The First Fridays Artswalk in downtown Pittsfield returns May through December of 2023 on the first Friday of the month from 5 to 8 pm. Thanks to grant support from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, the Mass Cultural Council, and The Feigenbaum Foundation, First Fridays Artswalk will expand in 2023 with new programming including an Art Market on Dunham Mall, live music in Persip Park, and live art demonstrations. The popular Free Kids’ Paint & Sip will return to the parklet in front of the Marketplace Café from June through October, and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will be the host in May, November, and December and the rain location.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), in partnership with First Fridays Artswalk and CozQuest Creative, will be curating the Art Market on Dunham Mall, May through October 2023. DPI is currently accepting applications to be a vendor at this market via a Google Form. The market will be outside in Dunham Mall on the first Friday of the month from 5 to 8 pm. Vendors should be local artists or artisans offering a range of items, some at affordable price points. Vendors will need to provide their own table and 10×10 tent, and be available for set-up starting at 4 pm. There will be a $25 vendor fee per market that will go towards First Fridays Artswalk programming costs. Interested vendors should be able to show samples of their work. To apply, visit https://forms.gle/8MpVjFP94Hm8Nn7k7.
There will be a special Pride Month Art Market celebrating LGBTIQA+ artists and artisans on Friday, June 2. Please note in your application if you are applying for this market.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., in partnership with First Fridays Artswalk and Christine Bilé, will also be curating musical performers for Persip Park during the First Fridays Artswalk, May through October 2023, with a special Pride Month performance on June 2. If interested in performing, please contact rbrien@downtownpittsfield.com.
Returning Artswalk venues who will host art shows or art activities each month are The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Hotel on North, TKG Real Estate, The Marketplace Cafe, The Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield, Soma’s Aromas, and NUarts gallery + studios.
The Clock Tower Artists at 75 South Church Street will host an open studios event in their beautiful and ever-expanding space every First Friday of the month, May through December, from 5 to 8 pm, and Berkshire Art Center (BAC), 141 North Street, will continue to offer Free Family Drop-Ins on the First Friday of the month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, year-round.
First Fridays Artswalk is supported in part by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, and a grant from the Pittsfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
This program is also supported in part by The Feigenbaum Foundation as well as a grant awarded by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community initiative with funding from the Barr Foundation.