Clark Art Hosts Free Outdoor Classical Concert, Family Concert

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.—Over Labor Day weekend, The Knights return to the Clark Art Institute to present two free concerts.
 
The first is an outdoor concert on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 4 pm on the Fernández Terrace. The second is an indoor, family-friendly concert on Sunday, Aug. 31 at noon in the Manton Research Center auditorium. Both performances complement the Clark's "A Room of Her Own: Women Artist-Activists in Britain, 1875–1945" exhibition, which spotlights women artists working in Great Britain who created spaces for themselves and others in a field that was dominated by men.
 
Outdoor Concert
Saturday, Aug. 30, 4 pm
In celebration of the A Room of Her Own exhibition, the orchestra's program includes a work by celebrated British female composer Dame Ethel Smyth and a piece written for and premiered by the acclaimed English female violinist, Marie Hall.
 
Dame Ethel Smyth
Scherzo: Allegro vivace from her Suite in E Major for String Orchestra op. 1a
 
Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Lark Ascending (string arrangement; written for and premiered by Marie Hall)
 
Felix Mendelssohn
Octet for Strings
 
Bring a picnic and your own seating. Rain moves the performance to Aug. 31 at 4 pm.
 
Family Concert
Sunday, Aug. 31, noon
Music lovers of all ages will delight in a family-friendly concert that celebrates world-class music and complements the A Room of Her Own exhibition. In this accessible afternoon performance, children and their parents/grandparents/caregivers discover the limitless imaginative possibilities that exist in classical music. This performance is designed specifically for younger audiences and is intended to provide a fun and engaging introduction to classical music.
 
Based in New York City, The Knights are a collective of musicians dedicated to transforming the orchestral experience and eliminating barriers between audience and music. Led by an open-minded spirit of camaraderie and collaboration, they seek to engage with contemporary culture through vibrant performances that honor the classical tradition and their passion for musical discovery.
 
Both concerts are free. For accessibility concerns, call 413 458 0524. 
 
These performances are presented through the support of the Sea Island Foundation.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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