Gallerists Sienna Patti and Leslie Ferrin report on June trip to inaugural SOFA Santa Fe

kenn-holsten-mary-childs-clients-at-sofa-santa-feThe Berkshires were well represented by a nationally known glass specialists Holsten Galleries of Stockbridge.  Holsten Gallery co-director, Mary Childs reports “We had a successful show, selling several substantial pieces and meeting new collectors and potential clients from Texas, California, and the Northwest. (Interestingly, many of the Texans had come to Berkshire summer camps as children!) This show provided us an opportunity for us to reach out make connections to this region’s collectors, broaden our client base, and introduce new clients to our gallery and the Berkshires.”

Leslie Ferrin explained the mission of the trip as “Sienna and I went to explore the possibility of participation in this inaugural show as well as the idea that there are comparisons to be made and learned from the art economy in Santa Fe, widely known as “the 3rd largest art market in the US”. The seasonal nature of their business cycle and the regional dependence on cultural tourism is important to learn from as the creative economy in the Berkshires continues to grow. While the summers may be the time of year when the Berkshires put on the most well attended gallery shows, major exhibitions and theater productions, just like Santa Fe, these art businesses and the jobs they provide, operate year round. “

Sienna Patti noted, “It was great to meet up with existing clients at the show and hear them speak about their visits to the Berkshires and our growing reputation as a destination for contemporary art tourism. With the Sol Lewitt exhibit at MASS MoCA newly opened, we are actively working with several collector groups to bring them into the Berkshires to experience our lively mix of art and cultural offerings while seeking out the contemporary visual arts in studios, galleries and museums.

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Norman Rockwell Museum Celebrates 40th Anniversary

c001i007With nearly 140,000 visitors last year and an average of 148,600 over the past five years, according to the institution’s annual report, the museum has become an institution that both preserves Rockwell’s legacy and nurtures his art form, expanding the public’s understanding of illustration.

“We present Norman Rockwell’s art in the context of the whole field of American illustration, an art that tells the story of us and the nation and our culture,” said Laurie Norton Moffatt, the museum’s director and CEO since 1986.

That celebration of Rockwell’s legacy will hit full force Saturday when “American Chronicles,” a major touring retrospective of his most popular work, returns to the museum for a two-month run. For Stockbridge, the relationship with Rockwell has become an integral part of the community’s identity, perhaps most clearly embodied by the annual re-creation of “Main Street at Christmas,” when the town literally makes itself into a Rockwell painting for a day.

“The Rockwell Museum is one of the top tourist attractions in Stockbridge,” said Selectman George Shippey. “It greatly benefits our local economy and beyond. The uniqueness of the Rockwell Museum is evidenced by their creativity — they are always bringing in new exhibits, which increases the visibility of the museum for its visitors.”

Click here to read the full Berkshire Eagle coverage of the Norman Rockwell Anniversary!

Click here to read Jeffrey Borak’s interview with Laurie Norton Moffatt, Norman Rockwell Museum Executive Director and Berkshire Creative Co-Founder: Laurie Norton Moffatt: From intern to in charge.

Click here Saturday July 4th, 2009 to listen to a live broadcast of WAMC roundtable from the Museum starting at 9am!

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Berkshire Culltural Organizations Reach Out to Younger Audiences

In the interest of increasing attendance of  the 35 and under set, two Berkshire Cultural Organizations have instituted special programs!

Jacob’s Pillow Under 35 for $35

For the July 4th weekend, Jacob’s Pillow will offer Under 35 for $35 ticket prices for Radio and Juliet, a modern take on Shakespeare’s classic tale set to the music of Grammy-winning band Radiohead. Click here to visit the Pillow website and learn more!

Barrington Stage Company Pay What You Can Nights

Now in it’s second year, Barrington Stage Company has addressed the issue of cultivating this traditionally underrepresented  population with their popular Pay What You Can (PWYC) nights! At PWYC nights, attendees 35 and under are asked to pay a minimum of $5 cash at the  door. The performance is then followed by drinks and dance party  in the “alley-turned-urban-garden.” The next PWYC Night is for Underneath the Lintel,  Friday, July 10 at 7:30pm, visit www.barringtonstageco.org to learn more!

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Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act

picture-414% of the Massachusetts work force is employed by non-profits. UPMIFA will free funds to provide charities operating cash to maintain jobs and services.  The non-profit sector is already shedding jobs, and Massachusetts  Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH)  is asking the Legislature to pass UPMIFA before July 1 to halt imminent layoffs.

Click here to visit MAASH and learn more about UPMIFA advocacy options!

The UPMIFA would replace the Uniform Management of Institutional Funds Act (UMIFA), which was instituted almost 35 years ago by The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Continue reading ‘Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act’

Creative Jobs in the Creative Economy!

career_change2Check out these career opportunities in the creative economy!

Editorial Designer/Associate Editor, Association of Marian Helpers

Dance Faculty, Berkshire Dance Theatre

Coordinator of Marketing and Communications, Berkshire United Way

R&D Project Leader, Crane & Co.

