NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  There's still time to apply for a guest curator position with the DownStreet Art project, which will run for four months beginning this summer.

The public art project, which brings art exhibits into available and open spaces in the downtown area, began in 2008. According to organizers, nearly 15,000 visitors came downtown and through the doors of galleries and exhibits in 2008, and nearly 20,000 visitors came last year.

Guest curators will be responsible for installing the exhibit(s); marketing the gallery, artists and exhibits; and may need to provide staffing. DownStreet Art will negotiate the terms of each space with the landlord, market the program as a whole, provide online marketing for the individual gallery, process all sales of art, and provide staffing for some spaces.

DownStreet Art runs for four months from the end of June through mid-October. It begins with a kick-off celebration on June 24; holds three “DownStreet Art Thursdays” (with all galleries hosting opening receptions and downtown performances); and culminates with the North Adams Open Studios weekend on October 17.

At this time, the number of available/empty spaces is still to be determined, so the number of open spots for guest curators isn't yet known.

If you are interested in becoming a guest curator, go to www.DownStreetArt.org.

It's recommended that applicants visit downtown North Adams and familiarize themselves with the project's mission, past exhibition program, and consider how their exhibition will help propel DownStreet Art forward. The application deadline is Monday, April 5.

Applications should include: a cover letter, resume detailing curatorial experience, a proposal (two to four pages) describing the concept for the exhibition, a description of the artists' work and content, examples of artwork, an inventory list, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of materials.

Send applications to c/o DownStreet Art, MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, 51 Main St., North Adams, MA 01247.

Our friend Joyce Harsch of Williamstown sent us this photo of Walt Klinger, who spent three hours at Field Park in Williamstown on Wednesday, March 17, to remind people it was Evacuation Day.

We don't celebrate the day out here — it's a Boston holiday that shuts down government in Suffolk County, one that a lot of other Bays Staters would like to see disappear. But Klinger, of Pownal, Vt., thought it was great way to remind people of history.

Of course, the Berkshires did play a small role in the real evacuation day 234 years ago. Henry Knox dragged his cannon into South County, most likely along what's now Route 23 through Great Barrington, on his way from Fort Ticonderago to Boston. The arrival of the cannons forced the British to evacuate the city.

So even though Klinger would have been more appropriate waving in Great Barrington, he made a pretty picture by the 1753 House.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Berkshire County Kids' Place and Violence Prevention Center is preparing an awareness campaign of its own.

According to a report issued by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families in January, North Adams, Pittsfield, and Holyoke had the highest reporting rates of child abuse among Massachusetts cities in 2008. The center is reaching out to the public, inviting it to visit its Web site for upcoming events designed to promote awareness of, and prevent child abuse, including a "Race to Stop Child Abuse," on Saturday, April 3.

Berkshire County Kids' Place and Violence Prevention Center aims to provide a safe, caring, home-like atmosphere that coordinates the combined knowledge of law enforcement, social service, medical, prosecutorial and mental health agencies to ensure an effective response to childhood trauma. It provides services to victims of child abuse and their non-offending family members.

Services at the Kids' Place are free and available to victims of child abuse, children who witness domestic violence and non-offending family members. Hours are Monday through Thursday,  8:30 to 7, and Fridays, 8:30 to 5. For more information, call 413-499-2800.

Update, 4/1/10: The fifth Annual Blue Ribbon Race to Stop Child Abuse 5k, on Saturday, April 3,  will start and finish at Berkshire County Kids’ Place & Violence Prevention Center, Inc., on Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. and the race will start at 10. The event is open to the public; anyone interested in participating  should call 413-499-2800.

Update, 4/5/10: Click here for race results.

Update, 4/6/10: On Friday, April 9, Step up for Prevention, a local event recognizing the importance of child abuse prevention efforts in Berkshire County, will take place at 10 a.m. on the steps of Pittsfield City Hall. One hundred twenty pairs of children’s shoes which will be placed on the stairs in front of City Hall to symbolize the average number of children who are confirmed as abused and/or neglected in Berkshire County each month.

There will be a short speaking program about the importance of prevention activities in Berkshire County. Speakers will include: Suzin Bartley, LICSW, executive director of the Massachusetts Children’s Trust Fund, Pittsfield's Mayor James Ruberto, Sen. Benjamin Downing, Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, District Attorney David Capeless, Anne Nemetz-Carlson, executive director of Child Care of the Berkshires, Kathrine Bierwas, executive director of Kids Place, Carolyn Mower Burns, executive director of Berkshire Families and Children, and parents who are active in the Healthy Families program.

For more information about the event, call 413-664-4821.   

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Main Street Stage has issued an open casting call for their spring/summer production of "The Baltimore Waltz," by Paula Vogel.

The Obie Award-winning play tells the story of the adventures of a brother and sister, one of whom has a fatal disease.

The play calls for three actors: one female age 25 to 35, and two males age 25 to 35. The production will begin rehearsals in April and the show will be performed in mid-June. 

Auditions will be held at 57 Main St. on Tuesday, March 30, and Wednesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. For more information, email info@mainstreetstage.org or call 413-663-3240.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Community College Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for students who will begin their studies at BCC in the fall. Current high school seniors, non-traditional students, and those currently attending BCC who have earned less than 12 credits are eligible to apply.

Eligible students must be admitted to a certificate or degree program at BCC. Scholarship awards are not transferable to another institution. Students must complete the application form, obtain a recommendation, and write a personal statement. The deadline for submitting the application package is Monday, April 12. Applications are available in high school guidance offices, www.berkshirecc.edu, or by contacting Ann Phillips at BCC at 413-236-2185 or aphillips@berkshirecc.edu.

The BCC Foundation is a non-profit corporation established to encourage and receive gifts in support of the mission of the college. The Foundation provides between 30 to 40 scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,600 to deserving incoming students to assist them in the pursuit of their academic goals. Scholarships are awarded for academic promise, community service, leadership, and specific fields of study. All students planning on attending BCC in the fall are encouraged to apply.