Archive for January, 2009

Massachusetts Creative Economy Council Holds First Meeting

Published: January 31, 2009Posted in: BERKSHIRE CREATIVE, PRESSTags:

img_3613Statewide Council to develop strategy to help promote Massachusetts Creative Economy

The 25-member Creative Economy Council, established by legislation signed by Governor Patrick in October 2008, held its inaugural meeting Thursday.

The Council is tasked with measuring the creative sector’s contributions to the state, developing a statewide strategy, and promoting responsive public policies and innovative private sector practices.

img_3617

Northern Berkshire State Representative Daniel E. Bosley, who sponsored the legislation creating the Council states:

“The Commonwealth needs a strong and coordinated Creative Economy Council even more so now than when the idea was first hatched. This council will help harness the great potential that we have in this sector of the Massachusetts economy and the council will make strides to further develop and focus all of its far reaching elements. I look forward to seeing what will be accomplished by this excellent group of highly talented specialists representing the many aspects of this economic sector.”

Click here to read full article about the Council!

img_36122

The Berkshire County will be represented by Helena Fruscio, Director of Operations for Berkshire Creative.

The council is chaired by Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Daniel O’Connell and includes representatives from the state’s travel and tourism and business development offices and leaders from academic, arts, technology, and travel and tourism organizations.

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

Funding Opportunity for Local Artists

Published: January 30, 2009Posted in: ARCHIVES, BERKSHIRE CREATIVE, HAPPENINGS ARCHIVE, UPDATESTags:


assets-for-artists-btc-articleAssets for Artists is now accepting applications for 2009!

Upcoming Information Sessions:

Monday, February 9, 7:00pm

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts

28 Renne Avenue, Pittsfield, MA

Tuesday, February 10, 5:30pm

MCLA’s Gallery 51

51 Main Street, North Adams, MA

Click here to download the pre-application form! Application Deadline is Monday, February 23, 2009!

Assets for Artists is a program aimed at helping artists throughout Berkshire County who wish to become home owners and/or strengthen their creative businesses.

Grants of up to $4,000 for artists seeking to become first-time home buyers and $2,000 for artist-entrepreneurs will be available for fourteen low- to moderate-income artists (all disciplines encouraged to apply).

The programs provides state-funded “individual development accounts,” a financial tool that provides an incentive “match” for the participant’s own savings over a period of 6 – 24 months.

Click here to view Berkshire Trade & Commerce’s January 2009 edition article detailing the Assets for Artists program!

If you have any questions about the pre-application process or the program in general, please contact Blair Benjamin at MASS MoCA at blair@massmoca.org or 413-664-4481 x8104

Assets for Artists is a partnership between Berkshire Creative , MASS MoCA, MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center , and Pittsfield’s Office of Cultural Development, with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development and Berkshire Bank Foundation.

ASSETS FOR ARTISTS IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF:

Assets for Artists Sponsors

MCLA Gallery 51 CALL FOR ENTRIES

Published: January 29, 2009Posted in: OPPORTUNITES ARCHIVESTags:

l11933603490_7716Open Call for Entries

Postmark Submission Deadline

February 23, 2009

Exhibition Dates

March 26-April 26, 2009

Exhibition Description

This exhibit will explore themes of play, imagination and wonder. From
childhood dreams where nothing seems impossible, to adventures into
the sometimes mysterious rooms of memory, the exhibit will showcase
work that speaks to the marvelous, the uncanny, or the simply curious.
Work in all media is eligible. Work that has an interactive element is
welcome.

The exhibit will be curated for MCLA Gallery 51 by faculty & students from Museum Studies/Arts Management.

To submit, please send a CD* with the following items to Lauren O’Neal, Fine & Performing Arts, MCLA, 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247.

3-4 images

Image list with title, media, and dimensions

A resume and statement

Please include a SASE for return of materials. There is no entry fee, but
artists will be responsible for getting work to and from the gallery.

For more information, please contact Lauren O’Neal at Lauren.ONeal@mcla.edu.

*Submission by CD is the preferred method due to server limitations, but web site and/or email submissions will be considered. Please email for guidelines.

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

Creative Economy: Berkshires to DC

Published: January 28, 2009Posted in: LOCAL NEWS, NATIONAL NEWS, NEWS BULLETINTags:

2008_guieu_obamaFrom the National Governors Association to the White House, the economic impact of the creative industries is being recognized and optimized.

A new administration is in the White House and policies, pending and requested, for the support and optimization of the creative industries, are flowing.

Robin Pogrebin writes in her recent New York Times article, Arts Leaders Urge Role for Culture in Economic Recovery, “the American Recovery and Reinvestment bill, approved last week by the House Appropriations Committee, includes a $50 million supplement for the N.E.A. to distribute directly to nonprofit arts organizations and also through state and local arts agencies.”

As Jack Dew recently noted in the Berkshire Eagle, for the Berkshires this allocation “could translate to increased grants for Berkshires institutions from Mass MoCA in North Adams to Jacob’s Pillow in Becket.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Join Three Berkshire Organizations in Marking Milestones

Published: January 28, 2009Posted in: ARCHIVES, HAPPENINGS ARCHIVETags:

triple-self-portrait_4_5Norman Rockwell Museum 40th Anniversary Preview

February 3 from 3:00 PM-5:00 PM

Norman Rockwell Museum

9 Glendale Road, Route 183

Stockbridge, MA

All members of the Berkshire Creative community are invited to the Museum for a preview of the 2009 season of exhibitions and events, plus news about major new initiatives the Museum is launching in its 40th year.

