Call for Art for the Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists

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SANDISFIELD, Mass. — The Sandisfield Arts Center announces the 2025 Call for Art for the 4th Annual Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists. 
 
Works will be accepted through April 7, 2025. The prize is in support of young artists in Berkshire County. 
 
Artist Josephine Halvorson will return as judge for this year's award. Up to three artists will be selected as finalists, each receiving $400 to support their art practice as well as a group show of their work at the Sandisfield Arts Center in the 2026 Gallery season. Winners will be notified and announced the first week of June 2025.
 
The prize was created by Adam Manacher and Carol Birnbaum, Daniel Manacher's parents, in memory of their son and his passion for art.
 
"Daniel worked on different surfaces, always hand-drawn," said his parents. "He loved interacting with people in their love for art. We hope, with the Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists, to inspire other young artists and to assist them as they reach for their dreams."
 
Eligible artists are those working in painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture, aged 17-26 years of age, and residing or attending school in Berkshire County.  No fee is associated with the application, and all entrants will be judged based solely on the merit of the work presented. Past winners are not eligible to apply. Complete eligibility requirements can be found on the Sandisfield Arts Center website.
 
Halvorson is Professor of Art and Chair of Graduate Studies in Painting at Boston University. Halvorson lives in western Massachusetts and is currently building a studio in Sandisfield.
 
To apply, visit sandisfieldartscenter.org. For questions or more information email Jess at gallery@sandisfieldartscenter.org.
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Great Barrington Public Theater Appoints Artistic Director

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Great Barrington Public Theater announced that Associate Artistic Director Judy Braha will now join Jim Frangione at the helm as Artistic Director of Great Barrington Public Theater.
 
"We at Great Barrington Public Theater are thrilled that Judy Braha will assume the role of Artistic Director alongside myself. I couldn't have asked for a better partner to help advance the interests of the theater as we move into the next phase of growth as the region's premiere developmental theater," Founder & Artistic Director Jim Frangione said. "Judy brings a tremendous amount of experience and value to our company and has, in just a few short years, grown and greatly enhanced GB Public Theater's signature program, Berkshires Voices, where playwrights develop their work, leading to public readings and in some cases workshops and full productions. I look forward to working more closely with Judy to select the next generation of plays to be presented under the GB Public banner. It's a "Bear" of a job! But we feel great about the direction of our theater."
 
Judy Braha joined the GB Public artistic leadership team in 2023 as the Associate Artistic Director after 2 years directing for the company. She has since then been collaborating with Founder and Artistic Director Jim Frangione on the selection of new work for readings and full productions in the summer season. Her impressive portfolio of credits and accomplishments strengthened Great Barrington Public's creative programming and offered new perspectives to the body of works and events produced each year. 
 
Judy Braha has been a career director, actor, teacher and artist for social justice for over four decades with directorial credits in theaters and universities throughout New England. She led the M.F.A. Directing Program at Boston University's School of Theater, retiring in 2022 after 29 years of service at BU. 
 
"Judy has the strength of commitment, leadership and passion for theater and how it affects communities that fit hand-in-glove with our founding mission and core beliefs," Founder and Producing Director Deann Halper Simmons explains. "Her artistic integrity, sense of stage esthetic and ability to make important choices that craft life from the script continues to be a great asset to our company and growth."
 
"Judy's distinguished artistic voice has significantly contributed to the exceptional growth of GB Public in recent years," Managing Director Serena Johnson added. "We are truly excited to have her stepping into this leadership role in the 2026 season."
 
 
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