ArtWeek Berkshires 2024 Welcoming Submissions

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — ArtWeek Berkshires, a county-wide collaboration, will take place May 17-27.

The ArtWeek committee posted its call for artists.  The non-juried event is free to all Berkshire County individuals, organizations, and businesses interested in showcasing creative work. Submissions from actors, cartoonists, crafters, dancers, designers, filmmakers, illustrators, mimes, multimedia artists, musicians, performance artists, poets, puppeteers, theater artists, visual artists, writers – and more – are welcome. 

The event will feature open studios, gallery talks, theater, performances, workshops, and more interactive experiences.

ArtWeek Berkshires features more than 100 events each year.  It has previously taken place in the fall but will be moving to the spring for this year.  The county-wide collaboration features Berkshire County’s five Cultural Districts - the Downtown Great Barrington Cultural District, Lenox Cultural District, North Adams Cultural District, Upstreet Cultural District in Pittsfield and Williamstown Cultural District.

"After much discussion from artists, participants and the steering committee, we are thrilled to be moving this event to the spring to kick-off the season in the Berkshires," said Jen Glockner, Pittsfield’s Cultural Development Director and ArtWeek Berkshires 2024 Steering Committee co-chair along with Laura Brennan, Assistant Director and Economic Development Program Manager at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. "This is a call to all artists and organizations.  We are encouraging everyone to consider submitting an event to ArtWeek Berkshires, whether you’re an emerging artist or seasoned professional."

Funds pooled by the five cultural districts through their Cultural Districts Initiative grants from Mass Cultural Council make this event possible.  Promotions include:  billboards within Berkshire County; posters; flyers; print and digital ads as well as social media promotion.  

If you are an artist, arts organization, or business that would like to participate in ArtWeek Berkshires 2024, you may sign up through this online form:  https://1berkshire.jotform.com/240214256876155.  

Go to https://berkshires.org/artweek-berkshires/ for more information or reach out to your closest Cultural District. You can contact them at:

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

TIF Proposed for Unistress Expansion

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Additional support for a longtime local concrete business is on Tuesday’s City Council Agenda.

Mayor Peter Marchetti has proposed a ten-year tax increment financing agreement for Unistress Corporation's $4 million expansion, which is expected to create 50 new jobs.  

With a TIE, the company would pay about $653,000 in property taxes over the next decade, starting at 100 percent forgiveness in the first year (about $24,000) and ending at 10 percent forgiveness (about $2,750) in 2035.

The property's base value in fiscal year 2025 is $1,294,700, and the completed market value is $1,920,100. The $625,400 increment will see ten percent less forgiveness each year.

In his communication to councilors, Marchetti explained that Unistress has a long history of doing business in the city as a manufacturer of precast/prestressed concrete products.

"Unistress products are used in the construction of concrete structures, including parking garages, bridges, stadiums and microchip plants throughout the Northeast," he wrote.

"Unistress is one of the only precast microchip experts in the Northeast. To meet the growing needs of this expanding market, Unistress is expanding their current facility in Pittsfield by adding 15,510 square feet of additional manufacturing space. This facility expansion is estimated to create approximately 50 multi-skilled work positions. These positions have an average annual salary of $49,920 with extensive benefits including health care, pension and annuity benefits."

The company has projected a $4,150,750 capital investment expansion that includes soft costs, construction, utility and infrastructure improvements, and the purchase of two large overhead crane systems.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories