ARTS + CULTURE

ARTS + CULTURE

Arts and Culture promotes accessible, sustainable and beneficial arts programs, recognizing the holistic benefits of a vibrant arts and culture community.

Common Ground Festival

Common Ground Festival is an interdisciplinary community event designed and produced by Mill Town Foundation. Musicians, dancers, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, youth organizations, and seemingly all walks of life come together to celebrate art, culture, and community in the Berkshires. Performances and activities are offered by Tanglewood, Barrington Stage Company, Kripalu, Berkshire Theatre Group, Katunemo, and more.

Let It Shine

Let It Shine ignites creativity and strengthens community through accessible public art and placemaking initiatives throughout Pittsfield. Each year, the program commissions large-scale murals and arts-based learning experiences in collaboration with schools, artists, and local organizations. By transforming public spaces into vibrant, interactive environments, Let It Shine inspires engagement, dialogue, and pride across generations – celebrating and elevating the creative spirit of the community

Lenox Jazz Stroll

Lenox Jazz Stroll is a free, family friendly event that occurs every September in downtown Lenox parks and venues. Mill Town Foundation has planned, produced, and executed this music festival each year since 2020 in partnership with Berkshires Jazz, Lenox Chamber of Commerce, and Lenox Cultural District Steering Committee.

Wandering Dance Society

In an effort to create meaningful community connections through the arts, Mill Town Foundation, in association with Jacob’s Pillow, has launched a new dance initiative, Wandering Dance Society. Community members of all ages are invited to take to the dance floor and learn or practice an array of dance styles. Instructors from local arts and dance organizations create a friendly and welcoming environment for everyone to participate in both familiar and new dance styles.

Barrington Stage Company

Mill Town Foundation and Barrington Stage Company will operate two impactful programs in 2023: Playwright Mentorship Project and Celebration of Black Voices. The Playwright Mentorship Project is an out-of-school creative youth development initiative that uses the tools of theatre as a means of providing a safe, creative and empowering experience for teenagers. Celebration of Black Voices is multi-day festival featuring a devised play that addresses the issues facing our local community, a gospel music workshop, spoken word performances, and a week-long camp for local teens taught by professional teaching artists.

Hancock Shaker Village

Mill Town Foundation creates greater accessibility for the Berkshires’ community to Hancock Shaker Village through programmatic support for projects such as Community Day, Hancock Holiday Lights, a James Turrell Art Opening, along with trail work and art installation for Climbing the Holy Hill.

LOVE Pittsfield

Mill Town Foundation operates year-round programming in partnership with the Cultural Department of the City of Pittsfield. Annual projects include 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival and Tanglewood in the City along with the planning, production, and execution of events throughout the year.

Berkshire Museum

Mill Town Foundation creates interactive experiences for the Berkshires community with a focus on offering greater accessibility and reducing barriers of entry such as cost, transportation, or feeling of belonging. With a particular effort made to reach traditionally underserved communities, MTF and the Berkshire Museum will encourage broader accessibility to enriching education and cultural experiences highlighting unique Berkshires history and contemporary artforms.

Shakespeare & Company

The result of Mill Town Foundation's partnership with Shakespeare & Company is a thriving and impactful Education Program. These programs include Shakespeare in the Courts (in conjunction with the Berkshire Juvenile Court System, this program offers adolescent offenders to the opportunity to study, rehearse, and perform Shakespeare as an alternative to more punitive consequences) and the annual Fall Festival which features over 500 students each year throughout multiple performances.

Berkshire Theatre Group

Mill Town Foundation creates greater accessibility to high quality arts programming in downtown Pittsfield through collaborations with Berkshire Theatre Group for their mainstage productions at the Colonial Theatre.

Berkshires Jazz

Mill Town Foundation produces high quality jazz programming and educational opportunities in partnership with Berkshires Jazz. Live performances are staged in a variety of venues including main stage theaters as well as public parks. Educational workshops and performances have been offered at every public school in the county.

Jacob’s Pillow

Mill Town Foundation was a pivotal partner in bringing world-class dance performances to downtown Pittsfield in partnership with Jacob’s Pillow. The annual “On The Road” performances are featured at The Common each summer and “Wandering Dance Society” events are located at multiple venues with varying themes in an effort to create meaningful cultural and community connections.

10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival

Mill Town Foundation produces the annual 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival in collaboration with the City of Pittsfield and Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. each February. This vibrant community festival features live music, visual art exhibitions, and family fun activities throughout downtown Pittsfield.