The Berkshire Artisans primary purpose is to provide you with the opportunity to grow as an artist and give you the help you need to do it. Here, you will find the courage to take that creative leap you’ve been putting off.

Our ongoing art instruction program features:

• Fall, winter, and spring sessions, each ten weeks long.
• Day, evening and Saturday classes to fit your schedule.
• Children’s and adult classes.
• Sensitivity to each student’s needs.
• Low tuition, scholarships; no economic barriers.
• Special tuition rates for Pittsfield residents and students over 55.
• Large, fully equipped workspaces for painting/drawing/crafts; pottery; photography.
• Free one-day workshops offered periodically.
• Workspace available to adult students between classes for practice and play.

Each year, the Berkshire Artisans Gallery hosts group and individual exhibitions juried by nationally known professionals. We are known for the fine exhibition opportunities we offer to both emerging artists and established professionals. We welcome your submissions during our yearly “Call for Slides” (deadline February 1st).

Between exhibits, the gallery becomes a performance space, open to area musicians, poets, dancers and other performers.

Our classroom space is available to artists and craftspeople interested in presenting workshops of their own design. We also have opportunities for artists to teach in our regular, ongoing art program.

In addition, we offer studio space at low rent to visual artists We maintain a slide registry. We provide artists information on grants and grantwriting, health hazards and art-related job referrals - and the chance to make vital connections with other artists.

...for Friends of Berkshire Artisans

Friends of Berkshire Artisans are friends of the arts and friends of community life. They believe that it is of utmost importance that people have local, barrier-free access to the arts as both audience and participants. Becoming a member of the Friends, or a volunteer, will give you a chance to support this ideal and have a real effect on something you care about. Through financial support or the giving time, you can build community, ensure that projects get done, help carry out new ideas (perhaps your own!) and enable community arts to stay alive.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Berkshire Artisans and office are open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, and are handicapped accessible. Opening dates are announced in the local newspaper. Schedules of exhibits, performances and classes are available at the gallery. Click here for information about performance events, or call about volunteering, or becoming a member of the Friends of the Berkshire Artisans.

Our programs are supported, in part, by the City of Pittsfield, the Lichtenstein Foundation for Music and Art, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mass. Cultural Council, a State Agency, the Pittsfield Arts Lottery Council, and the Friends of Berkshire Artisans...under the direction of the Office of the Mayor, City of Pittsfield.

Daniel M. O’Connell
Artistic Director
Commissioner of Cultural Affairs

info@berkshireweb.com