Have your voice heard by filling out this Artists’ Needs Assesment Survey. Help tyhe Northern Berkshire Community Coalition serve you better.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY!

For artists in northern Berkshire County only!

If you are interested in being a part of this work, please respond to the request below in an email addressed to casting@comelife.org. In your reply, please attach a resumé with dance experience if you have one, or you can write a simple letter of interest. Also please include your availability for the audition dates and times listed above, as well as your general availability between April 6 and June 2.

For more information, please visit: www.comelife.org.

Director,  Architecture OMI

Relationship Manager, @uto Revenue

Assistant to the Artistic Director, Barrington Stage Company

Associate Box Office Manager and Box Office Staff, Barrington Stage Company

Company Manager, Barrington Stage Company

House Manager, Barrington Stage Company

History Teacher, Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School

System Developer, Berkshire Bank

Adjunct Faculty, Berkshire Community College

Security, The Berkshire Museum

Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Berkshire South Regional Community Center

Development Assistant, Berkshire Theatre Festival

Artists Assistant/Driver, Boston Symphony Orchestra

Tanglewood Guide/Public Representative of the BSO, Boston Symphony Orchestra

Tanglewood Facilities Manager, Boston Symphony Orchestra

Tanglewood Volunteer Services Summer Assistant, Boston Symphony Orchestra

Director of Development, Capital Repertory Theater

Moldmaker,  Cavallero Plastics

Project/Tooling Engineer, Cavallero Plastics

Jr. Integration/ Test Engineer, Craig Technologies

Paper Quality Specialist, Crane & Co.

Process Control Engineer, Crane & Co.

Mechanical Project Engineer, Crane & Co.

Typesetter, Crane & Co.

Trimmer Operator, Boyd Technologies

Bookeeper, Hancock Shaker Village

Director of Finance, Hancock Shaker Village

Director of Membership, Hancock Shaker Village

Membership OnSite Sales Associate, Hancock Shaker Village

Audience Services Coordinator, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival

Management Assistant for Dining Services, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival

Box Office Assistants, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Box Office Associate, MASS MoCA

Director of Development, The Montessori School of the Berkshires

Development and Office Professionals, The Mount

Tour Guide, The Mount

Ticket Booth Attendant, The Mount

Bookstore Associate, The Mount

Database/Web Administrator, The Options Institute

Information Technology Manager, The Options Institute

E-Marketing Coordinator, The Options Institute

Costume Positions: Drapers, Stitchers, First Hands, Wardrobe, Shakespeare & Company

FOH Positions: Box Office, House Management, Concessions, Shakespeare & Company

Production Positions: Carpentry, Props, Paint, Sound, and Electrics, Shakespeare & Company

Extrusion Operators, Sheffield Plastics

On Call Preparators, The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute

Program Coordinator, Storefront Artist Project

Sample Board Designer and Order Fulfillment, Saraswati Imports, Inc.

3D CAD Designer, Undisclosed

Director of Writing Programs, Center for Academic Resources, Williams College

Reference/Web Development Librarian, Williams College

Assistant Professor, World Learning

So, the three classes of spending (direct, indirect, and induced) not only reflect related increases in spending for the cultural sector, but the subsequent spending in other industry sectors, such as educational services and real estate.  The 3.6 billion in spending is only a starting point for analyzing the economic impact of arts and culture nonprofits! Click here to estimate the economic impact for organizations in Massachusetts.New England Cultural Nonprofit Expense by Discipline

New England Cultural Nonprofit Expense by Discipline
(Click on the chart to view the interactive version)

After a brief postponement due to a late winter snow storm, Berkshire Creatives from across the county  came together to SPARK! @ The Clark!

Click here to visit our Facebook page and see more pictures! See someone you know or yourself in our facebook pictures? Don’t forget to tag, tag, tag!

SPARK! Attendees, We want your feedback!

Please take a minute to fill out this short survey about the event. Tell us what you liked, what we could do better, and most importantly let us know if you made any connections. Thank you for helping us serve the Berkshire Creative Community better!

See you at the next SPARK!

___________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

SPARK! Lead Sponsor:

Greylock Federal Credit Union

SPARK! Host:

The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute

SPARK! Featured Businesses:

DEVRIES FINE ART INTERNATIONAL, INC.

BERKSHIRECOUPON.COM

THE BERKSHIRE REVIEW FOR THE ARTS

BRILLIANT GRAPHICS GROUP

SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY

TAYLOR’S AND FREIGHT YARD PUB

Would you like to be a featured business at a future SPARK!? Please email 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!