No RSVP necessary. Call Audrey Manring, director of communications, at 413-931-2236 with any questions, or e-mail amanring@nrm.org.

Community Celebration of Abraham’s Lincoln 200th Birthday and Chesterwood’s 2009 Season

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Berkshire South Regional Community

Great Barrington, MA

For more information call Chesterwood at (413) 298-3579 ext. 215

Celebrate Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday at the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Open House: The Making of a Museum

Sunday, February 15, 2009

11:30 AM to 2:30 PM

The historic birthplace of Susan B. Anthony and Museum

67 East Road, Adams, MA

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Click here for more information!

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

Berkshire Summer Rentals Needed

Published: January 27, 2009Posted in: OPPORTUNITES ARCHIVESTags:

tanglewood-1Tanglewood is seeking summer rentals for the 2009 season!

Submit your own rental listing to be available immediately for orchestra and staff. Rentals are typically fully furnished complete with linens, towels and kitchenware. Long-term rentals only. No Inns, Hotels or B&Bs.

Typical Full-Season Price Ranges
 Please note that these are not monthly rates, but the total rental cost for a period of approximately 60 days. Pricing factors to consider: location, condition, amenities, privacy, size of space and dates available.

Studio Apartment $2,000-2,500
1 Bedroom Apartment $3,000-$3,500
2 Bedroom Apartment $3,500-4,000
3 Bedroom Apartment $4,500-5,500
Private Home $4,500-7,000

Form Instructions
Complete the Tanglewood Housing form, save it and e-mail it as an attachment to lbench@bso.org. Photos can be sent as attachments or mailed in as hard copies with the form. See instructions for photos on the form.

Questions
For more information please contact Liz Bench at (617) 638-9323 or lbench@bso.org.

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

Berkshire Gallery Guide Event

Published: January 26, 2009Posted in: BERKSHIRE CREATIVE, EVENTS, HAPPENINGS ARCHIVETags:

galleryguide-150x150Berkshire Gallery Guide Event
Thursday, Febraury 5, 2009
5:30 PM-7:00 PM
The Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, MA

Last year Berkshire Living, the Berkshire Visitors Bureau and Berkshire Creative worked together to produce the first county wide gallery guide.

This event is an opportunity for the galleries that participated in the 2008 Gallery Guide, as well as those interested in participating in a 2009 Gallery Guide, to meet and discuss the impact and future of this initiative.

For more information or to RSVP to the event please contact Berkshire Creative info@berkshirecreative.org or call 413.822.8324.

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

Rescheduled MCC Big Hug Meeting

Published: January 26, 2009Posted in: ARCHIVES, HAPPENINGS ARCHIVETags:

teamwork-300x268The MCC invites all members of the cultural community to participate in the rescheduled Massachusetts Cultural Council Big Hug Tour!

Originally scheduled for January 7th, and postponed due to inclement weather, the Big Hug Tour will be in the Berkshires at the:

Berkshire Museum
39 South St., Pittsfield, MA
Monday, February 9th
2:00 PM

This is an opportunity for cultural workers to share stories and data on how the weakened economy has affected your business, and how you’re responding. It is also a chance to brainstorm on collaborative opportunities to promote continued private and public investment in arts and culture in Massachusetts, even as resources are increasingly strained.

Please come prepared to discuss changes in:

  • Ticket sales/attendance
  • Other earned revenue
  • Endowment value
  • Corporate sponsorship
  • Individual giving

Information will not be used for grant review purposes or shared with the public. RSVP to Neluka Levy, 617-727-3668 x231 or neluka.levy@art.state.ma.us

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

First Meeting of the Massachusetts Creative Economy Council

Published: January 26, 2009Posted in: NEWS BULLETIN, STATE NEWSTags:

microsoft-word-the-creative-economy-council-invite-1The Creative Economy Council: A New Initiative to Support the Growth of the Creative Sector

The Public is invited to join Housing and Economic Development Secretary Dan O’Connell for the Inaugural Creative Economy Council meeting

Thursday, January 29th, 2009
2:00 PM – 3:45 PM
The Institute of Contemporary Art, Barbara Lee Family Foundation Theater
100 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA 02210

Please RSVP by Wednesday January 28, 2009 to RSVP@state.ma.us
or call (617) 788-3665.

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

Berkshire Fringe Festival Artist Application Deadline

Published: January 26, 2009Posted in: OPPORTUNITES ARCHIVESTags:

picture-12Berkshire Fringe Festival Artist Application Deadline Quickly Approaching!

2009 Berkshire Fringe Festival Application Postmark Deadline is February 2, 2009!

cover-montage-2

The Berkshire Fringe Festival, which begins July 29 and runs through August 17, is looking for innovative, fun, and edgy work by emerging and performing artists.

Most Berkshire Fringe artists would classify themselves as either theater or dance, but works for the stage that combine or defy discipline and genre are accepted as well. Check out the Berkshire Fringe archives to see what was programmed over the last three years!

Click here to visit the Berkshire Fringe website!

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

« Older Entries