Tricks of the Trade is a professional development series for artists and creatives who are looking to build a career and engage with the community. 

FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Valeria Federici, BCRC Program Coordinator (vale or call 413-663-5253).

This is a program of MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center in partnership with IS 183 Art School in Stockbridge and Ferrin Gallery in Pittsfield. 

Every month a different topic will be spotlighted and three seminars will be available.
This month’s topic is Integration of Art and Community.

The FEBRUARY: Integration of Art and Community 
How can you effectively reach out and collaborate with the community through art? 

In these open-forum workshops, participants will discuss how to establish the connection between artist and community. Facilitating this relationship requires us to discuss identity, history, and the audiences we’re engaging with. This is an open discussion where local artists and creative professionals in the audience are invited to speak about their struggles and success.

The THREE seminars are:

1. FEBRUARY 7TH (TUESDAY) @7:00pm: MCLA Gallery 51
(please note time changed)
***Round-Table Discussion Part I: Art, Community, and Local Politics of the Northern Berkshire
Panelists:
-Richard J. Alcombright, Mayor of North Adams
-Nancy Bullet, North Adams City Councilor
-Christine Dobbert, Florida Town Administrator
-Veronica Bosley, Director of North Adams Office of Tourism 

2. FEBRUARY 8TH (WEDNESDAY) @6:30pm: Ferrin Gallery 
***Round-Table Discussion Part II: Art, Community, and Local Politics of Pittsfield
- Hosted by Helena Fruscio, Massachusetts Creative Economy Industry Director
-Dan Bianchi, Mayor of Pittsfield
-Ben Dowing, State Senator
-Tricia Farley-Bouvier, State Representative
-John Krol, City Councilor of Pittsfield

3.FEBRUARY 9TH (THURSDAY) @6:30pm: IS183 Art School 
***Round-Table Discussion Part III: Art, Community
Guest Speakers/Panelists: 
-Susan Cross, Curator MASS MoCA
-Kate Merrigan, UNITY Program Coordinator of Northern Berkshire Community Colation
-Sandra Newman, Founder and Executive Director of Community Access to the Arts
-Megan Whilden, Director of Cultural Development for Pittsfield (moderator)

For a PDF of the official TOT brochure click below
http://www.mcla.edu/About_MCLA/uploads/textWidget/1504.00060/documents/1013_2_MCLAtricksofthetrade2011.pdf

For more information about BCRC or the TOTT program 
www.mcla.edu/BCRC or call 413-664-8718

Some of the topics for the upcoming seminars will be Integration of Art and Community, Political Art, Environmental Art, and Public Art. 

Tricks of the Trade is a program of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, in partnership with IS 183 Art School in Stockbridge and Ferrin Gallery in Pittsfield. 

Sponsored by Appelbaum-Kahn Foundation, Excelsior, and Massachusetts Cultural Council.