“Play is the Thing: The Serious Work of Play”

NECAP’s annual conference for teaching artists, educators and arts administrators and presenters

Thursday, September 23, Downtown Brattleboro, Vermont

The critical importance of play in learning and human development is increasingly recognized, but we seem to have less and less space and time for it. This conference looks at the ways teaching artists can be leaders in supporting play — and the creativity it inspires — with learners of all ages and in their own lives. Features juggler and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Michael Moschen; Sara Boettrich, Museum Educator, Strong National Museum of Play; and workshops with outstanding artist-educators from across New England.

Registration fee of $40 ($50 after September 6, $60 after September 15) includes morning refreshments & lunch.

Click here or visit http://artisteducators.org for conference details, workshop descriptions and registration information, or to download a conference brochure or poster.

Presented by NECAP (the New England Consortium of Artist-Educator Professionals) in collaboration with the New England States Arts Agencies, the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire and Lesley University.

Shakespeare & Company’s Artistic Director Tony Simotes and Director of Communications Elizabeth Aspenlieder enthusiastically welcome Allissa Wickham as new Shake & Co. Communications Associate.

Wickham brings not only her energy and talent to the Company but also her journalism experience having written for publications such as The Berkshire Record, The Brown Daily Herald, The Providence Daily Dose, and GirlFuture.com. Her multimedia work includes credits with Brown Television, Brown Student Radio, and NW Documentary in Portland, OR. Wickham is also an Artist Manager, a long-standing management model within the Company that incorporates both managerial duties along with artistic endeavors. Don’t miss her in the hysterical Amorous Quarrel this summer where Allissa takes on the feisty role of Ascanio on the outdoor Rose Footprint Theatre.

In addition to working with the Communications team, Wickham has a long history with the Company, having participated in the Fall Festival of Shakespeare and Shakespeare & Young Company as a student. Like other Artist Managers in the Company, Wickham continues her long-time relationship with the Education Program, teaching and directing in the upcoming annual Fall Festival of Shakespeare, and this summer’s Riotous Youth program.

“Allissa is a great addition to our department and year round staff,” says Simotes. “She brings valuable real-world experience and creative talents to us and will be a terrific asset in bringing the Company’s vision to life.

Aspenlieder adds, “Allissa’s long history with the Company is also a wonderful advantage in the Communications Department as she can speak first hand about her experiences with the Company from over the past decade. We’ve got big plans in the wings, and are happy to make Allissa part of them.”

Wickham holds a BA in Literary Arts and Modern American History from Brown University, where she worked in the Office of Public Affairs and Media Relations. While at Brown, Wickham also performed in various student productions and ran the Shakespeare on the Green theater troupe.

Keep up with the work of Berkshire Creative!

This report will help you to understand what we do and the impact of our work in the Berkshires. It contains stats and information from July 2009-June 2010.

Click here to download full report.

WHAT IS A CREATIVE CHALLENGE?

The Creative Challenge connects Berkshire manufacturers and businesses to local designers, engineers, and creative workers with the aim of stimulating innovative research and development for existing and/or new product lines

HISTORY
The Creative Challenge was born from “Design It Here, Make It Here”; an initiative outlined in the 2007 Berkshire Creative Economy Report, which suggested developing a campaign to explore the interest in and capacity for manufacturers in the county to take on the production of “creative products.” The report identified that, “Likely candidates would be those companies that manufacture plastics, metal, fabrics, and wood products, as well as those involved in printing.”

HOW IT WORKS
Berkshire Creative partners with a local business to define the nature, format and criteria of a Berkshire Creative Challenge. This can be anything from the re-visioning of existing products, generating new ideas and concepts for existing production methods, to introducing a brand new product line!

INTERESTED IN HOSTING A CHALLENGE AT YOUR BUSINESS?
This program is designed to connect Berkshire manufacturers and businesses to the rich creative talent pool of the Berkshires, so more Berkshire products may be designed here and made here!

Companies interested in hosting a Creative Challenge should contact Helena Fruscio, Director of Berkshire Creative by phone at 413.822.8324 or email at helena.fruscio@berkshirecreative.org.

Click here to read posts about past, present and upcoming Creative Challenges!



From Washington, DC to Milwaukee, WI, emerging creative economies are referencing and utilizing Berkshire Creative’s innovative processes, partnerships, programs, and initiatives to successfully grow and support the creative economy.

Economic development in the creative economy can be daunting. It is a multi-faceted, relatively new field. Important practical questions arise like:

Who is included?

How do we reach them?

How do we help them?

Where do we start?

