Berkshire County — The leaders of 10 arts and culture institutions from across Berkshire County have convened the Berkshire Arts and Culture Alliance (BACA) to advocate for the economic, tourism, and infrastructure needs of arts and culture organizations in the county.

The formative members of the alliance include: Barrington Stage, Berkshire Theatre Group, Boston Symphony Orchestra/Tanglewood, the Clark Art Institute, Jacob’s Pillow, The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, MASS MoCA, the Norman Rockwell Museum, Shakespeare & Company, and Williamstown Theatre Festival.

BACA aligned in autumn 2024 following an issues-based thought session during which the directors of each of these institutions met to discuss areas of shared interest. Beginning this autumn, BACA will host meetings open to other arts and culture organizations in Berkshire County to canvass regional ideas and issues and benefit from the cultural sector’s collective input.

“We know that the Berkshires are unique because of the intellectual and poetic vitality our organizations bring to the region, as well as the economic impact we have. It’s clear that a number of the issues that every cultural organization is dealing with today would be better addressed by approaching new concepts and solutions jointly,” said Jacob’s Pillow Executive and Artistic Director Pamela Tatge. “Berkshire cultural organizations have always maintained a collaborative approach in programming, and our individual teams regularly work together on joint initiatives. With the establishment of the BACA, the leaders of each of these member institutions have committed themselves and their organizations to unifying our efforts to find constructive ways to advocate for the cultural economy.”

“Moving forward, it’s our intention to provide public and private sector leadership a platform to address pertinent issues facing the county that involve the interests of arts and culture,” said Boston Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Chad Smith. “We look forward to doing all we can to ensure that our region remains the premier cultural destination in our country.”

BACA’s current objectives include:

• Securing support for collective infrastructure needs;
• Providing affordable housing for seasonal and year-round employees;
• Initiating joint marketing efforts to attract enhanced tourism to Berkshire County;
• Increasing transportation options from the Boston metropolitan area to the region;
• Finding ways to fund intra-county travel to and from cultural venues;
• Identifying investments in climate resilience to protect Berkshire County from the damaging effects of climate change; and
• Enhancing safety measures on arts and culture campuses.

“The arts and culture sector is a crucial part of the Berkshire County economy, and today these institutions are facing challenges rarely seen in our lifetimes,” said State Sen. Paul Mark (D), who represents Berkshire County in the Massachusetts Senate and is the chair of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. “I look forward to partnering with and engaging with BACA and our local creative institutions to ensure that they are able to access the tools, funding avenues, and integrity of artistic expression they need and deserve moving forward.”

The leaders of each of the BACA member organizations have been meeting on a regular basis for the last several months and have begun a series of meetings with local, state, and federal leaders to cultivate relationships and develop an open dialogue regarding their key strategic initiatives to raise awareness and understanding.

Arts and culture are one of the most vibrant sectors of the Berkshire County economy. The 10 BACA organizations collectively attract more than 1.7 million visitors and offer some 3,000 performances, exhibitions, tours, and presentations per year. The combined operating budgets of the BACA membership total nearly $212 million annually, most of which is secured through philanthropy and earned income (attendance revenues).

Tourism accounts for some $1.5 billion in economic impact in Berkshire County, and BACA organizations are key destinations throughout the region. In addition to being a driving force propelling Berkshire County’s tourism economy, the BACA member organizations are also an essential source of employment for the region. Currently, some 3,100 people are employed by the 10 organizations in both full- and part-time positions, all of which provide significant professional development opportunities within their respective fields. Overall, tourism supports 6,675 jobs in Berkshire County, according to statistics collected by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

Programming offered by BACA members is rich and varied, contributing significantly to the quality of life for Berkshire County residents. Educational and community programs cover a wide range of interests and serve nearly every child in the region.