Great Barrington — Berkshire Busk! has received a $35,000 grant from mobile communications company T-Mobile in order to build a temporary stage for performances in the parking lot area of The Triplex and Barrington House.
Berkshire Busk! is an outdoor summertime event that began back in 2020 during the pandemic in order to bring people to the downtown area through live musical performances and performances by magicians, circus artists, and dancers. The event typically runs during the summertime, from June to late August.
In a press release, T-Mobile announced that the grant is part of its nationwide Hometown Grant program. According to the company, this program has provided $15 million in grants to 350 communities across 48 states and one U.S. territory since April 2021. The grants are used to fund projects “that foster local connections” and fund up to $50,000 for shovel-ready projects.
According to festival director Eugene Carr, there is typically a space in front of The Triplex for performances during the summer shows in the Triplex and Barrington House parking lot area.
“What we are going to do is put up a temporary stage, a seating area, and some lighting to make it into a proper performing location,” Carr said. “We’re doing this instead of just sticking a performer right in front of The Triplex in front of the tables with no lights. It was always a little haphazard having performances in that small space in front of The Triplex.”
Carr said that the idea is for there to be a flatbed trailer used for the stage. “It’s not going to be a permanent structure,” Carr said. “We are taking materials to make a temporary performing area.”
In order to accommodate the temporary stage, Carr said a portion of the dining area in front of the Barrington House will be used. “It will be an improvement over what we have already been doing,” he said. “The grant also covers several other things that have to do with accessibility. This includes purchasing fold-up chairs that we will be able to put all over town that will allow people who can’t stand for long performances to sit down. We are also considering a shuttle bus from the festival from Pittsfield down to Great Barrington for people who want to come to the festival who don’t have access to a car.”
Carr said that the organization is working on several other initiatives as well. He added that Berkshire Busk! is now its own nonprofit organization after operating under a fiscal sponsorship from the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires for the past four years.
“There were over 850 applicants for this cycle of the grant, and we are really thrilled to be recognized as one of the 25 cities to receive this grant,” Carr said. “We are pleased that the town has been recognized on a national level.”
For more information about Berkshire Busk!, visit its website.