Berkshire Creative has already navigated these issues, and we want to use our experiences and knowledge base to help your region support and grow your creative economy.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to expand and diversify, Berkshire Creative has effective, adaptable models to support your work.

Contact Berkshire Creative’s Director Helena Fruscio by email Helena.fruscio@berkshirecreative.org or call 413.822.8324 to learn more

“Berkshire Creative has been a model and resource for the CreativityWorks! project because of its strong web presence, the integration of the for-profit and non-profit creative segments, and because BC is a few years ahead of the Cultural Alliance on implementing the strategies based on the plan developed with Mt. Auburn Associates a few years ago.“-Shirah Apple, Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee and CreativityWorks!

How Can Berkshire Creative Help?

Berkshire Creative provides support and information on all aspects of creative economy economic development. All information is practical, and can be tailored to meet your organizations needs and areas of interest.  Our goal is to provide you with actionable information to help you reach your development goals.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• What your organization can do to support its Creative Industry: A Vision for the Future-Where to start and what to do to support the Creative Industry.
• Web Connections: Effective Communications and Tech Support-How to create and maintain effective internet networking geared toward your creative industry.
  
• How to Create Connections: Effective In-Person Networking-A step-by-step outline of how to execute in-person connections in your region.
• How to Grow your Creative Industry through innovative programs: A step-by-step process of how to execute Berkshire Creative’s economic initiatives- Assets for Artists, Creative Challenge, Tricks of the Trade, Gallery Guide, Resource Meetings, And More!

Additional topics provided in conjunction with our partners Mt. Auburn Associates*:

• Define the Creative Industry in your region-Who is working in your creative industry and how to find them.
• Identify strategies to support-Support specific industries within your creative economy using nationally proven models.
  
• How did Berkshire Creative get here?-How a Steering Committee and Mt. Auburn set the foundation for groundbreaking work in the creative economy.
• How to get it done!-Moving from quantifying and planning to moving your creative economy forward-NOW!

Sessions can be provided via phone, web, or in person, and are great for staff, leadership teams, boards, or the community at large.

“Helena is a strong and articulate presenter and showcases Berkshire as a model for creative industry development extremely well. I think she got a sense of our community and the issues of concern very quickly–or she anticipated them before we raised them–and dealt with them clearly and with a genuine understanding of the complexities of working with the multiplicity of interests that we face. Her web and social media savvy has been extremely helpful to us–Berkshire Creative’s website will definitely continue to be a model for our planning.”

Want Berkshire Creative to help you? Contact Berkshire Creative’s Director Helena Fruscio by email Helena.fruscio@berkshirecreative.org or call 413.822.8324.

Check out other regions that have already taken advantage of Berkshire Creative’s Creative Economy Economic Development Sessions:

• Creativity Works, Milwaukee, WI
• Arts Alive, Keene, NH
• Creative Portland, Portland, ME

*Mt. Auburn provides a full range of consulting services in the field of economic development analysis and strategy. Working with a variety of public and private organizations, the firm creates effective economic development policies and programs that promote economic growth and stability, job generation, and the improved functioning of capital markets.

BACKGROUND

MASS MoCA is the largest visual and performing arts center in North America; a world-class cultural institution that exists to catalyze and support the creation of new art, expose its visitors to bold visual and performing arts, and re-invigorate the life of a region in socioeconomic need.

HARDWARE: The MASS MoCA Store along with the Williamstown satellite store , MASS MoCA by Design contribute to the mission of MASS MoCA by championing and representing innovative young companies, designers, and artists along with local and regional producers.

THE CHALLENGE

The MASS MoCA Stores seek producers of exciting new products to add to its fun and functional selection of wares. Optimal items include, but are not limited to:

• Fresh, surprising, challenging, and well-priced merchandise that reflects the qualities of the work in the MASS MoCA galleries and performing arts spaces.

• Items that complement MASS MoCA’s industrial surroundings and reflect the pulse of the buildings including products that repurpose, re-use, and express creativity through sustainability.

ELIGIBILITY

All applicants must be a ‘Friend of Berkshire Creative’ ($25). If you are not already a friend, please click here to become a Friend.

Applicants of all ages, backgrounds, and training are encouraged to submit ideas. Applicants must live, work or go to school in Berkshire County.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION AND IMAGE GUIDELINES

1. Click here to fill out the online application.

2. To submit Images either include your website in the online application or email up to 10 images to info@berkshirecreative.org.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 5pm, September 27, 2010

Designers whose work is of interest will be contacted by October 8, 2010.

Selected participants will be invited to MASS MoCA for a October 15, 2010 tour and presentation on the MASS MoCA stores and the creative assignment.

