Clark Art Lecture on Race and Celebrity in Historical France

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On Saturday, Sept. 21, the Clark Art Institute presents a lecture titled "Race and Celebrity in Historical France: Examining the Chevalier de Saint-George" by Christy Pichichero, Associate Professor of History, French, and African and African American Studies at George Mason University. 
 
This free event takes place at 11 am in the Manton Research Center auditorium.
 
According to a press release: 
 
In her lecture, Pichichero explores race and celebrity in eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century France, a topic that connects Guillaume Lethière to his contemporary, Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-George. An expert on eighteenth-century France and the French Empire, Pichichero is also writing an experimental biography on the Chevalier de Saint-George.
 
Guillaume Lethière celebrates the Caribbean-born artist who became a leading figure in revolutionary France, shedding new light on the reception of Caribbean artists in France during his lifetime. The exhibition is on view through October 14 at the Clark and then travels to Paris where it will be presented at the Musée du Louvre from Nov. 13, 2024 through Feb. 17, 2025.
 
Free. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0524.

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Williamstown Government Presents Communication Plan

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williamstown is working to improve communications with residents.
 
The town manager told the Select Board last week that the town obtained a Community Compact Best Practices grant from the state's Division of Local Services to fund a consultant from the University of Massachusetts at Boston's Collins Center for Public Management to develop a communications strategy.
 
Improved communications is a growing concern for small towns like Williamstown, Town Manager Robert Menicocci told the board.
 
"The world has changed with social media," Menicocci said. "The expectations of what a community communicates to its citizens — the game has been upped.
 
"I think this was a new area for government and many communities are looking at a need to staff up to address communications, where, in the past, maybe a big city would have a communications director. Now that has trickled down to almost all small communities."
 
To that end, the town has completely revamped its website and hired its first communications director — both steps that were included in the November 2025 Collins Center report, "Roadmap for Inclusive and Accessible Municipal Communications in Williamstown, Mass."
 
Brianna Sunryd, a public services manager at the Collins Center, presented her group's findings to the Select Board.
 
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