Save the Art — Save the Museum to hold fundraising social, protest rally
Pittsfield — With the Berkshire Museum‘s plans to send 40 artworks to auction next month now facing a court challenge, Save the Art – Save the Museum will hold two public events this week to support efforts against the sale. On Thursday, Oct. 26, from 5 to 9 p.m., a fundraising social will be held at Wandering Star Craft Brewery. On Saturday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the sidewalk outside the Berkshire Museum, Save the Art will hold its third public rally to “pause” the sale.
A group led by Norman Rockwell’s three sons and Pittsfield artist Tom Patti filed a lawsuit last week seeking a temporary injunction on the auction scheduled for Monday, Nov. 13. In the wake of this development, Save the Art – Save the Museum has strengthened its efforts to raise funds to help underwrite legal fees and advance community education.
Both events are open to the public. The fundraising social will feature brewery-fresh beer, finger food, acoustic music by Daniel Broad and friends, and a silent auction. Tickets are $20 at the door and proceeds from the event will be used to support legal action and public outreach to promote a thriving Berkshire Museum while preserving the public trust and Pittsfield’s and Berkshire Country’s cultural heritage.
Save the Art – Save the Museum is a citizens’ group dedicated to serving and preserving the integrity of the Berkshire Museum and its collections. It began as a grassroots effort on social media shortly after the museum’s July announcement of its plans for the sale. Members now meet regularly to organize opposition to the de-accession as well as to educate the public on viable alternatives to it. The group established an online fundraising platform Oct. 8, and has since raised nearly $15,000 from donors across the nation in support of its efforts.
