quality, or in our case eclectic, programs,” Hale said.

For more information, go to https://bingartscenter.org/ or follow the center on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BingArtsCenter.