Issue #111 | Friday, April 5, 2024

FIRST Friday presents DOWN & DIRTY! It's mud season, so join us and mud thumb wrestle with your friends, help clean up downtown, make a seed bomb, view art, eat good food, watch a film, dance, and buy cool items at our local shops. Mark the date and meet us downtown!

Activities:

- Mud Thumb Wrestling! | 6-7:30pm | under the Mohawk Marquee
- Downtown Clean Up! Check in at 61 Main Street
- Pebworth Studio and Work Space: 5-7:00 p.m. | 51 Main Street
- MOSAIC: MCLA Dance Team showcase | 5-7:30 p.m. | 49 Main Street
- Gallery 51: Oh Hello Face Painting | 5-7:00 p.m. | 51 Main Street
- Savvy Hive: Pop Up: Bella Vendetta 5-8:00 p.m. | 53 Main Street
- Plant Connector: make a free seed bomb | 5-8:00 p.m | 73 Main Street
- Common Folk: Mud Dying Textiles & Craft Night! 6-8:00 p.m. | 12 Holden Street
- Heart’s Pace: Live Music: The Bandit Queen of Sorrows, 7-8:30pm | 15 Eagle St.
- Installation Space: Work by Center of Gravity Artist Residents: Pam Poquette & Berley Brown 5:00- 8:00 p.m. | 49 Eagle Street
- Gravity Gallery: Center of Gravity Local Pop Up: Monoprints by
Lauren Levato Coyne | 4-9:00 p.m. | 44 Eagle Street
- Future Lab[s]: Opening Reception: The Freedom of the Brush with live music from Hannah Cherry 6-8:00 p.m. | 43 Eagle Street
- Bright Ideas: FIRST Friday After Party: 8-11:00 p.m. | 111 MASS MoCA Way
- Big Daddy’s: FREE FRY FRIDAYS! | 2601 Mass MoCA Way
- ROOTS Teen Center: Spring Mud-ley: Dirt Cake Dessert Station & Make-Your-Own Potted Plant (Ages 13-19), 5-7 pm | 51 Ashland Street
- Eclipse Mill Gallery: Opening Reception, Mother: An exhibition of new paintings and works on paper by Kelsey Shultis | 6-8 pm | 243 Union St
-Full Well Farm: What is Mud? learn about soil hands-on! | 5-7 pm | 73 Main Street (inside Plant Connector)

Digital Marketing Workshop Series

Thursday, April 18 from 12:30 to 2:30
Register here - space is limited

The Chamber is excited to announce a FREE marketing workshop with Francesca Olsen this April. Space is limited, and as a client, we want to give you an opportunity to get on our priority list! If you're interested in being part of this opportunity you can sign up here. This guarantees you a spot. More details will follow!

About the Workshop Series

Join Francesca Olsen and the North Adams Chamber for a digital marketing cohort this spring! First, we’ll meet for an overview of digital marketing and social media basics, then dive into what each participant’s goals and challenges are in this space. We’ll work together to brainstorm solutions and new things to try, then meet again two weeks later to discuss our experiences and get feedback in real time. Cohort members will gain an understanding of specific digital marketing and social media basics and trends, customized advice and recommendations about how to shift their strategies, and community connections with other small business owners. 

About Francesca:

Francesca Olsen is a writer, artist, and consultant with 15 years of experience in marketing and communications, from branding to digital strategy. She works with small business owners and creative professionals who want to sharpen their digital marketing strategy, build a following online, launch new projects, and more. She also advises and supports businesses, artists, nonprofits, and startups on social media, content marketing, digital advertising strategy, and general PR and communications. She regularly gives workshops on digital marketing for artists and small business owners.

