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Cultural Pittsfield This Week: March 29-April 4

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Lichtenstein Center for the Arts will host a FREE event with a panel of local artists who will speak about their experiences as artists in the Berkshires and beyond. They'll answer questions about navigating the arts scene, networking in the artist community, marketing, how to prepare for an exhibition and more.  

First Fridays Artswalk will have representatives on hand to speak specifically about Artswalk and how to get involved! New, aspiring, professional, amateur, student, teen and veteran artists are invited to come network and be part of the discussion. Spanish translation will be available. 1 p.m.

The Tyler Street Lab @ 730 is a pop-up that creates a community space out of an underutilized storefront. The city's Office of Cultural Development, in collaboration with the Transformative Development Initiative, is putting out two calls for art: a storefront configuration challenge and a community art installation challenge. For both, they are looking for ideas that reflect the eclectic nature of Tyler Street and the surrounding Morningside neighborhood. There will 
be a stipend of up to $850 to the award-winning designs - one from each challenge.
  
Interested artists are invited to view the Tyler Street Lab @ 730 space on Friday, March 29 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, or to set up an appointment to see the space at another time, contact the Tyler Street Lab Collaboration at tylerstreetlabpitt@gmail.com.
 

  MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Who Are You last played The Colonial in November 2013. Soon after, lead singer Craig Simmons suffered a spontaneous brain bleed, leaving him unable to perform with the band... until now. In Craig's first show back, the band returns for a night of Who classics, including "My Generation," "I Can't Explain," "Baba O'Riley" and many more. 7:30 p.m. $25.
Plus...  
FRI Sky Full of Dippers at Hotel on North | FRI Dinner & Doobie Bros. Tribute Show to benefit Boys & Girls Club at Country Club of Pittsfield | FRI Blue Light Trio at Rainbow | FRI JB's Acoustic Gravel at PortSmitt's | FRI Karaoke Night at Friends | SAT The Rejuvenators at Mission | SAT Loire Valley Wine Dinner at Berkshire Mountain Bakery | SAT Melissa Brinton at Rainbow | MON Words Between the Stacks at Berkshire Athenaeum | MON Jazz Night at Mission | TUE Dine to Donate for Berkshire Humane Society at Patrick's Pub | WED Gruppo Mondo at Rainbow | THU PDC Night Out - A Berkshire Tasting at The Colonial Theatre | THU Jazz Vespers at Zion Lutheran Church | THU Open Mic at Lakeside Bar & Grill | THU The Picky B's at Mission 
  FAMILY FRIENDLY
Swing into spring with a round of mini golf! Links for Literacy Berkshire Gas Mini Golf Classic is a 10-hole course set up on all three floors of the library. The cost to play is $5 for adults. Kids under 12 play for free, thanks to a donation from Centerline Construction. All ages welcome! The entire course takes about an hour to complete. Proceeds benefit Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Plus...
FRI WeeMuse: Adventures at Berkshire Museum FRI-THU Parenting Classes & Play Groups at Berkshire Children & Families | SAT Chow Time at Berkshire Museum | SAT Pop-up Play Day at Berkshire Museum | SAT da Vinci After Hours at Berkshire Museum | SUN Discovery Tank Program at Berkshire Museum | MON Tiny Tots Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum | MON Peer Art Group: Teens & Young Adults at Berkshire Athenaeum | TUE WeeMuse: Littlest Learners at Berkshire Museum | TUE Youth Chill Zone at Tyler Street Lab THU Preschool Play & Learn at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Lego Club at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Family Game Night at Berkshire County Arc
  WELLNESS
SUN Yoga & Mimosas at Berkshire Running Center
 
