Creativity Archive

SPARK! @ THE CLARK RESCHEDULED!! THURS. MARCH 4, 2010!!

SPARK! @ THE CLARK RESCHEDULED!! THURS. MARCH 4, 2010!!

DON’T LET THAT SNOW STOP YOUR SPARK!

JOIN YOUR CREATIVE ECONOMY COLLEAGUES AT SPARK @ THE CLARK!

NETWORKING EVENT FOR BERKSHIRE CREATIVES!

Come and meet your creative economy colleagues! If words like art, culture, design, innovation, and technology are part of your vocabulary chances are you are part of the region’s growing creative economy. Whether you work in industry or the arts, Berkshire Creative invites you to come out to mix and mingle at our signature event!

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The Clark

Thursday, March 4, 2010

5:30 PM-7:00 PM

Click here for a map!

For more information please contact info@berkshirecreative.org or call 413.822.8324.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP!

Would you like to become more involved in the creative community? Volunteer for SPARK! contact info@berkshirecreative.org or call 413.822.8324.

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ABOUT THE CLARK

In 1950 Sterling and Francine Clark chartered the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute as a home for their extensive art collection. Opened to public in 1955, the Institute has built upon this extraordinary group of works to become one of the most beloved and respected art museums in the world, known 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. Building upon the founders’ legacy, the Institute has recently unveiled its master plan for the twenty-first century, which fosters the Clark’s commitment to providing space for its expanding research and museum programs while maintaining the unique character of its beautiful rural setting.

Click here to visit their website and learn more!

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“Our Creative Berkshires”

As usual, all attendees are invited to bring business cards and brochures to leave on a table showcasing “Our Creative Berkshires.”

Let’s talk across industry, talk across sector, talk across town!

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A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR LEAD SPARK! SPONSOR

GREYLOCK FEDERAL CREDIT UNION


If you live or work in the Berkshires, you are cordially invited to join Greylock Federal Credit Union.

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SNEAK PEEK OF SPARK! FEATURED BUSINESSES

Check out the Berkshire Creative Economy businesses that will be featured at the upcoming Wednesday, February 24th SPARK! at The Clark

DEVRIES FINE ART INTERNATIONAL, INC.

The Gallery features the figurative bronze sculpture of Andrew DeVries cast by the artist at his studio foundry in Middlefield, Massachusetts in limited editions along with original pastel drawings. Andrew is celebrating his 30th year as a professional sculptor. His works are in private and public collections in 16 countries. The gallery is located in the charming historic district of Lenox.

BERKSHIRECOUPON.COM

Love the Berkshires and love to save? Then you’ll love BerkshireCoupon.com! BerkshireCoupon.com is an online coupon website filled with great coupons to businesses in the Berkshires including restaurants, theaters, shopping, hotels and more! Just go to www.berkshirecoupon.com, Click on the category you’re interested in, Print the coupons you want, and Save right away! It’s quick, convenient, and free. Plus, BerkshireCoupon.com always has great giveaways every month.

Love advertising your business but hate the cost? BerkshireCoupon.com has affordable, effective advertising. Call Dawn Carberry at 413-441-6274 or email save@berkshirecoupon.com.

THE BERKSHIRE REVIEW FOR THE ARTS

The Berkshire Review for the Arts is an online arts magazine based in Williamstown. Launched in 2007 with the mission of providing in-depth, expert articles, reviews, and interviews about classical music, opera, theater, art, photography, dance, books, travel, food and drink, the Review now averages over 100,000 pageviews and 20,000 visits per month, with over 15,000 visitors concentrated in New York, New England, the West Coast, and Europe. In addition to the summer festivals and exhibitions in the Berkshires, we regularly cover events in New York, Boston, Edinburgh, London, and Rome, with occasional reports from wherever one of our more than 25 regular contributors may be. David Porter, President Emeritus, Skidmore College, has said, “The Review is a major cultural resource–and one distinguished by its quality of writing; I’d hate not to receive it.”

BRILLIANT GRAPHICS GROUP

Brilliant Graphics Group is a unique large format solutions provider offering 3D scanning, direct to media printing, photo imaging and digital die cutting. From 1 print to thousands, with the capabilities to produce; trade show display & graphics, backlit images, retail displays, window graphics, banners, box prototypes and Giclée prints.

SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY

Heating up the Berkshires this winter with the wickedly entertaining Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons)—playing the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre through March 21—Shakespeare & Company is in the planning stages for its 33rd hit season in Lenox, with shows including The Winter’s Tale and Richard III (featuring award-winning actor John Douglas Thompson in the title role). Shakespeare & Company is also home to an award-winning Education Program that is deeply rooted in the Berkshire County community, and is internationally renowned for its Center for Actor Training which attracts students, teachers and artists from over 20 countries who participate in its programs year round.

Learn more at Shakespeare.org

TAYLOR’S AND FREIGHT YARD PUB

Sean Taylor and Colleen Taylor Reinhard have owned and operated the Freight Yard Pub in North Adams, Massachusetts for 15 years. In the summer of 2007, they opened Taylor’s in downtown North Adams near MASS MoCA. Taylor’s has quickly become the upscale steak and seafood house of the Northern Berkshires. Both FYP and Taylor’s have strong local support. The owners pride themselves on serving quality food in an elegant atmosphere. The atmosphere at Taylor’s is upscale, yet casual featuring tempting dishes presented by a knowledgeable and friendly staff.

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!

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New York Times Reports on Growing Creativity and Innovation Trend in MBA Programs

New York Times Reports on Growing Creativity and Innovation Trend in MBA Programs

Multicultural Critical Theory. At B-School?

By LANE WALLACE
January 9, 2010

A DECADE ago, Roger Martin, the new dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, had an epiphany. The leadership at his son’s elementary school had asked him to meet with its retiring principal to figure out how it could replicate her success.

He discovered that the principal thrived by thinking through clashing priorities and potential options, rather than hewing to any pre-planned strategy — the same approach taken by the managing partner of a successful international law firm in town.

“The ‘Eureka’ moment was when I could draw a data point between a hotshot, investment bank-oriented star lawyer and an elementary school principal,” Mr. Martin recalls. “I thought: ‘Holy smokes. In completely different situations, these people are thinking in very similar ways, and there may be something special about this pattern of thinking.’ ”

That insight led Mr. Martin to begin advocating what was then a radical idea in business education: that students needed to learn how to think critically and creatively every bit as much as they needed to learn finance or accounting. More specifically, they needed to learn how to approach problems from many perspectives and to combine various approaches to find innovative solutions.

In 1999, few others in the business-school world shared Mr. Martin’s view. But a decade and a seismic economic downturn later, things have changed. “I think there’s a feeling that people need to sharpen their thinking skills, whether it’s questioning assumptions, or looking at problems from multiple points of view,” says David A. Garvin, a Harvard Business School professor who is co-author with Srikant M. Datar and Patrick G. Cullen of an upcoming book, “Rethinking the M.B.A.: Business Education at a Crossroads.”

Learning how to think critically — how to imaginatively frame questions and consider multiple perspectives — has historically been associated with a liberal arts education, not a business school curriculum, so this change represents something of a tectonic shift for business school leaders. Mr. Martin even describes his goal as a kind of “liberal arts M.B.A.”

“The liberal arts desire,” he says, is to produce “holistic thinkers who think broadly and make these important moral decisions. I have the same goal.”

Click here to read the full article on New York Times online!

Local Creatives Rise to Meet First Berkshire Creative Challenge!

Local Creatives Rise to Meet First  Berkshire Creative Challenge!

In 2009, Berkshire Creative launched the Creative Challenge to connect Berkshire manufacturers and businesses with local designers, engineers and creative workers. Last week, Interprint and Berkshire Creative announced that the inaugural Challenge, had done just that.

When Berkshire Creative and Interprint, Inc., released the call for applications for the inaugural challenge, there was no way to know what the response would be to the new intitiative. By the September 28th deadline, the response was clear- 39 local creatives, of various disciplines and backgrounds had applied. From those 39 applicants, 21 were chosen to participate, and 18 those 21 participants submitted solutions to the challenge.

From those eighteen submissions, five were selected. Heather Rose’s popcorn inspired design was selected for development, three designs by Thomas Hoadley was put on retainer, and three other participants, Jennifer Clark, John Stritch, and Cate Hunter received small awards in recognition of their designs. All designers will be paid fair market price for any developed design.

“We are so elated that this, our first Creative Challenge, was such a resounding success,” says Berkshire Creative Director, Helena Fruscio. “The Creative Challenge has helped raise awareness that if you are a manufacturer looking for a top-notch designer or a designer looking for a contract with a world-class company, you can find it here in the Berkshires, where creativity lives!”

