ArtWeek Berkshires 2024 Welcoming Submissions

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:

• Great Barrington - culturalgb@gmail.com
• Lenox - lenoxcultural@gmail.com
• North Adams - tourism@northadams-ma.com
• Pittsfield – cultural.development@cityofpittsfield.org
• Williamstown - info@williamstownchamber.com

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.