Berkshire Organizations Receive Mass Cultural Council Awards

02:37PM / Wednesday, April 10, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Several Berkshire County organizations have been awarded Mass Cultural Council Awards as part of the Gaming Mitigation Fund Grant Program.

"Supporting our performing arts centers is a strategic investment in the vitality of our communities," said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. "These organizations serve as hubs of creativity, offering transformative experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire audiences of all ages. By supporting these institutions, we not only preserve our cultural heritage but also foster innovation, economic growth, and social cohesion, ensuring a vibrant and enriching future for generations to come."

In Berkshire County, the following organizations were among the recipients:

Barrington Stage Company: $6,000
Berkshire Theatre Group: $14,700
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center: $73,000
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA): $166,400
Williamstown Theatre Festival: $6,000

This program provides grants to Massachusetts nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers to spend on touring shows or touring artist fees. These grants aim to target funding to those most directly impacted by the operation of resort-style casinos.

First established by the Legislature in the Expanded Gaming Act of 2011, Mass Cultural Council receives 2 percent of gaming revenues to administer this program. The Gaming Mitigation Fund is intended to mitigate a direct threat to the sustainability of Massachusetts' nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers. It provides funding to preserve their ability to compete with casinos, who are working with larger budgets and able to offer attractive amenities, when booking touring acts.

In this round, 58 performing arts centers across Massachusetts received grants ranging from $6,000 to $200,000. Notably, all eligible applicants were successful in securing funding.

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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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