Tuesday, July 15, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

BITS & BYTES: MASS MoCA residency application; Berkshire Theatre Group seeking actors; Lenox Garden Club grant application; BCC open house; MCLA fall open house; BART enrollment deadline; Lee National Honor Society induction; 5K to benefit CATA; MountainOne Thankful 5K

Applications are welcome from visual artists and writers, at all career stages, and from all walks of life.

MASS MoCA accepting applications for 2025 studio residencies

North Adams— MASS MoCA is currently seeking applications for two and four week residencies from July through December in 2025. Applications are welcome from visual artists and writers, at all career stages, and from all walks of life.

Fellowship opportunities for this open call include:

In addition to many full fellowships, robust partial financial aid is available to all attendees who need it. Applications are available in English and Spanish. Applications are due November 8th. More information can be found online.

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Berkshire Theatre Group seeking local non-Equity actors for Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ at The Unicorn Theatre

Pittsfield— Berkshire Theatre Group seeks local non-Equity actors of all ethnicities and genders for its upcoming community production of “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens, adapted by Eric Hill, and directed by David Adkins and Isadora Wolfe.

Auditions will take place Tuesday, October 22nd from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Colonial Theatre located at 111 South Street in Pittsfield. Performances will be December 5th through December 22nd at The Unicorn Theatre located at 6 East Street in Stockbridge.

Courtesy Berkshire Theatre Group.

Auditions are open to local youth (grades three and up) and adults by appointment only. Appointments must be scheduled by October 21st at 5 p.m. by emailing Director of Education Allison Rachele Bayles at allison@berkshiretheatre.org.

Actors should come prepared to read sides from the script. As part of the audition, actors should prepare a few bars from a traditional Christmas carol to sing a capella. Auditions and callbacks will take place on the same evening. Rehearsals will begin on November 4th and will be held after school, evenings, and weekends at The Colonial Theatre. More information can be found online. 

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Lenox Garden Club grant application open

Lenox— The Lenox Garden Club, a member of the Garden Club of America, has announced that applications for grants funding projects in 2025 are now available. 

Grants are awarded to public or private not-for-profit organizations for specific projects in and around Berkshire County. In line with the mission of the Lenox Garden Club, the project should pertain in some way to areas such as conservation, gardens, environmental restoration, community beautification or education. Projects with significant volunteer involvement will be given priority.

Courtesy Lenox Garden Club.

Grants generally provide funding ranging from $500 to $5000. For more information and to apply, email lgccommunityproject@gmail.com. The deadline is November 30.

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Berkshire Community College to host fall open house

Pittsfield— On Saturday, October 26th at 9 a.m., Berkshire Community College will host their fall open house.

Prospective students and their guests are invited to meet one-on-one with BCC representatives from various offices. Participants can speak with faculty about the programs that interest them, take a campus tour, and learn about paying for college, transferring to a four-year school, internships, and career opportunities. Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree can also learn how to attend BCC for free. 

Courtesy BCC.

The event is on Saturday, October 26th at 9 a.m. in the Connector on BCC’s main campus, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield. Light refreshments will be served. Registration and more information can be found online. 

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Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to host fall open house

North Adams— On October 26th, November 16th, November 3rd, and December 7th from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) hosts a series of fall open house events. 

“Open Houses offer prospective students a unique opportunity to experience MCLA’s campus firsthand, while also gaining insight into our diverse academic programs and dynamic campus life,” said Dan Pearson, MCLA’s director of admission. “We encourage students to engage with our faculty, staff, and current students to ensure they get all of their questions answered and feel confident about the next steps in their enrollment journey.”  

Courtesy MCLA.

The events are on October 26th, November 16th, November 3rd, and December 7th from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation on MCLA’s campus, located at 375 Church Street in North Adams. Registration and more information can be found online.

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Berkshire Arts and Technology announces upcoming enrollment deadline

Adams— Berkshire Arts and Technology (BART) Charter Public School is currently accepting applications for students in grades six through 10 for the 2024-2025 school year.

Courtesy BART.

Interested families should note that the best way to secure a seat, or a desirable waitlist spot for the 2024-2025 school year is to apply before the enrollment deadline, Thursday, October 31st at noon. The application and more information can be found online. 

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Lee Middle and High School announces new National Honor Society members

Lee— On Wednesday, October 16th, Lee Middle and High School conducted its annual induction ceremony for new members to the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society.  

Courtesy NHS.

After a rigorous selection process, in which prospective members are vetted by a faculty council based on criteria of scholarship, leadership, service, and character, the following new members were inducted: Joseph Abderhalden, Jack Boden, Mia Cashman, Samuel Cashman, Nox Colello, Jacob Cooper, Hunter Fosby, Isabella Hall, Natalie Hall, Karalynn Hopkins, Samuel Korte, Madelyn Kotek, Connor Lewis, Adam Pincelli, and Emma Ranzoni.

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Second annual ‘Roaring 5K Walk/Run’ to benefit CATA

Stockbridge— On Sunday, October 27th at 9 a.m., the Berkshire Running Foundation, in collaboration with the Red Lion Inn and Naumkeag, proudly presents the second annual Roaring 5K Walk/Run to benefit Community Access to the Arts (CATA.)

Participants will start their three mile trek at the Red Lion Inn, completing three loops through the Naumkeag property. A post-race reception in the Inn’s courtyard will feature a hot oatmeal bar and drinks, included in the registration fee. Costumes are encouraged, with a prize for the best one. Overall and age division winners will receive tickets to Naumkeag’s “Winterlights.”

Courtesy CATA.

The run is on Sunday, October 27th at 9 a.m. at the Red Lion Inn, located at 30 Main Street in Stockbridge. Register by October 25th. Registration and more information can be found online.

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Berkshire Running Foundation announces ninth annual ‘MountainOne Thankful 5K’ 

Pittsfield— On Thursday, November 28th at 9 a.m., Thanksgiving morning, Berkshire Running Foundation hosts the ninth annual “MountainOne Thankful 5K” at Berkshire Community College.

This year the Thankful 5K expands to include walkers, virtual participants, and a new training program for the community. The event will raise much needed funds for the South Community Food Pantry and the local Fuel Assistance Fund.

Each participant has the option to create an individual or team fundraising page to raise even more money that will immediately go to help fight food insecurity here in our community. Prizes will go to those individuals and teams that raise the most in their fundraising efforts. Participants are also encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to bib pick up, to the race start the morning of the event, or to the Berkshire Running Center located in the Allendale Shopping Center Underground at 5 Cheshire Road in Pittsfield.

Courtesy Berkshire Running Foundation.

The event is on Thursday, November 28th at 9 a.m. at Berkshire Community College, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield. The first 500 participants who register for the event receive a hat. Registration and more information can be found online. Those interested in volunteering should email director@berkshirerun.org. 

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