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

Click here to read iberkshires coverage of the Creative Challenge or here to listen to Charlie Dietz’s coverage on WAMC!

Click here to read past posts about the Creative Challenge!

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

Hey Berkshire County, You’re SPARKLING!

Hey Berkshire County, You’re SPARKLING!

Last Thursday, creatives from across the county converged on the Seven Hills Inn for food, drink and a good old creative holiday hoorah!

Click here to see more party pics on ruralintelligence.com!

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SPECIAL THANKS TO EVENT CHAIR, ALLISON CRANE,  ALL THE SPARKLE! ATTENDEES, VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS, SUPPORTERS, AND DONATING BUSINESSES THAT MADE THE EVENT SUCH AN OUTSTANDING NIGHT!

SPONSORS

Berkshire Living

spark-dec-09

SPARK the holidays with savings! Use your Greylock VISA card from November 15, 2009 – January 15, 2010 and pay only 4.99% APR until those balances are paid in full. Valid for purchases, cash advances, balance transfers and letter checks.

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SPARKLE! SUPPORTERS

PRINTING AND DESIGN SUPPORT!

excelsiorstudiotwo

Click to Learn More About Excelsior Printing!

Click to Learn More About Studio Two!

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SPARKLE! HOST

7hillsinn

Click here to learn more about the Seven Hills Inn!

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FOR PROVIDING DELECTABLE EATS AND DELICIOUS TREATS!

BRIXHAVEN

Click to Learn More About Brix!

Click to Learn More About Haven!

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FOR PROVIDING THE NIGHT’S MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

heaven

Evan Randall and Heather Fisch!

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AND TO ALL OUR DONATING BUSINESSES…..

Alchemy Initiative

Allison Crane

ALJ Designs

The Art of Wellness Massage Therapy

Barrington Stage Company

Benchmark Real Estate

Berkshire International Film Festival

Berkshire Mountain Distillers

Berkshire Organics

Berkshire Museum

Bisque, Beads & Beyond*

Blantyre

Blueline Design

Blue Q

Bola Granola

Castle Street Cafe

Chocolate Springs Cafe

The Clark

The Colonial Theatre

Crane & Co.

Daniel Bellow Pottery*

DreamAway Lodge

FaceHaven

Stephanie Gravalese-Wood, Atomswork*

Hancock Shaker Village

Hotchkiss Mobiles

Inn at Richmond

Stephanie Iverson

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival

Kinesphere Studio

Donna Kittredge

Eric Korenman, Photographer

Kripalu

Laurie Coyle Designs*

Limited Editions by Dawn*

Lisa Anderson Jewelry

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

MCLA Presents!

Michele O’Hana, Ha’ Penny Design

Michael Wainwright

Minc House

Museum Facsimiles

Norman Rockwell Museum

Novel Idea Book Purse*

MASS MoCA

Michele O’Hana, Ha’ Penny Design

Museum Facsimiles

Olive Designs

Peter Alvarez Salon

The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA

The Puddle People Design Studio*

Scott Olsen, The Puzzle Guy*

River Hill Pottery

Selina Lamb, Ltd., LLC

Seven Hills Inn

Shakespeare & Company

Evan Soldinger and Linda Kaye-Moses

Tanglewood Business Partners

Topia Inn

“what if i just…”

BerkshireMade Member*

Calls for Submissions

Calls for Submissions

Check out these calls for submissions and connections! Click each title to learn more!

