Opinion
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2009 Conference International Opportunities for Artists
Part Two: The Session on Biennials
By: - Apr 09th, 2009The Venice Biennale is the oldest having been founded in 1895. That was followed by the Sao Paulo Biennale in 1951 and Documenta in 1955. Today there are some 200 global biennials. As the art world gets beaten back by a sour economy it is time to reevaluate the proliferation of international exhibitions. This was the topic of a lively panel that was mostly sabotaged by an unruly participant.
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2009 Conference International Opportunities for Artists
TransCultural Exchange Hosts Second Boston Event
By: - Apr 08th, 2009Some 364 individuals attended the weekend conference International Opportunities for Artists held at the Omni Parker House in Boston. There were 25 panel discussions, mentoring sessions, power lunches, a gala and several receptions. This truly global event offered 75 speakers. It was a great networking event for artists seeking residences as well as information on art fairs and biennials. There are already plans for a 2011 conference.
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Berkshire Theatre Notes: April Showers
All My Sons, Fools Festival, Sea of Birds, Lynch Bride, and Playwright Mentoring Project
By: - Apr 06th, 2009This past weekend provided a perfect Spring Break from the monotony of the Berkshire mud season. With offerings of comedy and drama, high art and low, these were the first tender shoots of the Berkshire's bountiful season that is preparing to burst into bloom.
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Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield Prospering Despite Hard Times
Director Stuart Chase Discusses Recent Accomplishments
By: - Mar 29th, 2009Stuart Chase, the director of the 106 year old Berkshire Mueum in Pittsfield discusses the recently completed $10 million renovation that was "on time and within budget." He also deaccessioned three paintings by the Russian, Grigoriev, that added $7 million for future acquisitions. Not bad during these hard times.
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Colonial Theatre Plans Exuberant 2009-10 Season
Full Schedule of Coming Events
By: - Mar 25th, 2009In a gutsy move, Pittsfield's Colonial Theatre has greatly expanded both the number and kind of programs it will offer in the coming year. 46 different groups will present 60 performances in a dozen categories, including comedy, musicals, family events and cabaret singers.
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Endgame, Beckett for Purists at American Repertory Theatre
Is Beckett a Genius Whose Work Should Never be Changed?
By: - Mar 11th, 2009Perhaps no playwright has had more ink spilled over his work than Samuel Beckett, master of the absurd. 25 years after A.R.T.'s first production of Endgame found them in court, the new A.R.T. version of Endgame doesn't prove Beckett was right all along. Perhaps A.R.T. was.
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Stimulus Bill Includes $50 Million for the Arts
Chump Change Is Better than Nothing
By: - Feb 17th, 2009The $50 million for the arts in the $787 billion stimulus bill has been added to the existing budget of $145 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. But that is small change compared to recent appropriations for the arts of $2 billion by Germany and $4 billion in France. There is a prevailing attitude that goverment support for the arts in the U.S. is an agenda of a "cultural elite" and "liberals." But after the disaster of the eight Bush years "liberal" is no longer a dirty word.
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Jehuda Reinharz Spins the Rose
To Quote President Obama, I Screwed Up
By: - Feb 08th, 2009Spending money it can ill afford during a time of financial crisis, Jehudah Reinharz, President of Brandeis University hired Rasky Baerlein Stategic Communications, a PR firm than specializes in crisis management, to draft a carefully worded apology for a rash and irresponsible decision to close the Rose Art Museum and sell its renowned collection.
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Brandeis Plunders Its Rose Art Museum
The Rose Was a Rose Was a Rose
By: - Feb 01st, 2009With the unanimous decision of the Board of Trustees, Jehuda Reinharz, the President of Brandeis University has decided to close the Rose Art Museum and sell its collection appraised at $350 million but worth about half of that estimate in the current art market. It is a desperate measure to stabalize the cash strapped university whose donors have been hit hard by the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scandal.
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Berkshire Arts Flourish Despite Snow and Cold
Plenty of Live Theatre, Music and Dance This Winter
By: - Jan 21st, 2009Happily, midwinter in the Berkshires is anything but quiet. In fact, that's when many of our resident cultural institutions do their best work. A survey of what's coming up between now and Spring.
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Berkshires 2008
Hunkered Down with Arts and Culture
By: - Dec 26th, 2008With $4 a gallon gas and a sinking economy 2008 was a challenge for arts and tourism in the Berkshires. But our contibutors covered not only the Berkshires but arts and culture in New York, Boston, London, New Orleans and Shanghai. We reflect on some of the highlights.
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Thanksgiving 2008
Turkeys, Liberty, Immigrants, Native Americans
By: - Nov 25th, 2008The turkeys in our backyard are lean and tough compared to the piles of butterballs at the Big Y. A time to reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving.
