Aug. 9 Deadline to Register for ArtWeek Berkshires

BERKSHIRE COUNTY – Artists and cultural organizations from across Berkshire County are invited to register by Aug. 9 for ArtWeek Berkshires 2022, which will go from Sept. 15 to 25. 

This free-to-participate, cross-discipline event now in its second year, is led and organized by the county’s five Cultural Districts: Great Barrington, Lenox, North Adams, Pittsfield, and Williamstown; and 1Berkshire.

"The buzz of the summer has quieted down and fall leaf-peeping is on the horizon," explains Lenox Chamber of Commerce director and Cultural District Co-Chair Jenn Nacht. "But for artists, that sweet spot in early fall is when activity picks up again, whether that’s gallery shows in New York or theater, film, and opera seasons around the world. We want audiences to know the Berkshires cultural season is year-round, too, not just in summer."

The ArtWeek Berkshires steering committee has been collaborating since January with a diverse team of artists, chamber of commerce representatives, and small business owners to make the event as successful as it was in year one.

"ArtWeek Berkshires 2022 is not your everyday art fair or music festival," says 2022 co-chair Cecilia Hirsch, "With nearly 70 artists registered and many more expected by the August 9th deadline, this county-wide event encompasses everything from painting and African dance to theater and pottery, with activities that appeal to kids, families, and adults alike. There will be open studios, demonstrations, and hands-on events. It will truly capture in 10 days why the region has always attracted the world’s great creative minds, including the next Edith Wharton and James Van Der Zee."

Carolyn Cole, Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Districts and Local Cultural Council Program Officer, said these kinds of initiatives can have an impact.

"I talk regularly about our Cultural Districts in the Berkshires being a best practice model for regional collaboration. The strength of this District partnership is a driving force for initiatives such as ArtWeek, successfully aiming to attract artists, cultural enterprises, and tourism to an area by thoughtfully supporting creative entrepreneurship and fostering local cultural development," she said. 

To learn more about ArtWeek Berkshires 2022 or to register by the August 9th deadline, visit: https://berkshires.org/artweek-berkshires/. 

Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:08AM / Saturday, December 20, 2025

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 

 

"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 

 

The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 

 

The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 

 

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center. 

 

The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 

 

The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.