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A group is working to redevelop the former Adams Theater on Park Street.

Topia Arts Center Given Fundraising Extension

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Topia Arts Center has been given an extension in its fundraising for a matching Massachusetts Cultural Council grant.

ADAMS, Mass. — The Topia Arts Center is getting a second chance at raising funds for a $44,000 match grant.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council gave a yearlong extension to the grant after William Kolis, chairman of the Topia Arts Center's board wrote a letter describing the tremendous support for the project even with the financial difficulties in Adams.

"The extension was granted because of how difficult it is to raise funds in western Massachusetts; the Northern Berkshires in particular," Kolis said. "The funds we did raise show that the support is here though."

Kolis said his letter explained that Adams is a postindustrial town that has lost its economic base. He wrote Adams is struggling to create a more tourist-based economy; the Topia Arts Center being a main piece of this puzzle.

He said he wrote that Adams has near 8,000 people in the community, and the average income is $24,000. This makes it hard for people to donate money and Adams must depend on outside help for cultural fundraising.

"We need to have the eastern part of the state, where there is a concentration of wealth, recognize that the Berkshires, from a tourism and cultural standpoint, are big players," he said. "If people want the summer home where they can listen to the Boston Symphony Orchestra … when they visit there needs to be support."

This is the second grant from the MCC the local group has received for the purpose of restoring the old Adams Theater on Park Street. The theater is a large project that would need near $450,000 to be completely operational.

The theater must raise $22,000 for the grant to be matched. The original deadline was in early June and the group was $6,000 short. With the new extension, Kolis plans to approach the fund raising differently.

"If you aren't established in the people's minds and can't show the benefits of the project and show what you have done then you are less likely to get people to step up and support it," he said.

Kolis said he wants to take a more grassroots approach and have open meetings where the public can see the arts center plans. He added he would like to have performances around town so people can see the type of entertainment the theater could offer.

"This is a lot different now; this is a defined issue that needs direct attention with a recognition of the obstacles that need to be overcome," Kolis said. "There is a plan to do that and now there is an implementation of that plan."

He said it is more difficult to receive grants and funding now because most of the money is being put toward service grants instead of cultural outlets. He said he thinks this is why many of the business who once supported the theater switched their priorities to helping people directly through supporting services.

"Because of the downturn in the economy generally the focus on giving grants are towards services, especially in Berkshire County," he said. "The money goes towards services that help people in their everyday lives, and that was exacerbated by the closing of North Adams Regional Hospital; you could feel the chill go through the air.

Kolis said the Arts Center is critical in bringing more cultural resources to Adams. He said it is a part of a larger effort to makes Adams better known in Berkshire County and establish a tourism economy.

"There are quite a few people, some in town and some out of town, who see Adams as a vibrant place to live and work," he said. "We need to try to incubate that and working with those people provides almost the economic scaffolding g around Topia that will be needed."

Kolis said he plans to start working on raising the remaining funds in early August, and he said anyone interested in donating can do so by visiting the Topia website. He urges that anyone who wants to be involved is welcomed to join the board.


Tags: arts center,   challenge grant,   cultural grants,   Mass Cultural Council,   Topia Arts Center,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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