Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires Awarded $50K Barr Foundation Grant

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) is the recipient of a $50,000 grant (over two years) from the Boston-based Barr Foundation. 
 
"This grant is the largest gift in our 9-year history," NPC founder Liana Toscanini said. "It's transformational in that it will allow us to focus on strategic planning and organizational growth to better serve Berkshire nonprofits."
 
Founded in 1997, Barr has grown to become one of the largest private foundations in New England. This grant extends from Barr's Sector Effectiveness grantmaking, which aims to strengthen organizations dedicated to helping New England nonprofits thrive and sustainably achieve their missions. 
 
According to a press release, NPC serves as a support and infrastructure organization for the large Berkshire nonprofit sector, helping nonprofits connect, learn and grow. The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires is planning for growth to meet increasing demand from nonprofits for higher-level trainings, more networking events, resource-sharing and advocacy.  
 
"At Barr, we believe that thriving and robust nonprofits don't happen by accident," said Rory Neuer, Senior Learning Officer. "They depend in part upon a strong ecosystem of supports and services. The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires plays a vital role in helping organizations across the Berkshires connect, learn, and grow. We're excited to invest in NPC's work, and in turn, position nonprofits across the region for greater impact."
 
"There aren't many grants for sector infrastructure," added Toscanini. "We're honored to be recognized for the unique work we do, and grateful to Barr and its investment in NPC and the Berkshires."

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Pryor & Peacock's Whimsical Furniture Environmentally Friendly

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
 

The company uses digital printing to create the upholstery fabric, saving water and saving vintage furniture from ending up in landfills.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — A unique furniture store has popped up on Elm Street this month.

Mom-and-daughter store Pryor & Peacock is hosting the pop-up storefront from Aug. 13 to Aug. 25 at 6 Elm. The New Marlborough business is co-founded by Rosalina Wright and Luca Shapiro, who is also the creative director. 

Their online shop was created in 2024 but they wanted people to see the pieces in person, so they're renting the space for a limited time before a long-term tenant moves in.

The store sources prints to create unique fabrics and reimagines vintage and antique furniture acquired at auctions, local shops, and online.

"We source prints from all over the world that date from the late 1600s up through mid-20th century, and Luca turns those prints into fabric by manipulating them, scanning them, oftentimes has to add or subtract things, and then we manufacture the fabric using only digital printing, which is very environmentally friendly, unlike traditional textile printing," Wright said.

Upholstering the furniture can take weeks of work. Shapiro looks for the perfect design for each piece and, if need be, uses Adobe Photoshop to extend the art work to fit or enhance the print.

"One of the most difficult parts comes in marrying the fabric to a piece of furniture because we only use antique and vintage frames also to be earth friendly, and they're also more beautiful and durable than new furniture," Wright said. "So the image has to go with the furniture, so that takes a lot of work."

One of Pryor & Peacock's missions is to be environmentally friendly. Digital printing doesn't use the same amount of water as traditional textile productions do nor does it contaminate water with ink according to their website.

Not only are they saving water, but they are saving furniture from going into the landfill while also using more durable furniture that doesn't break as easily as current pieces. They started their business to create something unique and to help the environment together.

"It's creating something nobody else is doing. People can't continue to buy throwaway furniture. Six percent of American landfills is furniture, and digital printing not only opens up the possibility of being able to put unique images on a piece of furniture, but it also is, as I said, environmentally friendly. So, for us, the excitement is to take an old East Lake settee that somebody's going to store in their barn and forget about, and make it something completely new and surprising," Wright said.

They hope their furniture helps bring a pop of fun to someone's home.

"We think our furniture is very whimsical and surprising, and most furniture today is oatmeal colored couches and gray neutral chairs, and it's boring," she said.

The two named their business after their mothers' maiden names to honor them and believe the name reflects their pieces.

Shapiro works in interior design outside of the business and the two liked working together and thought it would be great to start a business together. Shapiro says they can work well together and that her and her mother, Wright, has flipped houses before and have the same eye for design.

"So it's very easy for us to work together. When we see something, generally we agree on whether it works or doesn't work on a piece. We agree on the color schemes and that sort of thing. So it's very fun and fulfilling to work together," Shapiro said. 

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