North County Happenings

Upcoming

April 4 | 5-7 p.m. | Assets for Artists Open Studios | Building 13 + 34 MASS MoCA
April 5 | 8-11 p.m. | April FIRST Fridays After Party | Bright Ideas Brewing
April 5 | 7-10 p.m. | Dueling Pianos WilliNet Fundraiser | Mingo’s Bar & Grill
April 6 | 8 p.m. | Antonio Sánchez Birdman Live 10th Anniversary Film + Concert | MASS MoCA
April 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Comedy Night at Bright Ideas Brewing
April 7 | 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Mini Maker Market | Greylock Works
April 12 | 6-9 p.m. | Teen Invitational Reception | MASS MoCA
April 13 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Slow Art Day | MASS MoCA
April 13 | 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. | North Berkshire Community Dance | Williamstown First Congregational Church
April 22 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. | North Adams Harriman & West Airport Tour | RFP for commercial space
April 30 | 2-4 p.m. | 1Berkshire Open House | 66 Allen St. Pittsfield, MA

Ongoing

Every First Saturday | 9-1 | North Adams Farmers Market | Terra Nova Church at 85 Main
Every Third Saturday | Williamstown Farmer’s Market | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | First Congregational Church
Every Friday | 7-8 p.m. | Salsa Class | Creative Soul Studio | 37 Main St. Suite #211 North Adams
Every 1st & 3rd Sunday | 7 p.m. | Karaoke Night at The Log in Williamstown
Every Friday | 4 p.m. | Bingo at North Adams Elks Lodge
Every other Wednesday | 6:30 p.m. | Trivia Night at Bright Ideas Brewing
Every 1st & 3rd Friday | 6-8 p.m. | Craft Night at Common Folk
Every 2nd Monday of the Month | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Free Pregnancy Loss Support Group | Movement Matters Healing Arts
Every Third Sunday | 1-3 p.m. | Traditional Music Jam | Store at Five Corners
First and Second Wednesdays | 4-6 p.m. | nbCC Bike Collective Open Hours | The Armory, 206 Ashland St., North Adams
Every Friday | 1-4 p.m. | UNO Community Center Coffee Time | 157 River St., North Adams
First Thursdays and Third Saturdays | 10:30 a.m. | Family Storytime | MASS MoCA
Every Thursday | 7 p.m. | Musical Mingo Bingo | Mingo’s Sports Bar & Grill
Every Tuesday | 6:30 p.m. | Open Mic Night | Studio 9 at The Porches Inn

Want your event listed? Submit the listing here

nbCC COMMUNITY FORUM SCHEDULE

April 11, 2024 | 4-6pm | Terra Nova Topic: “Identity in Conflict” Session

MAY 9, 2024 | 4-6pm | Terra Nova Topic: “ Problem Solving & Negotiation” Session

Have you attended a community forum in 2023? Please take the survey here.

Berkshire Pup People Raise Funds for New Facility

Berkshire Pup People owners Michelle Marrocco and Tiffany Boyden have secured a permit to occupy the former Taconic Restaurant building in Williamstown to establish a dog daycare. They have launched a fundraiser for $30,000.

From the fundraising site:
For the past two years, we’ve been traveling northern Berkshire County to walk, train, and socialize your pups. We’re excited to share that Berkshire Pup People has finally found a home, and we need your help. That’s why we’re raising money to bring doggy daycare to you and your pups!

We've been dreaming of this doggy daycare for some time now, so here are some highlights:

• Separate play, enrichment, and relaxation zones so your pups can experience the joy of play AND learn to settle themselves afterward.

• A large fenced-in, outdoor park area for your pup to romp around. The best part? We'll offer park memberships, so you can bring your pup there on weekends and know they'll be safe.

• Training classes, workshops, and playgroups in a safe, contained area, so you can build your relationship with your pup when they're not in daycare.

Support the mission
Video: Learn more about Berkshire Pup People

ArtWeek Berkshires is an annual celebration of local creativity. Enjoy 100+ hands-on or behind-the-scenes events and open studios across the region, from gallery shows to live performances, poetry readings to painting demos, and so much more, May 17th - 27th.