EMERGING ARTISTS 2010: Call for Submissions

November 30, 2009

BERKSHIRE CITY: PITTSFIELD ON FILM: Call for Submissions

Deadline: December 7th, 2009

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS: Call for Papers

Deadline: December 7th, 2009

LOWER EAST SIDE PRINTSHOP: Residency

Deadline: December 2nd, 2009

THE 2009 WINTER GROUP SHOW AT WARD 3: Call for Submissions

Deadline: December 3rd, 2009

ART OMI INTERNATION ARTISTS RESIDENCY: APPLICATION

Deadline: December 11th, 2009

“IN PROGRESS” –A JURIED SHOW OF PROCESS WORK: Call for Submissions

Deadline: December 11th, 2009

DRAWING ROOM: Envelope(s) Call for Art

Deadline: December 15th, 2009

GRAMERCY BISTRO: Call for two dimensional Art

Deadline: December 15th, 2009

BERKSHIRE INTERNATION FILM FESTIVAL (BIFF): Call for Film Submissions

Deadline: March 1st, 2010

9th Annual International Photography Competition: Call for Submissions

Deadline: January 22nd, 2010

UPSTREET: Call for Submissions, Writing

Submission Period: Until March 1, 2010

SODUS ART BANCK: Residency and Workshop Applications

Deadline: One month before session

MANIFEST: Call for Entries

Deadline: Rolling

HILLTOWN FAMILIES: Call for Submissions, Writing and Photography

Deadline: Rolling

INDEARTS: Call for Submissions, Writing

Deadline: Rolling

GICLEE PRINTS: Fine Artist searching for a source for giclee reproduction printing in the Berkshires

Deadline: Rolling (Click link to email Deidre)

LONDON 2010 OLYMPICS: Contract Opportunities

Deadline: Variable

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

It’s time to SPARKLE!

It’s time to SPARKLE!

sparklefinIt’s time to come together again to SPARKLE! with creative economy holiday cheer!

Thursday, December 3, 2009
Seven Hills Inn
40 Plunkett Street, Lenox (map)
6:30PM – 8:30PM
$25 admission ($15 for Friends of Berkshire Creative)

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS!

Berkshire Creative’s Holiday SPARK! Event

Berkshire Creative invites you to come, enjoy delectable eats from Brix and Haven, musical entertainment of Evan Randall and Heather Fisch, and items from some of the Berkshire’s best creative economy businesses in our silent and chance auctions!

Interested in being a SPARKLE! volunteer?
Contact Helena Fruscio at info@berkshirecreative.org or 413.822.8324!

Click here for images from last years SPARKLE!

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Event Sponsored By:

Berkshire Living

spark-dec-09

SPARK the holidays with savings! Use your Greylock VISA card from November 15, 2009 – January 15, 2010 and pay only 4.99% APR until those balances are paid in full. Valid for purchases, cash advances, balance transfers and letter checks.

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Food provided by:

BRIXHAVEN

Click to Learn More About Brix!

Click to Learn More About Haven!

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Live Music Provided by Guitar and accordion stylings from two of the Berkshire’s most irresistable musical gems Evan Randall and Heather Fisch!

heaven
The Musical Collision of Old Timey Tunes and Old World Spirit!

Click here for more information!

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SPECIAL THANKS TO SPARKLE! HOST, SEVEN HILLS INN

7hillsinn

Click here to learn more about the Seven Hills Inn!

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SPECIAL THANKS TO EXCELSIOR PRINTING AND STUDIO TWO FOR THEIR PRINTING AND DESIGN SUPPORT!excelsiorstudiotwoClick to Learn More About Excelsior Printing!

Click to Learn More About Studio Two!

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Add SPARKLE to Your Holiday!

We look forward to spending the holidays with you and our local creatives!

Attend SPARKLE! and automatically Become a Friend of Berkshire Creative!

Tricks of the Trade 2009-2010!

Tricks of the Trade 2009-2010!

Tricks of the Trade is back!

This eighteen part seminar series is produced by MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center in collaboration with Berkshire Creative, Pittsfield Office of Cultural Development and IS183 Art School to keep our Creatives in the know!

Each month, Tricks of the Trade seminars will focus on a different area of creative professional development. Seminars will be held throughout the county, ensuring outr creative workers can easily connect with these resource. See below for upcoming November Tricks of the Trade seminars!

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December: BRANDING

How does one artist stick out in a crowd?… and how does the artist find the crowd to stick out in?
In this age of information and advertisement overload, savvy companies understand the importance of targeting their market and creating a strong brand. A good brand appeals to all the senses, through all channels and yet continues to deliver the same message. Artists, too, must meet the challenge of branding and promoting themselves.

Jonathan Secor, MCLA’s Director of Special Programs, will interview some of the Berkshire’s branding gurus to explore the key components of a good brand and the most effective methods of delivering that brand.

Tuesday, December 8th, 6:30 p.m. @ MCLA Gallery 51 with
David Carriere, Author of ‘Publicity: 7 Steps to Publicize Just About Anything’ with a focus on publicity

Wednesday, December 9th, 6:30 p.m. @ Lichtenstein Center for Arts with
Kevin Sprague, Photographer, Owner of Studio Two with a focus on target market

Thursday, December 10th, 6:30 p.m. @ IS183 Art School with
Mitch and Seth Nash, Co-owners of Blue Q with a focus on branding

All workshops are 630:830pm and free, but do require pre-registration. For more information on the workshops and/or to pre-register, please call MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center program coordinator, Jessica Conzo at 413.663.5253. Full calendar (November-April) coming soon!

