Common Folk, Multicultural BRIDGE Launch the Arts Hub Fellowships for Artists of Color

10:15AM / Wednesday, October 07, 2026Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Common Folk and Multicultural BRIDGE announce a new series of artist residency, fellowship, mentorship, and community arts opportunities designed to expand access and investment in Artists of Color throughout Berkshire County.

These new opportunities are supported through the Equity Initiative and Arts Build Community at Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Applications are open now until October 1, 2026 (Extended to Oct. 15).

Visit https://commonfolk.org/bipoc-residency for more details.

Together, the organizations will serve as regional arts hubs, creating new pathways for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists to access funding, creative space, mentorship, professional development, and public presentation opportunities.

In North Berkshire County, Common Folk has launched a fellowship program that includes a year-long studio residency for one established Artist of Color, project stipends for emerging artists, and membership for all awardees to Common Folk for a year. Membership to Common Folk includes creative facilities, including screen printing, a darkroom, secondhand art supply resources, communal workspaces, and a newly supported risograph printing program.

Applications opened Sept. 1, 2026, and the deadline to apply is Oct 15.

In South Berkshire County, Multicultural BRIDGE will administer Solidarity Arts Collective project grants to established artists while supporting a larger cohort of emerging artists through workshops, mentorship, open studio opportunities, and culturally grounded community programming. The program will center intergenerational learning, community storytelling, culinary arts, photography, textile traditions, music, land-based practices, landscape design and other forms of cultural expression.

Tags: common folk,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

North Adams Water Line Break Shuts Off Service on Ashland; McCann Dismisses Classes Early

Staff Reports iBerkshires
10:52AM / Friday, October 30, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A water main that broke Friday morning has affected water service south of Main Street along Ashland and Church streets and caused McCann Technical School to close early.

The break occurred shortly before 9 a.m. near the Roots Teen Center; Ashland Street between Summer Street and American Legion Drive was closed to traffic to allow crews to work on repairs.

"The way it was coming out, we were hoping it was a sprinkler line for the old Nassif's, but there's no sprinkler line in there, so it's a main line," said Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau. "We're trying to get it isolated. Once we get isolated, everything's coming back."

This break is causing areas of the city to have little to no water pressure.

McCann Technical posted that its Tea Room would be closed and then announced early dismissal for 11:15 a.m. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has cancelled all classes.

The Water Department was opening connections around the affected area to close off the gates and redirect the flow until the line could be repaired. Water was flowing out of a hydrant past the post office and streaming down American Legion Drive.

American Legion Drive is open but the work crews are now in the intersection of Ashland and Summer Street and traffic will be disrupted. The city is asking that motorists and pedestrians avoid the affected area whenever possible "to allow our crews to work safely and efficiently."

For questions or concerns, contact the Water Department at 413-662-3157. In the event of an emergency, contact the Dispatch Center at 413-664-4944, Ext. 1.

View Full Story