The 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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With 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 
14% of the Massachusetts work force is employed by non-profits. 
Check out these career opportunities in the creative economy!
Check out these calls for submissions! Click each title to learn more!
Berkshire 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 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.
Following 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.
Last 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.