Questions?

Contact Helena Fruscio, Director of Berkshire Creative by phone at 413.822.8324 or email at helena.fruscio@berkshirecreative.org.

Feel free to blog/tweet/share this opportunity with your friends and colleagues!

_____________________________________________________________________________

CREATIVE CHALLENGE BACKGROUND INFORMATION

WHAT IS A CREATIVE CHALLENGE?
The Creative Challenge connects Berkshire manufacturers and businesses to local designers, engineers, and creative workers with the aim of stimulating innovative research and development for existing and/or new product lines

HISTORY
The Creative Challenge was born from “Design It Here, Make It Here”; an initiative outlined in the 2007 Berkshire Creative Economy Report, which suggested developing a campaign to explore the interest in and capacity for manufacturers in the county to take on the production of “creative products.” The report identified that, “Likely candidates would be those companies that manufacture plastics, metal, fabrics, and wood products, as well as those involved in printing.”

HOW IT WORKS
Berkshire Creative partners with a local business to define the nature, format and criteria of a Berkshire Creative Challenge. This can be anything from the re-visioning of existing products, generating new ideas and concepts for existing production methods, to introducing a brand new product line!

INTERESTED IN HOSTING A CHALLENGE AT YOUR BUSINESS?
This program is designed to connect Berkshire manufacturers and businesses to the rich creative talent pool of the Berkshires, so more Berkshire products may be designed here and made here!

Companies interested in hosting a Creative Challenge should contact Helena Fruscio, Director of Berkshire Creative by phone at 413.822.8324 or email at helena.fruscio@berkshirecreative.org.

LINC, in partnership with the Ford Foundation, announces an open call for proposals to the Ford Foundation Space for Change Planning and Pre-Development Grant program. The grants will provide a complementary suite of material support, with access to a national learning community, as well as technical assistance.

Letter of Intent In-Hand Deadline: September 17, 2010

Non-profit arts organizations with strong track records of artistic excellence, who are intending to buy, build, renovate, partner in the development of, or become anchor tenants in a vibrant artist space can apply for up to $100,000 in support of a facility project. Exemplary projects will not only result in dynamic artist space facilities, but will also function as engines of cultural equity and social change, applying innovations and best practices in artist space development that produce sustainable, affordable facilities for the continuation of artistic excellence.

LINC’s core commitment to diversity —cultural, geographic, and genre—which extends to our grantee network spanning from Massachusetts to Hawai’i, has informed the design of the Ford Foundation Space for Change Planning and Pre-Development Grants. We encourage a wide range of organizations with cultural facility projects in their pipelines to consider how the program can deepen their planning processes and help them to leverage a stronger position as collaborative partners with municipalities, developers, and local stakeholders, while also expanding their national network of peers.

Click here to learn more!

The mission of Berkshire Carousel, which established itself as a not for profit entity in 2006 “is to create a form of family entertainment and work of art by building an authentic classical wooden carousel. The project involves residents of the entire Berkshire Community who are carving and painting the carousel figures (“ponies”) and creating the artwork on the ride. The carousel will be located in downtown Pittsfield and is to be completed in 2012. This will be the most ambitious and largest permanent artwork ever created in the Berkshires by volunteers.”

Want to be a part of this collaborative community project? All are invited to participate, whether you are an experienced artisan or just someone who would like to learn and is willing to devote time to the project. Opportunities exist for people to carve, sand and paint. Professional carvers and painters will be teaching and working side by side with volunteers to provide both a great learning experience and to create exquisite figures and parts of our carousel.
Click here to learn more and learn more.

Berkshire Artisans and manufacturers at the New York International Gift Fair (NYGIF)-some to share their wares, others just to see what it was all about.

Twice a year approximately 35,000 people converge on New York City to see what’s new in the home, lifestyle and gift products at the NYIGF.  Earlier this month, the Berkshires were grandly represented at the fair by businesses ranging from independent, established artisans like Daniel Bellow and mid-sized companies like Rennie & Rose, to heavy hitters like Blue Q, Dash & Albert and  Pine Cone Hill.

Among the throngs of buyers and sellers were Red Lion Inn Gift Shop Manager Jayne Church and 16 local Berkshire artisans ranging from jewelry makers like Ellen Farris to fabric artist Fern Leslie, and wire sculptor Wayne Donaldson (whose work is now on display at the American Folk Art Museum).

