North Adams Announces Downtown Crosswalk Art Project

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— The City of North Adams announced a public art project for downtown North Adams.

The project involves the selection of four artists to create artwork for eight downtown crosswalks. Each selected artist will receive a $2,000 honorarium for design and implementation. The project aims to enhance the visual appeal of the city for residents and visitors.

The initiative follows a previous project that placed artwork on ten downtown electrical boxes.

The project is a collaboration between the Cultural District Committee, Public Arts Commission, Assets for Artists, City Councilor Andrew Fitch and Mayor Jennifer Macksey.

Project Details:

• Four artists will each paint two crosswalks.
• The City of North Adams will prepare the crosswalks for painting.
• Artists will be assigned specific painting windows due to street closure limitations.
• Crosswalk locations:
  • Main Street & American Legion Drive
  • Main Street & Eagle Street
  • Main Street & Holden Street
  • Holden Street & Center Street
  • Eagle Street & Church Street
  • Ashland Street & Main Street
  • Center Street & Marshall Street
  • Eagle Street & Center Street

Project Timeline:

• March 17: Open call begins
• April 4: Submission deadline
• April 14: Decision notification, crosswalk assignment, and request for final design submission
• May 16 - June 6: Painting period
• June 6: Finished product showcase at June First Friday

Submission Requirements:

• One crosswalk art design example (.jpeg or .pdf)
• Contact information
• Statement of connection to and interest in North Adams
• Optional: Link to website and/or social media page

Selected artists will be assigned two crosswalks with dimensions and must submit a final design for approval by April 25.

Submit art here

The North Adams Cultural District Committee, funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural District Funding and other grants, is coordinating the project.

Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
07:25AM / Sunday, March 15, 2026

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 

 

The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.

 

"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.

 

A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 

 

Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 

 

Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 

 

They will submit those with a school picture to the governor.