1Berkshire hosted its signature Celebrate the Berkshires event at the Linde Center at Tanglewood this evening. There were over 225 people present as 1Berkshire honored the Norman Rockwell Museum for Putting the Berkshires on the Map and presented the highly coveted 2025 Berkshire Trendsetter Awards. The Trendsetter Awards recognize businesses, organizations, and individuals whose outstanding achievements and commitment have strengthened the economy and helped the Berkshires grow.

The winners are:

In the Driving Visitor Engagement (Fueling Tourism to Power the Berkshires) category, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center took home the award.

Kristy Edmunds-MASS MoCA was named the Visionary of the Year (Innovation & Fortitude in Action).

The Nonprofit Collaborator (Building Bridges to Move Mountains) award was presented to Zion Lutheran Church.

Brett Random received the Under 40 Change-Maker (Shaping the Berkshires’ Future) award.

The Breaking the Mold (Reimagining Achievement) award was given to Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds.

The Advancing the Berkshire Economy (Innovating for a Stronger Region) award was presented to Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc. (EMA).

Closing out the evening, the Norman Rockwell Museum was recognized as the special honoree for Putting the Berkshires on the Map in recognition of its strong foothold in the Berkshire tourism and creative economy clusters.  From its home in Stockbridge, the Museum has welcomed more than 6.7 million visitors and brought travelers from across the globe to experience the Berkshires. Through nearly 250 exhibitions—circulating to 47 states and 7 countries—as well as cultural diplomacy partnerships with the U.S. State Department in Ethiopia, Russia, and Mongolia, and collaborations with institutions including the White House and the United Nations, the Museum has expanded its reach far beyond the region. And yet, it has remained firmly rooted in the Berkshires, enriching the local economy and reinforcing the county’s reputation as a world-class arts destination. 1Berkshire was happy to have more than 30 attendees from the museum staff and board at this event to celebrate this honor.

1Berkshire thanks everyone who attended the September 18th event and is looking forward to continuing to Celebrate the Berkshires in 2026.