For Immediate Release: August 3, 2022
Press Contacts:
Lindsey Schmid, 1Berkshire | 413.499.1600 x131 | lschmid@1berkshire.com
Laura Brennan, BRPC | 413.442.1521 x14 | lbrennan@berkshireplanning.org
Cecilia Hirsch, Williams College | 413.597.4587 | hirschcecilia7@gmail.com
ArtWeek Berkshires 2022 Deadline August 9th
10-Day Festival offers County-Wide Cultural Celebration
Berkshire County, MA (August 3, 2022) – Artists and cultural organizations of all kinds across Berkshire County are invited to register by August 9th for ArtWeek Berkshires 2022 (September 15-25). This free-to-participate, cross-discipline event now in its second year, is led and organized by the county’s five Cultural Districts (Great Barrington, Lenox, North Adams, Pittsfield, and Williamstown) and 1Berkshire.
Registered events benefit from expansive free promotion, including listings on the www.berkshires.org event calendar and social media posts on Facebook and Instagram accounts managed by 1Berkshire. The 10-day festival is also supported through billboards, print and web advertising, radio promotion, and signage, making it easy to participate and focus on the creative elements of an event, rather than also having to handle marketing.
For the county’s individual artists and cultural organizations, ArtWeek Berkshires comes at a particularly auspicious time of year. “The buzz of the summer has quieted down and fall leaf-peeping is on the horizon,” explains Lenox Chamber of Commerce director and Cultural District Co-Chair Jenn Nacht. “But for artists, that sweet spot in early fall is when activity picks up again, whether that’s gallery shows in New York or theater, film, and opera seasons around the world. We want audiences to know the Berkshires cultural season is year-round, too, not just in summer.”
The ArtWeek Berkshires steering committee has been collaborating since January with a diverse team of artists, chamber of commerce representatives, and small business owners to make the event as successful as it was in year one.
“ArtWeek Berkshires 2022 is not your everyday art fair or music festival,” says 2022 co-chair Cecilia Hirsch, “With nearly 70 artists registered and many more expected by the August 9th deadline, this county-wide event encompasses everything from painting and African dance to theater and pottery, with activities that appeal to kids, families, and adults alike. There will be open studios, demonstrations, and hands-on events. It will truly capture in 10 days why the region has always attracted the world’s great creative minds, including the next Edith Wharton and James Van Der Zee.
Carolyn Cole, Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Districts and Local Cultural Council Program Officer, spoke about the impact this kind of initiative can have. “I talk regularly about our Cultural Districts in the Berkshires being a best practice model for regional collaboration. The strength of this District partnership is a driving force for initiatives such as ArtWeek, successfully aiming to attract artists, cultural enterprises, and tourism to an area by thoughtfully supporting creative entrepreneurship and fostering local cultural development.”
To learn more about ArtWeek Berkshires 2022 or to register by the August 9th deadline, visit: https://berkshires.org/
About 1Berkshire (https://1berkshire.com/)
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 Downtown Great Barrington Cultural District (www.gbculturaldistrict.org)
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-
Established in 2019 in recognition of Lenox’s 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/
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 (www.cityofpittsfield.org/
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 discoverpittsfield.com for more information.
About Williamstown Cultural District (https://
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 Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (https://berkshireplanning.
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 among communities and works to increase coordination between all levels of government.
Cultural District Contacts:
- Great Barrington – culturalgb@gmail.com
- Lenox – lenoxcultural@gmail.com
- North Adams – tourism@northadams-ma.com
- Pittsfield – cultural@pittsfieldch.com
- Williamstown – info@williamstownchamber.com