Storefront Artist Project to Relocate, Adds to Board of Directors

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Storefront Artist Project is planning to relocate its gallery and office next month.

The nonprofit arts organization will be relocating its gallery and office from 124 Fenn St, a space it has occupied since 2006, to 31 South St. It will share its new South Street space, at the corner of Park Square, with local retailer Emporium.

Emporium, a gift shop that sells novelties, Berkshire-made artisanal goods, jewelry, fine art and Blue Q products, will be moving from its current location on upper North Street. Storefront and Emporium are expected to open to the public at their new location on Sunday, Feb. 6.

For Storefront, the move reflects the continued activity and redevelopment of North Street, as well as downtown Pittsfield’s transformation into a cultural hub.

“Although we have been an integral part of the community for almost 10 years, we are excited to have a more visible presence downtown,” said Julia Dixon, Storefront Artist Project’s director, in a statement. “Our proximity to the Colonial Theatre and Berkshire Theatre Festival, Berkshire Museum, Beacon Cinema, New Stage and other thriving businesses and institutions will bring us new vitality and strengthen the city’s cultural core.”

Maria Mingalone, chair of the Storefront Artist’s Board of Directors, is enthusiastic about the move. “Storefront is really on the move, both literally and figuratively. We are excited to have the new space and how it will bring more art to the attention to more people, something that is core to Storefront’s vision.  2011 will prove to be an exciting year for Storefront and the arts community in Pittsfield,” she said in the statement.

Storefront recently added to its Board of Directors. Lesley Ann Beck of Pittsfield and Danielle Steinmann of North Adams were elected to the board in October 2010.
 
Beck is the managing editor at Berkshire Living magazine, editor of BBQ: Berkshire Business Quarterly, and served two terms on the Pittsfield Cultural Council. A journalist for more than 25 years, Beck has been recognized with a first place award from the New England Associated Press News Executives Association. She regularly contributes stories on culture and design, as well as profiles of notable individuals in the business community, and she reviews theater and the arts for www.berkshireliving.com.

As the associate director of education at Hancock Shaker Village, Steinmann creates and manages adult and family programs, as well as curriculum and teacher professional development. She also is a visiting faculty member at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Steinmann received her master’s degree in art history and has more than 15 years of experience as an arts administrator with a focus on educational programming at institutions such as the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

The Storefront Artist Project has been in operation since 2002, bringing art to diverse members of the community by presenting innovative art exhibitions and installations, providing non-traditional, visually accessible studio space to artists and connecting artists with the public through education, opportunities and exposure. Its programs include storefront artist residencies, the Mentor and Intern Programs, monthly exhibitions, artist salons and Open Studios. Visit storefrontartist.org for more information.