ArtWeek Berkshires 2024 Welcoming Submissions

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — ArtWeek Berkshires, a county-wide collaboration, will take place May 17-27.

The ArtWeek committee posted its call for artists.  The non-juried event is free to all Berkshire County individuals, organizations, and businesses interested in showcasing creative work. Submissions from actors, cartoonists, crafters, dancers, designers, filmmakers, illustrators, mimes, multimedia artists, musicians, performance artists, poets, puppeteers, theater artists, visual artists, writers – and more – are welcome. 

The event will feature open studios, gallery talks, theater, performances, workshops, and more interactive experiences.

ArtWeek Berkshires features more than 100 events each year.  It has previously taken place in the fall but will be moving to the spring for this year.  The county-wide collaboration features Berkshire County’s five Cultural Districts - the Downtown Great Barrington Cultural District, Lenox Cultural District, North Adams Cultural District, Upstreet Cultural District in Pittsfield and Williamstown Cultural District.

"After much discussion from artists, participants and the steering committee, we are thrilled to be moving this event to the spring to kick-off the season in the Berkshires," said Jen Glockner, Pittsfield’s Cultural Development Director and ArtWeek Berkshires 2024 Steering Committee co-chair along with Laura Brennan, Assistant Director and Economic Development Program Manager at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. "This is a call to all artists and organizations.  We are encouraging everyone to consider submitting an event to ArtWeek Berkshires, whether you’re an emerging artist or seasoned professional."

Funds pooled by the five cultural districts through their Cultural Districts Initiative grants from Mass Cultural Council make this event possible.  Promotions include:  billboards within Berkshire County; posters; flyers; print and digital ads as well as social media promotion.  

If you are an artist, arts organization, or business that would like to participate in ArtWeek Berkshires 2024, you may sign up through this online form:  https://1berkshire.jotform.com/240214256876155.  

Go to https://berkshires.org/artweek-berkshires/ for more information or reach out to your closest Cultural District. You can contact them at:

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

New Pittsfield City Council, School Committee Meets

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new City Council and School Committee met for the first time last week, and were met with some hope from the public. 

The council is largely the same as the last term, with Cameron Cunningham now representing Ward 2 and Kathy Moody Ward 7. On the other hand, the School Committee is all new aside from longtime member Daniel Elias. 

Resident Paul Gregory, a regular at public comment, told the council, "I stand here tonight, I'm excited. I'm not complaining." Gregory said that with challenges come opportunities, and he is confident that the elected officials are up for it. 

"I'm really, really looking forward to the leadership and the roles that each of you will play in order to bring out the best that Pittsfield is and can be," he said. 

"We need to stress our values as a city. We need to recognize and identify why people should live in this city and what opportunities there are both for entertainment, for employment, and for activities." 

Councilor at Large Earl Persip III was elected council president during the inauguration ceremony earlier this month, and Mayor Peter Marchetti was elected to chair the School Committee. During the committee's meeting on Wednesday, Marchetti noted that this would be the last time "communication by the chair" will be placed on the agenda because he will deliver comments as other members do. 

United Educators of Pittsfield President Jeanne Lemmond, also offered well wishes to the School Committee. 

"It's going to be an interesting time working with so many new faces, and the UEP is looking forward to a very positive working relationship with you as we go into negotiations and any other business that we bring forward to you," she said. 

Gregory, who also addressed the School Committee, hopes they work collaboratively to support each other, especially with the district's "ambitious" efforts to restructure the middle school levels and build a new school in the West Side. 

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