Richard C. Borges has begun his tenure as executive director at the Bennington Museum. Borges has broad professional experience in a variety of museums and arts organizations, most recently holding the position of executive director of the Upper Midwest Conservation Association, located at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minnesota.
After graduating with a B.S. in Marine Science from the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Borges accepted the position of curator of collections at the Marine Historical Association at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. Two years later, he decided to pursue a career in museum work and he entered the Cooperstown Graduate Program at the State University of New York where he received a M.A. in Museum Studies. His master’s thesis project was the design of a study/storage facility for the collections of the New York State Historical Association; following graduation, Borges became assistant curator for NYSHA. Subsequently, he moved on to become curator at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. While there, his work focused on the acquisition of a significant tool collection as well as the acquisition and renovation of several buildings.
After six years at Strawbery Banke, Borges went to the University of New Hampshire in Durham where he received his Ph.D. in history; his dissertation topic was a demographic analysis of the Canterbury, New Hampshire Shakers. After completion of the UNH program, he accepted a position at the Registrar’s Office at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C., where he was in charge of management of museum collections in transit. He was promoted to another position in the Harpers Ferry, West Virginia office of the Curatorial Services Division of the National Park Service, where he developed collections management and storage plans for the more than 300 National Park Museums across the country.
Borges moved back to New England to become the director of the Old York Historical Society in York, Maine. He managed nearly a dozen buildings on twenty-five acres on several sites throughout York, with special emphasis on collections storage and conservation. After eight years, he accepted the position of director at the Upper Midwest Conservation Association, a regional art conservation center located in Minnesota. The center serves over 140 collecting institutions in a five-state region. There he oversaw operations including a successful grant-writing effort that produced a dramatic increase in the operating budget.
Missing his native New England and wanting to direct the operations of a museum again, Borges was pleased to accept the position of executive director at the Bennington Museum. Of his appointment, Borges stated: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to return to New England as the director of this wonderful community museum in Bennington. I look forward to working with the museum's staff, trustees and members, and the people of Bennington and surrounding towns as we develop a long-range strategic plan for our future. Bennington is a community with a rich historical past, one that deserves to be preserved, interpreted and enjoyed by those who live and visit here.â€
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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