 
Berkshire Running Center presents a fun yoga flow that leads to a nice mimosa flow. 
The best of both worlds! Sign up via the MINDBODY app: $10 drop-in, $5 members. 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Plus...
FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Running Center | FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Family YMCA | FRI-THU Various Classes at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness FRI-THU Various Classes at Radiance Yoga FRI-THU Various Classes at Modig Internal Disciplines FRI-THU Various Classes at Pilates Fit | SUN Yoga Foundations at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness SUN Yin Yoga at Radiance Yoga SUN+WED Lemme Run Training Program 5K-8K at Berkshire Running Center WED Shake Your Soul at Berkshire Athenaeum WED Sisters of the Moon Weekly Women's Circle at Wellness Underground
  GET CREATIVE
THU Blossoming Tree Over Bridge at Berk Paint & Sip
 
 
Celebrate spring by learning to paint "Blossoming Tree Over Bridge at Berkshire Paint & Sip. Your $30 fee includes two hours of instruction, all materials and a light snack. BYOB. 6-8 p.m.
Plus...
SAT Kokedama Class at Township Four | SAT Fern & Ivy Living Wreath Class at Township Four | SUN Tree of Life on Agate Pendant Class at Funky Phoenix
  COMMUNITY & LEARNING
SAT 9th Annual Slice of Life for Moments House
The 9th Annual Slice of Life pizza competition is your chance to support Moments House and cast your vote for Best Sauce, Best Crust, Most Unique and Best Overall Pizza in Berkshire County. New this year: pasta! Plus a dessert bar, raffles, entertainment, a photo booth, face painting and more. Berkshire Hills Country Club, 6-10 p.m. Adults: $20 ($25 at the door). Children 6-12: $5 ($7 at the door). Ages 5 and under free.
Plus...
FRI-SAT Big Spring Tag Sale at South Congregational Church SAT Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremony at Park Square SAT Links for Literacy at Berkshire Athenaeum | SAT-SUN Polar Plunge for Special Olympics at Bousquet | SUN Brunch w/Vita Kay Duo at Dottie's | MON Artist Nancy Katz & Craftsman Mark Liebowitz at Knesset Israel | MON Gallery Walk & Talk w/Painter Walter Pasko at The Kinderhook Group | MON West African & Caribbean Drumming Classes at The Lichtenstein | THU Raymond James Monopoly Tournament at Berkshire Hills Country Club | THU PDC Night Out - A Berkshire Tasting at The Colonial Theatre
  FILM
SUN 12th Annual Sprout Film Festival at BCC
The Sprout Film Festival is a chance to experience short films related to the field of developmental disabilities. The festival's mission is to inspire audiences, promote inclusion and support transformative filmmaking as an integral part of social change. This unique event strives to challenge assumptions and break down stereotypes.
Plus...
ONGOING See What's New at The Beacon | FRI-MON The Brink at The Little Cinema

 

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BCC Sees $1M in Federal Funds for Trades Academy

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal secured $995,000 to begin design and construction of the academy. The congressman had earlier attended the Norman Rockwell Museum business breakfast, which celebrated Laurie Norton Moffatt's 49 years leading the institution.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College was awarded nearly $1 million in federal funds to support a Trades Academy. 

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal visited the college to highlight the $995,000 he secured through congressionally directed spending. Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education Linda Clairmont said BCC can be a destination for adults who want to learn a skilled trade. 

"I want to join up with the amazing work that Taconic and McCann (vocational high schools) are doing to prepare people for these really specific skills, helping people become confident professionals with a direct path to high-wage, high-demand jobs," she explained. 

"And we're also addressing the labor shortage that exists in this county, around the state, and around the country, in the skilled trades." 

The federal funding will support a feasibility study of an existing vacant building on campus, as well as the evaluation and abatement of any hazardous materials at the location, because it was once a power plant. 

BCC will dip its toe into the skilled trades with its first HVAC training program, for which it received $1.2 million from the state in support. The $995,000 in federal funds will go toward creating the academy in a building located on the main campus, and the HVAC heat pump training program will be funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. 

The $1 million in federal monies will get the college to construction documents, maybe fund some construction, and help identify the necessary equipment and other learning space needs for a skilled trade, Clairmont reported. 

The funding is part of more than $14 million in congressionally directed spending secured by the congressman to support economic development, workforce training, and community infrastructure across the Berkshires.

Neal said there are about 6.5 million jobs in the United States that go unanswered every day.

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