Baff Leaving Jacob's Pillow After Summer Season

Print Story | Email Story

BECKET, Mass. — Ella Baff, executive and artistic director of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, has accepted a new position as Senior Program Officer for Arts and Cultural Heritage at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in New York.

An esteemed leader in the arts and cultural field, Baff has been at the helm of Jacob’s Pillow, a National Historic Landmark, National Medal of Arts recipient, and home to America's longest running dance festival, for the past 17 years.

"The Jacob's Pillow Board and I congratulate Ella Baff on her exciting new position with the Mellon Foundation. The Mellon Foundation is an important institution that has been a longtime supporter of the arts and some of the Pillow's most successful programs," Mark Leavitt, Jacob’s Pillow Board chair, said. “Ella's 17-year tenure has distinguished the Pillow artistically, financially, and in reputation.  It's the strongest the institution has ever been in its 83-year history. We have a talented and ambitious staff that will help us to continue to grow and prosper.  I know that Jacob’s Pillow founder Ted Shawn is somewhere smiling down on both the Pillow and Ella.”

“There is only one Jacob’s Pillow. It has been an experience beyond imagining to lead, to serve, and to work with the greatest artists in the world," Baff said. "The Pillow’s passionate, dedicated board and staff are simply the best, and I am proud of everything that we have accomplished together. I am honored to be joining The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, a great and forward-thinking institution that sustains and champions the arts and humanities. In this role, my commitment to the field continues in a new way, through philanthropy.”

Baff will continue to serve as executive and artistic director of Jacob’s Pillow through the end of the 2015 Festival.

 


Tags: dance,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

View Full Story

More Becket Stories