For Immediate Release: October 10, 2023
Press Contacts: Laura Brennan, BRPC | 413.442.1521 x14 | lbrennan@berkshireplanning.org
Jen Glockner, City of Pittsfield | 413.499.9348 | jglockner@cityofpittsfield.org
https://berkshires.org/
ArtWeek Berkshires 2023 Begins This Weekend
County-Wide Celebration Boasts 100+ Events
Berkshire County, MA – The five state-designated Cultural Districts in Berkshire County announce the kick-off of ArtWeek Berkshires. The nine-day festival takes place Saturday, October 14 – Sunday, October 22, 2023. Enjoy more than 100 hands-on or behind-the-scenes events and open studios across the region, from gallery exhibits to live performances, comedy shows to painting demos, and so much more.
ArtWeek Berkshires is an annual celebration of local creativity presented by the five Cultural Districts of Berkshire County: Great Barrington, Lenox, Pittsfield, North Adams, and Williamstown, alongside their main promotional partner, 1Berkshire.
Go to https://berkshires.org/artweek-berkshires for a full list of events. Users can search by city, venue, host, or type of event. Make your own itinerary and explore all that the county has to offer during ArtWeek Berkshires.
Jen Glockner, co-chair of ArtWeek Berkshires and Director of Cultural Development for the City of Pittsfield, touts the festival as a great opportunity to engage directly with artists. “We hope that ArtWeek introduces new audiences to every artist involved. Many events are offered for free or at low cost – a great chance to see something new at a venue you’ve never visited before!”
Glockner’s co-chair, Laura Brennan of Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, which serves as the hub of ArtWeek coordination, added, “ArtWeek is not just for seasoned professional artists. It’s meant to shine a spotlight on people working in home studios or showing publicly for the first time. We invite all levels of experience to participate, so it’s a great way for fledgling members of the creative community to take advantage of the substantial marketing being done on their behalf.”
The planning committee also confirmed that ArtWeek Berkshires will move to the Spring in 2024, and expand to 11 days, ending Memorial Day. Save the dates for May 17-27, 2024.
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About Downtown Great Barrington Cultural District (www.gbculturaldistrict.org)
The Downtown Great Barrington Cultural District is home to a dynamic, concentrated group of locally owned and operated businesses with something for everyone. Whether you’re seeking world-class performing arts, a farm-to-table meal, free family activities, or a uniquely curated shopping experience, Great Barrington has what you’re looking for.
About Lenox Cultural District (www.lenox.org/lenox-cultural-district/)
The Lenox Cultural District was established in 2019, in recognition of our unique blend of small-town charm with world class culture and arts. Downtown Lenox has a high concentration of galleries, all within walking distance of each other. A full cultural experience in Lenox includes sampling our rich selection of restaurants and shops.
About North Adams Cultural District (www.explorenorthadams.com/item/north-adams-downtown-cultural-district/)
The North Adams Cultural District (NACD) is a center of cultural, artistic, and economic activity nestled in the heart of downtown. Its goals are to advance tourism, historic preservation, and business and job development by amplifying the thriving creative community that is uniquely North Adams.
About Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District
Downtown Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District is the lively arts and entertainment hub of the Berkshires. Enjoy art, theatre, dining, music, film, shopping, spoken word and more within a mile section of the heart of the Berkshires. Go to lovepittsfield.com for more information.
About Williamstown Cultural District (https://destinationwilliamstown.org/)
The Williamstown Cultural District highlights world-renowned visual and performing arts, academic and cultural attractions, and local artists. Nestled in the northwest corner of Massachusetts, the town is a unique mix of extraordinary art, theatre, ideas, history, and nature.
About 1Berkshire (https://1berkshire.com/)
1Berkshire is a county-wide organization focused on economic development and promotion of the region as a preferred place to visit, to live, and to grow a business. It provides programs that connect businesses with each other and with potential customers and works to develop future leaders and support entrepreneurs. For more information, visit 1Berkshire.com.
About Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (https://berkshireplanning.org/)
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is the official region-wide planning agency in Berkshire County, providing comprehensive planning services to municipalities which include land use, transportation, community and economic development, housing, public health, and environmental planning. BRPC promotes regional collaboration
