Survey Aims to Improve Economic Structures for Local Artists

By Jen Thomas09:52AM / Friday, August 17, 2007Print Story | Email Story

Thanks to a unique collaboration of local creative institutions, Berkshire County artists from all disciplines and backgrounds can now participate in shaping the economic future of the region. This month, the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center in North Adams, Pittsfieldâ€™s Office of Cultural Development and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts unveiled a survey that they hope will shed some light on the needs of working artists. "What weâ€™re collaborating on is a project where we really look at what artists need to succeed professionally," said Megan Whilden, the director of Pittsfieldâ€™s Office of Cultural Development. "We want to chart the landscape for what artists need." Defined as people who derive 10 percent or more of their total income from their art, working artists are an integral part of the Berkshiresâ€™ growing creative economy. In understanding the financial situation, housing preferences and professional development needs of local artists, the partners expect to better encourage the artists community, mostly in the economic sector. "A number of us in the arts community have been talking about how to deliver more support to our local artists to help them develop their business skills, meet their housing needs, and invest for their long-term growth," says Blair Benjamin, director of Real Estate and Community Development at MASS MoCA in a statement. "The surveys are a thoughtful approach to ensuring Berkshire Countyâ€™s thriving economy," said Whilden, who estimated at least 1,000 artists live in the region. "You canâ€™t help someone unless you know what they need." The survey, which has already received approximately 150 responses, follows the formation of two 25-person focus groups, held in both North Adams and Pittsfield. "We invited artists to meet with us and we talked through how they saw the housing market in the Berkshires, for example, and then we asked them what they would like to see," said Whilden. Supported by a Massachusetts Cultural Council planning grant, the survey project will help the arts institutions find additional resources to benefit artists, who Whilden called "the underpinning of the creative economy." "Artists are a critical part of what makes the Berkshires a relatively thriving creative economy and itâ€™s not always clear what they need to improve their businesses," said Benjamin. The collected data will be used to design programs and apply for grants. Some possible program, according to Benjamin, include business training, a micro loan program and other artistsâ€™ resources. "Artists have unique challenges as solo enterprises," said Benjamin. "These initiatives will give us solid data that can help us persuade funders to support new strategies aimed at improving the livelihoods of Berkshire County artists." The survey will also give the partners an idea of how many artists actually live in Berkshire County. All practicing artists in Berkshire County are invited to participate in the anonymous survey by visiting www.culturalpittsfield.com or www.berkshireartstart.org. The survey can be completed online in 10 minutes or less. Artists can also contact Benjamin at 664-4481 x8104 to request a hard copy of the survey. Surveys must be submitted by September 15 to be included in the official results. Jen Thomas may be reached via email at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, ext. 23.

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Berkshire County musicians generally subsist under a system that is oppressive (this is generally true in most areas of the USA, but Berkshire County has an increasingly heavy concentratio of well-monied people. When one considers the hours that it takes to practice and prepare, schlepp the equipment into the car and then into the club, play 3-4 hours, and the schlepp out of the club and into the car, get home late (and up late the following day), schlepp out of the car and back into the residence, one is talking about an 18 to 24 hour time period. $50 to $100 for this period of time is not a living wage. Ironically, Patrons swoon over the music making, blabber off all kinds of compliments and "thank you your music has made my day" type comments...and yet the waiters and waitresses in the club/restaurant are making far more money than the musicians. This is an age old syndrome, the general gist being that musicians love what they do so a living wage in concrete monetary form is not neccessary; musicians are hungry to play and can be easly bargained down; and the unspoken perception that somehow The God of Muse takes care of musicians in ways that civilians do not need to be concerned with. Situations like this are especially disturbing in South County where money reigns and the populace is generally beyond affluent. What would life be without music? Pretty Darn Dull. The next time you see a musician puring their heart out on some tight club stage remember that the US GOV does not supply any form of artistic support, and a simple tithing will go a long way toward improving the lives of those who bring the music, and improving the Karma of those who are dripping in money and choose to contribute. While I am speaking of musicians, this syndrome exists also with dancers and actors too. It is wrong, so I encourage all who may read this to contemplate and perhaps revise their thinking around performance artists, do what they can to help those who are on the bottom of the class system to live a little better. Peace Ed Mann
from: Ed Mann	on: 08-31-2007 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

ServiceNet Warming Center Hosted 126 People This Winter

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:46AM / Monday, April 07, 2025

ServiceNet manages the warming shelter next to the church.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — ServiceNet's warming center has provided more than heat to unhoused individuals over the last four months and will run to the end of April.

It opened on Dec. 1 in the First United Methodist Church's dining area, next to ServiceNet's 40-bed shelter The Pearl. The agency has seen 126 individuals utilize the warming center and provided some case management to regulars.

While this winter was a success, they are already considering next winter.

"I've been on this committee many years now. There's probably only a few months out of the year that I don't talk about winter, so I'm always trying to plan for next winter," Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.

"We are in this winter and I'm already thinking what's going to happen next winter because I want to be really clear, winter shelter is never a given. We don't have this built into the state budget. It's not built into our budget, so there is always trying to figure out where we get money, and then where do we go with winter shelter."

She pointed out that warming centers are "very different" from shelters, which have a bed. The warming center is set up like a dining room, open from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., and folks are welcome to stay for breakfast.

"We are asking people to come in, get warm, be out of the elements," Forbush explained.

The warming center will close on April 30.

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