Be Part of ArtWeek: Share your creativity! Enter a performance, studio visit, gallery show or talk, or even a special menu item – anything creative you’d like to share! Events can be solo or collaborative, pre-planned or created just for ArtWeek. It is FREE to participate and ArtWeek presentations can occur ANYWHERE in Berkshire County! Register your event: https://form.jotform.com/240214256876155

Check out the FAQ: https://berkshires.org/artweek.../artweek-berkshires-faq/

Explore ArtWeek Events: ArtWeek presentations can occur ANYWHERE in Berkshire County. Search by town to find an event near you. Visit https://berkshires.org/events and search by "ArtWeek Berkshires Event."

Explore Open Studios: The Open Studios Series invites the public into your studio or workspace during days/times that you specify. We encourage artists to be present to either demonstrate process/work, or interact with visitors. Visit https://berkshires.org/events and search by "ArtWeek Open Studios"

ArtWeek is presented by the five Cultural Districts of Berkshire County and promoted by 1Berkshire. Learn more about ArtWeek Berkshires: https://berkshires.org/artweek-berkshires/

Workshops & Webinars

The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Massachusetts Small Business Development Network to host a FREE online workshop titled "Tuning Your Operations & Business Model" on Thursday, April 25, 9-10am.

In this presentation Keith Girouard will cover:

• The nine elements in a successful business model.

• The assets and resources that can be used to build a business.

• The principle of leveraging to grow profitability.

• SOPs and how they can be used to run a business.

All are welcome. Register at: https://bit.ly/MSBDC-Operate

Opportunities

Grant Opportunities

The following information details our current and upcoming grant opportunities supporting cultural sector individuals, organizations, and Massachusetts communities.  Please take a minute to review, apply, and share these funding opportunities with your creative networks. If you have already applied to one or more programs - thank you!

We have indicated if the grant is for individuals and/or organizations. Depending on the program "organizations" may include cultural organizations, non-profits, schools, cities/towns, unincorporated groups or collaboratives, for-profits, etc. Visit the program guidelines for detailed eligibility information and to apply.

Festivals & Projects

OPENS: March 28, 2024 / DEADLINE: May 23, 2024

Who can apply: Organizations

Grants of $2,500 for organizations to fund public activities that incorporate the arts, humanities, or sciences.

Operating Grants for Organizations

OPENS: March 14, 2024 / DEADLINE: June 13, 2024

Who can apply: Organizations

NEW in FY24! Unrestricted general operating grants for Massachusetts-based, nonprofit cultural organizations with year-round operations offering public programming in the arts, humanities, or sciences. Grant amounts range from $6,000 to $60,000.

Other Opportunities

The following programs are not grant programs, there is no funding involved.

BIPOC-Centered Organization Self-Identification

Rolling Deadline

Who can apply: Organizations

If your organization is led by and serves Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), Latinx, Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and all other ethnicities of color — complete this self-identification form in advance of completing your grant application and help ensure that our BIPOC constituents are being more equitably served.

Card to Culture

Rolling Deadline

Who can apply: Organizations

Arts, humanities, and science organizations participating in this voluntary program offer free or steeply discounted admission to EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders.

Additional Agency Offerings

Agency Dates

Stay informed about all our offerings with this complete list of key dates and deadlines for grant opportunities, convenings, and events.

Artist Opportunities

A way to find your next contest, artist residency, call to artists, publication, and more. New round-ups are published weekly.

Opportunities & Resources for Organizations

A monthly round-up of grants, technical assistance resources, and opportunities for creative and cultural organizations.

HireCulture.org

A free, online listing of creative employment opportunities in Massachusetts that includes administrative, production, volunteer and intern opportunities.

Thank you for all that you to do to harness and amplify the power of culture in Massachusetts. Mass Cultural Council is proud to partner with you in this effort. To stay engaged and well informed about our programs and services, follow us on social media -- @MassCultural -- or visitMassCulturalCouncil.org to sign up for our monthly e-newsletters.

Connect with Us!

North Adams Chamber Business Development Team

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