Nail Tech/ Hair Stylist, Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club

Marketing Manager, Dominion Enterprises

Bookkeeper, IS183  Art School of the Berkshires

Master Electrician, Mass MoCA

Skilled Warehouse Operations Manager, Pine Cone Hill

Sous Chef, Patina Restaurant Group

Art Sales / Frame Design, R. Michelson Galleries

Java/.NET Developer, Rational Retention

Independant Film Budgeting Person, Undisclosed

Ad Operations Coordinator/Trafficker, Waterfront Media

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Call for Submissions

picture-51Check out these calls for submissions! Click each title to learn more!

SPACES: Call for Proposals
Deadline: July 3, 2009
ARTMARKET: Juried Photography Competition
Deadline: July 6, 2009
Deadline: August 3, 2009
Deadline: Friday, August 14, 2009
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BFMAC Members To Speak At Berkshire Made Film Series

picture-3Berkshire Made Film Series is an eleven-week series of free films. The series is devoted to movies with strong Berkshire County connections. This includes films that were shot on location in the Berkshires, films with visual effects produced in the Berkshires, or with Berkshire residents as cast members.

The films will be shown on the Topia Arts Center new 32-foot screen, with a high-definition projector and sound system. Many of the films will be preceded by a lecture or talk by BFMAC members who worked on the film.

July 12, Douglas Trumbull, Academy Award winning visual effects pioneer will present 2001: A Space Odyssey, as he did for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last year. Other speakers will include visual effects producer Diane Pearlman on August 2, Bob O’Haver who worked on visual effects for Stargate on August 16, and Jeff Kleiser from Synthespian Studios in North Adams, whose film credits include Stargate, X-Men and Fantastic Four who will speak on July 26.

All films will be free to the public. Seating is limited. For a complete listing of films and speakers please call Topia Arts Center at (413) 743-9605 or visit their website at www.topiaarts.org.

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Government offering small firms ‘bridge’ loans

recovery-logoThe U.S. Small Business Administration has begun accepting applications for loans of up to $35,000 to provide a “bridge” for small businesses with immediate financial hardship to stay open until they get back on track. The loans are available through a temporary new program called America’s Recovery Capital or ARC.

ARC loans are deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 that are available to established, viable, for-profit small businesses that need short-term help to make their principal and interest payments on existing and qualifying business debt.

They are 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA and have no SBA fees associated with them.

Click here to learn more!

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Downstreet Art Launch Tonight!

picture-1Following the extraordinary success of last year’s DownStreet Art program, MCLA, along with the City of North Adams, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (NBCC) and Scarafoni Realty once again will present DownStreet Art.

This year’s Downstreet Art  will be nearly doubled in size and scale, with 27 galleries, museums and other arts destinations participating, including 13 new galleries to open TONIGHT, Thursday, June 25, beginning at 6 p.m.

DownStreet Art, a public art project of MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, is designed to revitalize downtown North Adams, harnessing existing arts organizations and events, and transforming vacant and open spaces into arts destinations.

MCLA’s Gallery 51 joins in the celebration with a free opening reception for Threaded, a presentation of unconventional textiles that straddle the fine line between craft and art. Threaded, which also opens at 6 p.m. June 25, features works made from fabric, yarn, and thread.

Gallery 51 is at 51 Main Street in North Adams, in the center of the DownStreet Art scene.

“This program defines North Adams as a cultural haven, driving tourists and community members downtown,” said Jonathan Secor, director of special programming at MCLA. “Last year, DownStreet Art brought 15,000 visitors to downtown North Adams. Businesses felt the impact, both in attendance as well as in sales. Our goal is to increase those numbers.”

“North Adams is an arts destination - not only because it is the home of MASS MoCA, but because of the scope of art in the downtown,” Secor added.

In addition to performances to take place throughout the downtown tonight, a number of area restaurants and cafés will be open late and feature menu specials in honor of the program’s launch.

“DownStreet Art Thursdays” will be held the last Thursday of each month, when all of the galleries will be open late. These events will include the opening of new exhibitions, dance performances, meet and greet gatherings with the artists and other festivities.

Click here to learn more about Downstreet Art and download a map of participating venues!

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National Arts Education Report

koi-fish-spring-2008-3Last week, for the first time in 11 years, the federal government released a national report card on achievement in the arts among 8th graders. This long-awaited report finds that since 1997, our nation’s students have not made significant progress in developing their skills and knowledge in the arts.

The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in the Arts report is the only continuing, national measure of academic achievement in America’s schools.

A nationally representative sample of over 7,900 eighth grade students from public and private schools participated in the NAEP Arts Assessment in 2008. Students were measured on their ability to create and respond to the visual arts; whereas, the study scaled back on music questions and only measured a student’s ability to respond and identify music. Unfortunately, theatre and dance skills were not assessed at all due to budgetary and data collection constraints, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

As reported today in the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, and USAToday, the findings are “mediocre,” “lackluster,” and “may make America’s arts instructors kind of blue.” Not a great report card. However, new U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave a strong reaction in support of arts education, “This Arts Report Card should challenge all of us to make K-12 arts programs more available to America’s children …We can and should do better for America’s students.”

Click here to visit Americans for the Arts to read more!

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