Students Happy to B-HIPBy Susan Bush
12:00AM / Monday, July 11, 2005
 | | Interns of the new MCLA B-HIP program are working and learning at art institutions throughout the Berkshires. |
North Adams – A new initiative that links college students from across the country to Berkshire region cultural icons is generating much excitement throughout the region and at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, the program's home base.
B-HIP At MCLA
The Berkshire Hills Internship Program, known as B-HIP, is a comprehensive internship project that exposes potential arts and culture leaders to the wealth of artistic venues in the Berkshires. Participating students have taken up residence at the MCLA campus, and are matched with a regional entity as interns. Program components include weekly junkets to other arts venues and a series of lectures. The interns also participate in “talk-back†sessions, during which administrators of cultural institutions meet with the students and discuss student experiences and answer questions about the arts, employment within cultural sites, and other topics.
College President Mary K. Grant termed the project a “wonderful opportunity.â€
“This is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of the rich cultural resources of the Berkshires to connect students eager learn with arts organizations in need of assistance,†Grant said in a written statement. “This is also a natural extension of our role as an educational institution helping to prepare students to explore and fill the key roles of tomorrow.â€
MCLA B-HIP Special Program Coordinator Jonathan Secor said that the goal was to offer “hands-on insight†about the workings of non-profit arts institutions to the students.
“We sought to establish a county-wide arts internship program that would provide valuable assistance to our region’s cultural institutions, while giving students hands-on insight from working professionals into how a non-profit functions,†Secor said in a written statement.
College officials said that MCLA plans to expand the program yearly, bringing more student interns to the region’s arts entities. Expansion plans include an intense national and international recruitment effort to attract the students to a four-month stay in the Berkshires.
Glowing Reviews
Arts facilities that are part of the program include the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the Contemporary Artists Center in North Adams, the Office of Cultural Development and the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, Images Cinema and the Williams College Dance Department in Williamstown, the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, and the Topia Arts Center in Adams. Interns toil at various tasks including marketing, public relations, programming, curatorial, and development sales.
Stacy Czar, a University of Cincinnati arts administration program master’s degree student, is interning at the Contemporary Artists Center.
“I’m learning a great deal about working in a non-profit arts organization,†said Czar in a written statement. “I feel I can make a valuable contribution to a great institution while gaining significant experience.â€
Williams College 2005 graduate Faith Lim is serving a dual internship. Lim works at the Williams College Dance Department and the Mahaiwe center; at Williams, Lim is preparing a documentary film about Chuck Davis, who founded Dance Africa. When at the Mahaiwe, Lim is focusing on graphic design.
“I’m doing grant research for the film, and graphic design for Mahaiwe, skills I’ve always wanted to develop,†Lim said in a written statement.†It is a rare opportunity to be able to spend the day learning while doing, and spend the evenings talking with professionals in the arts.â€
Several entity administrators offered praise for the initiative.
Images Cinema Director Sandra Thomas said that the cinema’s intern “jumped right in.â€
“She’s eager to learn and her enthusiasm and professionalism are great assets,†Thomas said in a prepared statement.
Mahaiwe administrator Beryl Jolly termed the two Mahaiwe interns “smart, pleasant, and helpful,†and Megan Whilden, of the cultural development office, said that the organization is “thrilled to be a partner in the B-HIP program.â€
“Providing students with real-time training and participation in arts administration ensures a new generation of savvy, experienced arts advocates for the Berkshires and beyond,†she said in a written statement. “We look forward to continuing to actively participate in the B-HIP program as it grows.â€
Sharing Ideas
“Talk-back†sessions include discussions with arts leaders including Jacob’s Pillow Dance festival Director Ella Baff, independent artist Eric Rudd, who founded the Contemporary Artists Center, created the Dark Ride Project, and is also a developer of artist housing, Seth Rogovoy, Berkshire Living magazine editor, Colonial Theater Executive Director Susan Sperber, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Chairman Lola Jaffee, Williamstown Theater Festival Director of External Affairs Bart Reidy, Nina Garlington, director of development at the Berkshire Theater Festival, Bill Powers, director of the Berkshire Opera Company, and Greylock Theater Project Director Linda White.
The internship initiative is endorsed by the Berkshire Regional Competitiveness Council. MCLA officials said that in addition to benefitting both arts institutions and students, the program introduces those interested in arts careers to the Berkshires and Berkshire-region cultural venues.
Susan Bush may be reached by e-mail at suebush123@adelphia.net or by calling 802-823-9367.
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