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Boston Fine Arts Holiday 2008 Event Guide and Preview
Our Pick of Boston's Best Music, Theatre and Dance Offerings
By: - Nov 18th, 2008From the lights on the Boston Common, to the lights on the marquees, Boston knows how to celebrate the Holidays. Their traditions have long histories and deep roots, from the Holiday Pops and Handel & Haydn Messiah to the Christmas Revels and The Nutcracker. To help you plan your holiday entertainment, here is a preview and guide for Boston Holiday Events 2008.
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Berkshire Fine Arts Holiday 2008 Preview and Events Guide
Being in the Berkshires for the Holidays is a Joy
By: - Nov 18th, 2008The beginning of winter is marked by theatre, music and dance throughout the world, but perhaps nowhere is it more heartfelt than here in the Berkshires. This Thanksgiving let us give thanks to our arts community and then get out and enjoy their offerings. Your guide awaits.
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Praesidenten-Wahlen USA - am 4. November 2008
Ein Persoenlicher Bericht
By: - Nov 05th, 2008Gestern waehlte Amerika einen neuen Praesidenten, Barack Obama. Er wird der erste amerikanische Praesident werden, mit einer amerikanischen Mutter, eine Weisse, und einem afrikanischen Vater. Am Ende des Wahlkampfes spielte Rasse nur eine kleine Rolle.
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Jitters on Wall Street
Bulls on the Run
By: - Oct 01st, 2008There were tons of tourists and camera crews everywhere. The financial crisis lures the concerned and curious to Wall Street.
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Berkshire Fall Arts Guide
Irina Brook to Direct Oscar Wilde at Shakespeare & Company
By: - Aug 26th, 2008The Berkshire Hills are very much alive this fall. Choose from the ridiculous or the sublime, from the Ballet Trockaderos with men in tutus and on pointe to the arrival of Irina Brook at Shakespeare & Company to wrest a play from Oscar Wilde's book, The Canterville Ghost. For a complete change of pace, the Cirque du Soleil is coming to Amherst and Boston.
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My Summer at MASS MoCA
Jordan Young Recalls His Internship
By: - Aug 23rd, 2008With Labor Day Weekend approaching Jordan Young will be heading back to college. For the past summer he was an intern at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art with a range of duties and challenges. Overall he reports that it was a remarkable experience.
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The Berkshire Monsoon of 2008
Was the Summer a Washout for Arts and Tourism
By: - Aug 23rd, 2008A perfect storm of cool, rainy weather, $4 a gallon gas, and a lousy economy caused the coining of a new term "Staycation" during the summer of 2008. While clearly an off year Berkshire arts and tourism held their own largely through its range of world class offerings.
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Rocking Tanglewood Wilco the Real Deal
Reaching Out For New Audiences
By: - Aug 13th, 2008It is hard to believe that Janis Joplin performed at Tanglewood in 1969. As well as The Who and Miles Davis. There was a false start to revive rock in 2007 with a literally washed out Cars. But last night Wilco brought rock once again to Tanglewood. After three plus decades it's about time.
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The Berkshire Fine Arts Preview of the Best Bets for August
Our Guide in Words and Pictures to the Top Theatre, Music and Dance Offerings
By: - Jul 29th, 2008Berkshire residents are reveling in an amazing array of area arts offerings. Our monthly Preview serves to help guide your choices with helpful facts, insider details and handy links. The only mistake would be to procrastinate. Nothing gold can stay.
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Berkshire Summer Arts Festival- July Preview
Extensive Guide to Theater, Music and Dance
By: - Jun 25th, 2008The awesome array of Berkshire arts events in July is astounding. Our theater, music and dance companies create their schedules one by one, but taken together it's going to be one sensational Summer Festival right here in our own backyard. Enjoy.
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Enjoying Berkshire Museums on a Tight Budget
Local Art Museums and Historical Sites Have Many Low Cost and Free Offerings
By: - Jun 19th, 2008Part One: Use this handy guide to Berkshire museum discounts, and you can enjoy the same wonderful attractions that draw tens of thousands of people to our region each summer.
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Berkshire Spring into Summer Preview 2008
Berkshire Fine Arts Guide and Schedule
By: - May 18th, 2008Berkshire residents and visitors are about to enjoy the earliest and most promising arts season in years. We pick the best of the early music, theater, dance and gallery offerings, from Memorial Day to the end of June 2008.
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Berkshire Spring Preview 2008
Getting a Jump on the Arts
By: - Mar 17th, 2008Theater, music and dance performances are sprouting up everywhere. Here's a head's up on the most promising. After a hard winter, it's nice to see the Berkshires bloom with life again.
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