Archive for June, 2008

Art means Business in the Berkshires!

Published: June 30, 2008Posted in: ARCHIVES, HAPPENINGS ARCHIVETags:

Chamber Night at the Clark

ONLY For Chamber members and their employees.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
5:00 – 7:00 PM

Brought to you by Berkshire Chamber please register by calling (413) 499-4000 ext. 10 or emailing info@berkshirechamber.com

“The Clark is a museum renown for its intimate galleries and stunning natural environment. One of the few institutions in the United States that combines a public art museum with a complement of research and academic programs, including a major art history library, the Clark is now a leading international center for research and discussion on the nature of art and art history. You will also have the opportunity to tour the Stone Hill Center, the newest addition to The Clark’s campus.

Attendees will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Make sure you bring your business cards for the drawing!”

225 South Street, Williamstown
Stone Hill Center
For Chamber members and their employees.

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Call for Entries

Published: June 30, 2008Posted in: OPPORTUNITES ARCHIVESTags: Artist's Opportunities, Artists, Call for Submissions

The Fuller Craft Museum

The Exhibition: Brockton, Massachusetts, once known as the shoe capital of the world, will revive its legacy with The Perfect Fit – Shoes Tell Stories. Curated by Wendy Tarlow Kaplan, who has strong family ties to Brockton’s shoe industry, this exhibition will explore how shoes can tell stories, addressing topics such as gender, history, sexuality, race, class, and culture.

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Friday’s Creative Roundtable

Published: June 30, 2008Posted in: BERKSHIRE CREATIVE, EVENTS, PRESSTags:

EVENT BRINGS CREATIVITY, GOVERNMENT, & BUSINESS TOGETHER

Last Friday at MASS MoCA, Berkshire Creative and Mayor Barrett III of North Adams hosted a Round-table discussion between Greg Bialecki, Undersecretary of Business, and leaders of local creative economy businesses. The meeting, also attended by Mayor Ruberto, Rep. Bosely and Rep. Pignatelli, was part of Creative Economy Industry Month. Attendees were not shy about stating the needs of their businesses.

The Transcript’s Coverage: FINDING WAYS TO BRAINSTORM CREATIVELY

NORTH ADAMS — Stimulating the creative economy isn’t about what the state can do for local businesses — it’s about how it can support what they’re already doing.

To understand the needs of the specific industry clusters around the state, along with the geographical challenges, state Undersecretary of Business Greg Bialecki and Jason Schupbach,

creative economy industry director, have embarked on a state-wide listening tour that brought them to Mass MoCA on Friday, where they met with politicians and leaders from around the county.

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State Supports Individual Creativity!

Published: June 27, 2008Posted in: LOCAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETIN, STATE NEWSTags:

North Adams Poet Finalist in MCC’s Artist Fellowship Program

Click to read Monica Raymond’s Poem

About the Program:

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) has recognized more than 60 Massachusetts artists for creating work of exceptional quality in a range of disciplines. MCC’s Artist Fellowship Program will award $7,500 unrestricted grants to 39 artists, and distinguish 24 others as finalists. These outstanding artists were selected from 1,800 applicants in the disciplines of choreography, drawing, painting, fiction/creative nonfiction, poetry and traditional arts.

MCC’s Artist Fellowships recognize the unique contribution made by artists to the cultural vitality of the Commonwealth. The grants provide direct assistance to Massachusetts artists to recognize excellence and creative ability, and to support further development of their talents.

A recent study by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) found that Massachusetts has the third highest number of artists per capita in the nation, trailing only New York and California. “The NEA study reaffirms the vital importance of artists to Massachusetts,” says MCC Executive Director Anita Walker. “These fellowships are one way for the public to celebrate and support the individual artist, the backbone of our state’s creative economy.”

Job Oppportunities

Published: June 27, 2008Posted in: ARCHIVES, JOB ARCHIVETags: Jobs

The mission of Berkshire Creative is to stimulate new job growth and economic opportunity in the region by sparking innovative collaborations between artists, designers, cultural institutions and businesses.

We want you to be part of the creative economy. Check out these jobs presently available in the beautiful Berkshires!

Mass MoCA Operations Manager

iBerkshires Journalist

Excelsior Printing Director Sales Marketing

Berkshire Visitor’s Bureau Manager of Travel Trade Marketing

Berkshire Dance Theatre Instructors

For more jobs, see our “Job Sites” listings in the right hand column.

Do you have an item you would like to share about the creative economy? Suggest a Post to Berkshire Creative!

Lights, Camera, Creative Economy!

Published: June 26, 2008Posted in: LOCAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETIN, STATE NEWSTags: Film and Media, Government, Press

“Since 2006, when a more limited tax credit was first offered, Massachusetts has realized $545 million in direct new film-based revenue compared with just $6 million the year before the tax credit was approved”

Click here to read the full NY Times article

In addition to statewide efforts to grow the Massachusetts film industry, the Berkshire Film and Media Arts Commission (BFMAC) continues to raise awareness of film making opportunities unique to the Berkshires. If you are a filmmaker, an actor or just want to learn more about BFMAC, click here!

To learn more about the Massachusetts Film Office and the Massachusetts Film Tax Credit, click here!

Do you have an item you would like to share about the creative economy? Suggest a Post to Berkshire Creative!

Down Street Art

Published: June 18, 2008Posted in: LOCAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETINTags: Collaboration, Downtown Revitalization, Galleries, North Adams

“An individual may create art but it takes a village to create a platform for its appreciation.”

-Tammy Reynolds, IBerkshires.com

Only in the Berkshires, can collaboration like this happen! The City of North Adams, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and Scarafoni Realty, have teamed up to produce “DownStreetArt”; a summer long arts celebration, highlighting all things art in North Adams.

To read more of Tammy Reynold’s great article on Down Street Art and Berkshire Creative Economy, click here! To get your own North Adams, MA Art Guide, click the above map.

Working on a collaborative effort? Looking for others in the creative economy to collaborate with? Email your project description to blog@berkshirecreative.org!

New Gallery Guide

Published: June 5, 2008Posted in: BERKSHIRE CREATIVE, UPDATESTags: Artists, Collaboration, For-Profit, Galleries, Resource

June 2, 2008

The first county wide guide to Berkshire County’s contemporary art galleries has been published just in time for the summer 2008 cultural season, through a collaboration among Berkshire Creative, Berkshire Living magazine and the Berkshire Visitors Bureau. Download it here!(warning, large 3.5mb file).

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Berkshire Creative to Host Roundtable June 27th

Published: June 5, 2008Posted in: ARCHIVES, HAPPENINGS ARCHIVETags: Advocacy, Business, Event, For-Profit, Government

LOCATION: Mass MOCA – North Adams, MA

HOSTS: Mayor Barrett and Nancy Fitzpatrick

FACILITATOR: Undersecretary for Business Greg Bialecki with introductory remarks by Kevin Sprague, owner Studio Two

The Commonwealth has designated June as Creative Economy Industry Month. Undersecretary for Business Greg Bialecki is touring the state to facilitate conversations with creative economy constituents. As part of this tour, Mayor Barrett and Berkshire Creative Economy Council are hosting a roundtable of for-profit businesses within the Creative Economy sector in the Berkshires. This forum will provide the Commonwealth’s Business Development Office insight into the challenges and opportunities facing this critical piece of the state’s economy.