Berkshire Organizations Awarded Mass Cultural Council Grants

03:00PM / Thursday, June 13, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — MassDevelopment and Mass Cultural Council announced the award of a $6,159,900 investment into 88 nonprofit and municipal cultural organizations through the Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF), which the two agencies jointly administer.

Berkshire County awardees include:

Barrington Stage was awarded $112,000 to install updated theatrical lighting and audio equipment for the St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center.

Berkshire County Historical Society was awarded $28,000 to support the creation of a new public sewer connection at arrowhead.

Berkshire Film and Media was awarded $200,000 was awarded $200,000 to complete predevelopment costs for the creation of BFMC+/Kemble Street Studios.

Berkshire Pulse was awarded $10,000 to study the feasibility of expanding studio space into the second floor of 420 Park Street.

Berkshire Theatre Group was awarded $153,000 for the installation of solar panels on the Colonial Theatre and warehouse roof.

Hancock Shaker Village was awarded $200,000 to expand gallery space, create a new climate-controlled collections storage area, install an elevator, and reconfigure lobby and reception areas.

Sheffield Historical Society was awarded $78,000 for drainage, grout and foundation work to the Old Stone Store.

Monterey was awarded $33,000 for architectural and engineering plans for the construction of new open air pavilion as part of the Monterey Community Center.

The Triplex Cinema was awarded $200,000 to support the reopening their second largest theater by making the building ADA-compliant and improving health and safety measures.

Ventfort Hall was awarded $149,000 to repair and rebuild four chimneys on the mansion roof.

CFF provides capital and planning grants to nonprofit organizations, colleges, and municipalities that own or operate facilities primarily focused on the arts, humanities, and sciences. These awards invest in the acquisition, design, repair, renovation, expansion, and construction of nonprofit and municipal cultural facilities. All selected projects are subject to a 1:1 matching requirement.

The Cultural Facilities Fund is financed annually through the Governor's Capital Spending Plan. In FY24, the Healey-Driscoll Administration invested $10 million into the CFF, which supports the awards announced today.

Tags: Mass Cultural Council,

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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