Thank you to our sponsors:

appelkan -1

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

BeCreative BarCamp

BeCreative BarCamp

Last night, berkshire creatives from across the county convened at the Berkshire Museum for the second BeCreative BarCamp!

Despite the rain, about one hundred creatives came together last night to share their ideas, projects, and resources. Presentation topics ranged from Cultural Development in Lee, Copyright Myths and Crowd Source funding to Bringing Art into Your Everyday Life and Designing For The Web.

BeCreative BarCamp is the only event of its kind in Berkshire County. It is an opportunity for individuals to share information via short, informal, often tech supported presentations. Click here to watch videos of Barbara Bonner’s presentation on the Generosity Projecy, Paul Rapp’s presentation on Copyright, Jim Benson’s presentation on Minc House!

Click here to learn more about the BeCreative BarCamp!

Special thanks to Studio Two, The Berkshire Museum and our featured businesses

Berkshares, Compuworks, Graymatter Technologies, iberkshires, Rural Intelligence and Winstanley Partners!

Were you part of BarCamp? Click here to take a 2 minute survery and let us know what you thought of the event!

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

BeCreative BarCamp Sneak Peek!!

BeCreative BarCamp Sneak Peek!!

Next Week, Berkshire Creatives from around the county will descend on the Berkshire Museum for a night of ideas and creativity at the the second BeCreative BarCamp!

Below are just a handful of presentations that will be part of the BeCreative BarCamp!

Click here to see the full sneak preview of BeCreative BarCamp presentations!

Barbara Bonner
“The Generosity Project”

Chris Collins, Lee Cultural Development
Cultural Development in Lee and potential collaboration with other community organizations and individuals

Claudia Gere, Claudia Gere & Co. LLC
For Aspiring Authors: Establish your authority as an author and a clear path for writing/publishing your nonfiction book

Phyllis Kornfeld, Inside/Outside Envelope Project
Incarcerated Men and Women Making Art for a Cause

Kit Latham, Kit Latham Search Marketing
Search Engine Marketing – SEO – SEM – leveraging the power of Social Networks (Facebook – Twitter – Flickr – EvE Online)

Kipp Lynch
Start Making Sense: Visualizing Data

Carrie Saldo, Mission Inc.
Dr MincLove: Or how we learned to stop sucking and love the Berkshires

Click here to RSVP to attend the BeCreative BarCamp or here to volunteer!

Kickstarter-Innovative Funding for the Next Generation

Kickstarter-Innovative Funding for the Next Generation

Kickstarter is a four month old  “online community designed to help artists, musicians, athletes, inventors, and filmmakers raise small sums of money from a large number of patrons to help them fund their projects.” What some are calling, “crowdfunding.”

Kickstarter CTO, Andy Baio describes the format as follows “a project creator sets a fundraising goal, deadline, and an optional set of rewards for backers. If the goal’s reached by the deadline, then everyone’s charged via Amazon Payments and the backers get their goodies. If the goal’s not reached, nobody’s charged. It’s all or nothing.” Baio also writes on Waxy.org, “Since our launch ten weeks ago, over $250,000 has been pledged to make everything from books, magazines, albums (and album reissues), plays, films, art projects, zombie iPhone apps, and more.” Kickstarter also offers “publishing tools, where creators can post project updates with audio and video, either publicly or for backers only.”

Baio,who proposed at the Guardian Activate Summit in London that “the power of play and applying game mechanics to non-games — difficult problems like environmental change, political activism, and fundraising” states that the format of  “Kickstarter turns fundraising into a social game, where people have to work together within a time limit to reach a common goal. Already, we’re seeing that projects develop their own viral momentum… Once a project hits 25% of its goal, success is almost guaranteed.”

At this point anyone may back a project, but in order to create your own, you need  an invite. Click here to learn how to get an invite!

Click here visit kickstarter.com or  read more about Kickstarter at inc.com, waxy.org, and nytimes.com*!

*Please note that the New York Times article states that Kickstarter pledges are not tax deductible. Some pledges are tax deductible: if the project creator is a 501c3 that is registered as such with Amazon Payments, pledges would be deductible. It’s up to each eligible project to handle.

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