Reimagine Dunham Mall Calls for Public Art

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Organizers of Reimagine Dunham Mall announced two calls for public art and a project update on Spring 2025 installations to support the use and beautification of Dunham Mall.
 
Reimagine Dunham Mall aims to support area business, recreation, pedestrian networks, and parking accessibility for residents and visitors of downtown Pittsfield.
 
In the Spring of 2025, Pittsfield residents can expect to see a new public art piece installed in Dunham Mall as part of the first of two installation phases. Also, as part of phase one, 8 large planters with Heritage Birch trees will be installed to provide shade and natural habitats, as well as smaller planters with annuals, bistro seating, bollards (to enhance safety of the pedestrian area), and wayfinding elements like a kiosk and Pittsfield branded banners.
 
Two calls for art are open now for projects to be installed on Dunham Mall. The calls for art close on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 11:59 PM.
 
The first is for a Digital Map of Downtown. Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. is seeking an artist to produce a digital map of downtown Pittsfield that will be centralized in Dunham Mall and reproduced for use throughout downtown. Map boundaries will be the Colonial Theatre and Carr Hardware (South/North) and two blocks out in the East/West directions. Final map dimensions (delivered digitally) should be 36"x 24" with standard bleed. The budget for design is $2,000. Artists must have their own technology to produce the image. The chosen artist will be recognized by name in all reproductions of the work, but Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will own the rights to the final image. View the application here: https://forms.gle/ttTY8T8TJ46MhKtSA
 
The artist will be selected based on past work examples, connection to Pittsfield, and ability to complete the project within the project timeframe. The final map must be completed no later than March 31, 2025. This project is funded by the Reimagine Dunham Mall project.
 
The second call for art is for a large mountable mosaic for Dunham Mall. Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. is seeking an artist to produce a large mosaic that will be installed in Dunham Mall. The piece will be mounted on a brick wall and should have dimensions of 10' wide by 8' high. The budget for art is $3,000 with an additional $500 stipend for materials. Artists must have their own tools to produce the mosaic. View the application here: https://forms.gle/oHL7DeNrV1aNoxESA
 
The artist will be selected based on past work examples, connection to Pittsfield, and ability to complete the project within the project timeframe. The final mosaic must be completed no later than March 31, 2025. Designs must be family friendly, and the theme of the work should reference the natural beauty of the Berkshires. This project is funded by the Reimagine Dunham Mall project.
 
The project timeline for both calls for art is as follows:
  • Sunday, February 2: Artist call closes
  • Friday, February 7: Artist selected
  • Friday, February 28: Initial design sketch due
  • Monday, March 31: Design finalized and delivered
  • TBD: Dates of installation
Reimagine Dunham Mall was made possible by community contributions from residents, friends at Pittsfield Beautiful, and a Commonwealth Places grant. The Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association (DPCA), The City of Pittsfield, MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative (TDI), Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), and the Pittsfield Community Design Center are spearheading this project.
 
For more information, visit downtownpittsfield.com or call Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. at 413-443-6501.

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Pittsfield Seeks CPA Funds for Bike Racks, AED

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city plans to apply for Community Preservation Act funds for park bike racks and an AED machine at the pickleball fields. 

On Tuesday, the Parks Commission endorsed Pittsfield’s applications for CPA funds. 

"Both of those projects are certainly, relative to CPA funds, low cost but high benefit," Commissioner Anthony DeMartino said. 

Through CPA, bike racks are proposed for a few city parks, and the Berkshire Mountain Pickleball league is looking to place an automatic external defibrillator at the Benedict Avenue pickleball fields. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath and Recreation & Special Events Coordinator Jennifer VanBramer presented the two small project applications, which will go through an eligibility period before full consideration in the spring of 2027. 

During the city’s free, six-week, summer playground program, it was observed that many kids access parks by bicycle. The plan is to buy between six and eight racks to be placed at Durant Park, the Common, and Clapp Park; other parks are being considered as well. 

McGrath explained that the three parks hosting the playground program don’t have bike racks, and they wind up on the ground and sometimes become a distraction. 

"The ancillary benefit to having bike racks is that it encourages that mode of transportation for folks that want to come to the park on their bike," he said. 

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