“The fair is  not open to the general public. Attendees must be a buyer, presenter or guest to attend,” says Church. “So it was great to bring in these artisans as my guests- to have them experience first hand what their creative endeavors could become”

The trip was part of Church’s larger efforts, to help local artisans advance their businesses.  In 2009, The Red Lion Inn began to re-vision its gift shop as a mecca for locally made goods.With the new direction of the  shop, Church began to work with a wider variety of makers,  who were operating at widely varied levels professional development. It was then that she began to use her retail manager know-how to help many of the artisans advance their businesses.  Church now supplies the over 100 artisans represented in the inn’s gift shop with a monthly e-blasts featuring opportunities and resources, as well as template business forms such as a purchase orders and invoices.  “If they are looking to advance their passions to a full fledged business, I want to be there to help them.” says Church. (Interested in tapping into Church’s know-how, email her at jchurch@redlioninn.com- she is happy to help any and all local artisans)

Among the artisans was Berkshire Creative Board Member and BerkshireMade Vice-President, Stephanie Gravalese-Wood. Wood writes, “Attending the New York Gift Fair as an artisan was an eye opening and inspiring experience. When I was walking through the booths I had one question: how does one take the leap from showing at artisan fairs and selling to a few local shops to wholesale full-color catalogs and opening orders?”

To help answer that query, Wood  visited many of the Berkshire based presenters and asked them one question:  “What is one piece of advice that you would give to a small artisan business that they could use if they want to exhibit at a tradeshow in the future?” Following is what she got:

Wizzy Wrap: “If you are a creative person find a business mentor who will look at
your strategy and financials”

Rennie and Rose: “Keep your standards up as well as your quality of product. You will not end up where you started. Have your goals and set your sights to make it work”

Dash and Albert:”Think about cross merchandising when displaying your product.”

Pine Cone Hill: “Have good marketing materials, a good take-away for anyone looking at your product. Get information for everyone who comes by your booth/table. There is
no interaction that is not worth capturing”

Daniel Bellow Pottery: “Work on your line, be consistent and make sure you can deliver….Be organized, have a logo, get good at Photoshop, and have great marketing materials”

“All of this advice can be used whether or not your goal is selling at a wholesale trade show or committing to retail artisan mark. ” says Wood “Even if you haven’t figured out what the larger goal is for your business.”

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

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announces 10 winning applicants  in the second phase of the Race to the Top competition.

Race to the top ” is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education program designed to spur reforms in state and local district K-12 education. It is funded by the ED Recovery Act as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and was announced by President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on July 24, 2009″

Massachusetts is one of  11 states to be awarded funds, in Phase 1 and 2 of  the Obama Administration’s education reform program that is expected to  directly impact 13.6 million students, and 980,000 teachers in 25,000 schools.

“Every state that applied showed a tremendous amount of leadership and a bold commitment to education reform. The creativity and innovation in each of these applications is breathtaking,” said Secretary Arne Duncan.. “We set a high bar and these states met the challenge.”

A total of 46 states and the District of Columbia put together comprehensive education reform plans to apply for Race to the Top in Phases 1 and 2. Over the course of the Race to the Top competition, 35 states and the District of Columbia have adopted rigorous common, college- and career-ready standards in reading and math, and 34 states have changed laws or policies to improve education.

Every state that applied has already done the hard work of collaboratively creating a comprehensive education reform agenda. In the coming months, the Department plans to bring all States together to help ensure the success of their work implementing reforms around college- and career-ready standards, data systems, great teachers and leaders, and school turnarounds.

In addition to the reforms supported by Race to the Top, the Department has made unprecedented resources available through reform programs like the Investing in Innovation Fund, the Teacher Incentive Fund, and the School Improvement Grants under Title I.

Through all of these programs, the Department of Education will be distributing almost $10 billion to support reform in states and local communities.

“As we look at the last 18 months, it is absolutely stunning to see how much change has happened at the state and local levels, unleashed in part by these incentive programs,” Duncan said.

As with any federal grant program, budgets will be finalized after discussions between the grantees and the Department, and the money will be distributed over time as the grantees meet established benchmarks.

The $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund is an unprecedented federal investment in reform. The program includes $4 billion for statewide reform grants and $350 million to support states working together to improve the quality of their assessments, which the Department plans to award in September. The Race to the Top state competition is designed to reward states that are leading the way in comprehensive, coherent, statewide education reform across four key areas:

• Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace;
• Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals how to improve instruction;
• Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and
• Turning around their lowest-performing schools.

The Department of Education has posted all Phase 2 applications online. Phase 2 peer reviewers’ comments, and scores will be available on the website by August 25th; videos of states’ presentations will be posted by September 10th. Phase 1 materials are available online.

Click here to learn more!