Pittsfield Named 1 of 6 ‘Pilot Cities’ For New Initiative

Dignitaries and cultural leaders will be in attendance as the Upstreet Cultural District, Pittsfield Cultural Council, City of Pittsfield, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council announce a new and formal cultural relationship on Monday. All three partners, formerly working on cultural activities to boost the local economy, through creative expression, will now sign a Cultural Compact, designed by the Mass Cultural Council to increase collaboration and partnership.

Jen Glockner, Director of Cultural Pittsfield, tells the Berkshire News Network that Pittsfield is one of six pilot cities for this initiative across the state of Massachusetts.

Members of the Berkshire Legislative Delegation, including State Senator Adams Hinds and State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, were among those being invited to attend the announcement and subsequent signing of the compact, according to Glockner.

The Compact will spotlight and support projects with local artists and the community-at-large. It includes basics, such as regular meetings and communication, but also Pittsfield-specific goals like creating an artist-led/community made public art installation.

The formal announcement and signing ceremony is taking place at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts at 28 Renne Avenue on Monday at 1:30 p.m. Those scheduled to be part of the event include Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer; Anita Walker, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council; Jen Glockner, Director of Cultural Development, City of Pittsfield; Glenn Shalan, Chair, Pittsfield Cultural Council; and the Local Cultural Council Program Officer, Mass Cultural Council.