The MBI has asked WesternMA Connect to lead the effort to collect local letters and collaborate with existing broadband committees to assist in the effort.  In order to meet the submission deadline,  WesternMA Connect asks that supporters complete and return letters to them by Wednesday, March 10 in one of three ways:

1) email a word or pdf document with an electronic signature;
2) email a scanned version of a signed letter; or
3) mail the letter by regular mail to:
Sharon Ferry
WesternMA Connect, Inc.
75 South Church Street
Pittsfield, MA  01201
Click here for a sample letter.
PLEASE DO NOT MAIL LETTERS DIRECTLY TO ASSISTANT SECRETARY STRICKLING.

In addition, 3,700 donors contributed $7 million to the foundation last year. Over $260,000 was raised for the new Neighbor-to-Neighbor program in a two-month challenge grant period.  Hundreds of donors stepped forward with donations ranging from $1 to $100,000 to aid individuals and families in the Berkshire Taconic region who are in economic distress.  Neighbor-to-Neighbor awards small grants, usually no more than $500, to help with overdue utilities, medical bills, short-term housing costs and transportation problems. Checks are written to the vendor (landlord, utility company, pharmacy or mechanic) on behalf of the community member in need.

“We have been greatly heartened by the marked generosity of donors in our region during this extremely difficult time,” said Jennifer Dowley, the foundation’s president. “Several donors walked into our offices this past year asking, ‘How can we help?’ and they did.”

On another note of good cheer, Berkshire Taconic’s investments have performed remarkable well even during the worst investment market since the 1930s. Comparative reports put Berkshire Taconic’s returns in the top quartile nationwide of community foundations, private foundations, university endowments and trusts over the past five years.  As of December 31, 2009, the foundation’s assets were up 27.3%.  “It is a great comfort that we have been able to recover much of was lost in 2008 during the drop of the investment markets,” said Jill Gellert, vice president of finance and administration. “We are very proud of the commitment of our investment committee. Their leadership has led to the foundation’s remarkable performance over the years.”

“Our goals for 2010 are to continue our focus on both the long-term development of charitable resources for our region and remain flexible and responsive to those people and nonprofits in immediate need,” said Dowley. “These difficult times are when we need to remember to support the people and organizations that keep our lives flourishing.”

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT.  Thanks to its generous donors, in 2009 Berkshire Taconic distributed nearly $7 million in scholarships and grants for programs in the arts and education, health and human services, and environmental protection.  Berkshire Taconic is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.

Click here to learn more about the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation!

Assets for Artists program provides business and financial training, technical assistance, homebuyer education and grant support through an innovative “matched savings account” model serving low- to moderate-income artists, designers, craftspeople and performers in the Berkshires, helping them grow their creative enterprises and achieve more financial security.  The City contribution of $26,600 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds will provide match funds specifically for existing Pittsfield-based artists who enroll in the program, or artists who choose to move to Pittsfield from outside the City.

The Assets for Artist Program, a collaboration between Berkshire Creative, the City of Pittsfield, MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, and MASS MoCA, is directed by Blair Benjamin, MASS MoCA’s Director of Real Estate & Community Development and a board member of Berkshire Creative.  “With CDBG funds from the City of Pittsfield, we are able to give Pittsfield artists a greater likelihood of attaining their homeownership and small business investment goals and further enhance the solid reputation of Pittsfield as a community that provides exceptional opportunities for artists to thrive and contribute to the local economy” Benjamin said.

Once enrolled, participating artists save $2,000 of their own funds, which are deposited over a 6 to 30 month period into a restricted savings account.  After a minimum of six months, provided they have saved the required funds and completed the required financial and business education or homeownership classes, participants can draw down a $2,000 match from Assets for Artists for business-related investments, or a $4,000 match toward the purchase of a first home.

Helena Fruscio, the Director of Berkshire Creative, praised the City’s efforts and went on to say “The community as a whole will benefit from this partnership by increasing homeownership and creativity in its urban neighborhoods, and attracting new creative entrepreneurs to the City.”

Homeownership funds may be used for down payment assistance and closing costs.  Small business participants may use the funds to make a direct payment to vendors or service providers following the budget established as part of an approved business plan.

Additional support for the program is provided by the Berkshire Bank Foundation, Citizens Bank Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development.

For further information on the program, please contact the City’s Department of Community Development at 413-499-9368.

BerkshireMade has votes to open membership; no limit on the number of members or number of members in any medium. This means:

• Any crafter/artist/artisan/maker living in Berkshire County, MA is welcome to apply! You will find the application here.
• The application process is still juried!

Questions? Interested in learning more?

• Visit BerkshireMade.org!
• Feel free to come to one of our monthly member round table meetings.  Current members are available to answer any questions and are always happy to share!
• Email any questions to info@berkshiremade.org