Berkshire Organizations Receive Mass Cultural Council Awards

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Several Berkshire County organizations have been awarded Mass Cultural Council Awards as part of the Gaming Mitigation Fund Grant Program. 
 
"Supporting our performing arts centers is a strategic investment in the vitality of our communities," said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. "These organizations serve as hubs of creativity, offering transformative experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire audiences of all ages. By supporting these institutions, we not only preserve our cultural heritage but also foster innovation, economic growth, and social cohesion, ensuring a vibrant and enriching future for generations to come."
 
In Berkshire County, the following organizations were among the recipients:
  • Barrington Stage Company: $6,000
  • Berkshire Theatre Group: $14,700
  • The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center: $73,000
  • Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA): $166,400
  • Williamstown Theatre Festival: $6,000
This program provides grants to Massachusetts nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers to spend on touring shows or touring artist fees. These grants aim to target funding to those most directly impacted by the operation of resort-style casinos.
 
First established by the Legislature in the Expanded Gaming Act of 2011, Mass Cultural Council receives 2 percent of gaming revenues to administer this program. The Gaming Mitigation Fund is intended to mitigate a direct threat to the sustainability of Massachusetts' nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers. It provides funding to preserve their ability to compete with casinos, who are working with larger budgets and able to offer attractive amenities, when booking touring acts.
 
In this round, 58 performing arts centers across Massachusetts received grants ranging from $6,000 to $200,000. Notably, all eligible applicants were successful in securing funding.

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Berkshire Planning Commission Approves 'Conservative' FY25 Budget

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission has a "conservative" budget for fiscal year 2025 with a nearly 6 percent increase.

On Thursday, the commission approved a $6,640,005 budget for FY25, a $373,990 increase from the previous year.  The spending plan saw less growth from FY24 to FY25, as the FY23 to FY24 increase was more than $886,000, or over 16 percent.

Executive Director Thomas Matuszko said there aren't any dramatic changes.  

"This is very much different than a municipal budget in that it's not a controlling budget or a limiting budget," he said. "It is really just our best estimate of our ability to afford to operate."

The increase is largely due to new grants for public health programs, environmental and energy efforts, economic development, community planning, and the transportation program.

"We have a lot of grants and a lot of applications in. If any of those are awarded, which I'm sure there's going to be many of them, we would shift gears and if we have to add staff or direct expenses, we would," office manager Marianne Sniezek explained.

"But the budget that we have now is conservative and it covers all our expenses."

The budget was endorsed by the finance and executive committee before reaching the full planning commission.

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