A Commitment to Sustaining Artists and our Creative Community
In 2020, Berkshire Art Center created the Artful Future Fund. For that difficult year, an artful future meant keeping the lights on and continuing to produce our impactful visual arts programming. Thankfully, our community was there to support us.
Over the last three years, our staff and board have participated in the Inclusive Leadership Cohort, led by Multicultural BRIDGE and sponsored by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. We assessed our organization's identity, programming, and practices under the lens of equity and inclusion. The most noticeable organizational change out of this process was our re-branding to Berkshire Art Center!
But, something else was happening 'behind the scenes'. We joined with several other area arts and culture organization leaders on the Berkshire/Columbia Counties Pay Equity Project - and our findings and recommendations were shared publicly on June 14th. I invite you to read the full report - but this was the most salient note to us:
"More than 80% of surveyed employees cannot imagine a future in our region"
That startling statistic encapsulates the report's findings - chronically low pay, lack of benefits, and long hours. And it means we need to make a change - because where would the Berkshires be without the artists and workers who enhance every corner of our region and local economy?
Now, an artful future means something distinctly different. It means that we need your support to help artists and workers see a future here at Berkshire Art Center - and in our beautiful region.
In order to meet our commitments to pay equity for this fiscal year, we will be taking the following steps:
5% Pay Raises for Faculty Artists* for the next two years
25% Pay Raise for Faculty Artists teaching private lessons
5% - 29% Pay Raises for administrative staff
5% Tuition Increase
25% Private Lesson Tuition Increase
Increase Ceramics Materials Fee to accommodate the increase in costs of clay and firing
Amplifying our discount, tuition assistance, and scholarship opportunities
Increasing opportunities for local artists of all skill levels to have access to critical equipment, tools, and space.
Championing artists from marginalized communities through our partnerships with Katunemo, Assets for Artists (Pittsfield), Manos Unidas, Roots and Dreams & Mustard Seeds, and Stanton Home.
Artists are at the center of our mission and organization and we firmly believe a rising tide lifts all boats. Imagine the impact of a thriving community of artists on our quality of life in The Berkshires.
*This change is specific to our lowest hourly rate for teaching courses (vs workshops or other creative events).
All changes effective September 21st, 2023.