Berkshire Cultural Districts Awarded Grants

11:01AM / Thursday, February 19, 2026Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — Mass Cultural Council announced that 58 state-designated cultural districts will each receive a $15,000 Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) award through the Cultural District Investment Grant program.

"Cultural districts not only draw people in, but they also create the conditions for communities to thrive," said David T. Slatery, Acting Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. "Through the Massachusetts Cultural Districts Initiative, we recognize the essential role these districts play in strengthening local economies, animating public spaces, and creating places where people feel connected, welcome, and inspired. Cultural districts strengthen our communities while laying the groundwork for long-term economic and cultural vitality"

In Berkhshire County the Great Barrington Cultural District, Lenox Cultural District, North Adams Cultural District, Upstreet Cultural District in Pittsfield and the Williamstown Cultural District were all awarded $15,000 grants.

As the Commonwealth’s independent state arts agency, Mass Cultural Council is charged with bolstering the cultural sector, thereby advancing economic vitality, supporting transformational change, and celebrating, preserving, and inspiring creativity across all Massachusetts communities.

Each of the 58 state-designated cultural districts will receive a $15,000 award. These flexible funds may be used to support a wide range of activities, including marketing and promotion, organizational and partnership capacity-building, artist and vendor fees, public art and creative place-based work, collaborative planning and cultural policy efforts, and community-engaged data collection and reporting.

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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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