Pittsfield Cultural Council Seeks Applications for Grants

08:04AM / Tuesday, September 02, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Cultural Council will accept applications for 2026 Mass Cultural Council grants from Sept. 2 to Oct. 16, 2025.

The PCC invites artists, musicians, performers, educators, community groups, non-profits, and others to apply for grants to support art shows, concerts, performances, workshops, lectures, short-term artist residencies in schools, and other community programs.

Applications for 2026 must be submitted only through the MCC website (not by mail or email) beginning at 10 a.m. on Sept. 2. Deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 16. No late applications will be accepted. The PCC will discuss and vote on applications in open meetings in the fall of 2025 and will notify successful recipients by mid-January 2026.

Grant Information Sessions:

The MCC will hold a free online information session for prospective applicants on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. Pre-registration is required.
The PCC will hold a reception for 2025 grant recipients and answer questions from prospective 2026 applicants on Sept. 10 from 6-8 p.m. at Zucchini’s, 1331 North St., Pittsfield. To RSVP, email pittsfieldculture@yahoo.com by Sept. 1.

"In evaluating applications, the PCC will give highest priority to proposals for free community events and activities, as well those with a clear purpose, a secured venue, and the potential to reach the greatest number of Pittsfield residents," said PCC Chair Marilyn Gerhard.

To apply, learn more about grant requirements, visit the PCC home page on the MCC website.

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Pittsfield Council to See 2-Year Moratorium on Data Centers

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:34AM / Friday, October 23, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council will consider a two-year data center moratorium from the Community Development Board.

The board endorsed the moratorium on Tuesday; it had previously voted to become the petitioner.

"I still think that it is a necessary, proactive, responsible measure by the city in order to take some time to assess the potential impacts of these improvements on Pittsfield and on the county, and make sure that we understand these systems and create some really truly responsible regulations that take into account all the different aspects of this technology," City Planner Kevin Rayner said.

The petition would amend City Code Chapter 23 and create Article 23-4 Section 4.332, "Data Center, Temporary Moratorium."

Last month, Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order that gives municipalities the power to say "no" to data centers, and earlier this year, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren petitioned to explore implementing a moratorium on the establishment and siting of data centers.

Based on web results, there are as many as 75 data centers or projects in Massachusetts, none in Berkshire County.

Rayner explained that he brought forward the same petition as before; it was sent to the council and then back to the board for a public hearing as part of the zoning amendment process.

It defines a data center as a building or group of buildings where the primary use is to house computer systems, servers, data storage equipment, networking equipment, and associated infrastructure necessary for the processing, storage, and distribution of data and digital applications.

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