Berkshire Museum Exhibition Partnership with Second Street

08:00AM / Monday, August 28, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Museum announces Insight Out, an exhibition of visual art created by presently and formerly incarcerated people in Berkshire County, in partnership with Second Street Second Chances, Inc.

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, Sept. 2 and remains on view through Sunday, Oct. 1.

Artists whose work is included in the exhibition will receive a cash award of $200, provided by 2nd Street, and a family membership to Berkshire Museum.

If the artists choose, their works may be purchased by members of the public following the closing of the exhibition. In addition, 2nd Street has established a fund to acquire works for installation in its program space, located at 264 Second Street in Pittsfield.

"Berkshire Museum is honored to collaborate with 2nd Street on this important exhibition. We are proud to bring focus to the many talented individuals in our community who often do not have opportunities to exhibit their artwork in a museum," said Jesse Kowalski, Berkshire Museum's Chief Curator.

"At 2nd Street, we strive to not only provide essential services for our clients, but also to encourage them to express their creativity," said Jason Cuyler, 2nd Street Executive Director. "We thank Berkshire Museum for generously supporting and hosting this important exhibition."

Insight Out is a companion initiative to Release, which engages presently and formerly incarcerated individuals in the creation of a live, full-length show integrating their real-life stories and experiences. Release will be presented at 7 pm on Sept. 20 and 23 and at 2 pm on Sept. 26 at the Koussevitzky Theatre at Berkshire Community College. The performance is free and open to the public.

Financial and in-kind support for Insight Out is generously provided by Berkshire Museum; Becky and Doug Crane; Josie Greene and Glenn Asch; David Crane and Ruth Blodgett; and Pittsfield Cultural Council (a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council).

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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