Annual Pride Art Exhibit Extends Call For Art

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BECKET, Mass. — Organizers of the 2nd Annual Pride Art Exhibit have extended their submission deadline to April 7, 2026. 
 
The exhibit, hosted at the Becket Arts Center, features a jury composed of leaders from some of the region's largest arts institutions.
 
"When the forces of repression rise, it is vital we create spaces where queer artists' works can be seen and celebrated," said Bart Church, Q-MoB Executive Director and one of the key organizers of the Exhibit. "I am so proud that in the Berkshires leaders from many of our largest arts institutions have joined the jury to pull together this important exhibit of local queer artists, many of whom are struggling in the current climate to find ways to exhibit their work. Here in the Berkshires we celebrate diversity in the arts and go out of our way to make spaces for art and artists who some in power are trying to erase."
 
Produced by a coalition of local organizations—including the Becket Arts Center, Q-MoB, and the Berkshire Queer History Project and funded by grants from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation – the exhibit serves as a vital platform for queer creators at a time when national efforts to defund Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and LGBTQ+ arts initiatives are escalating.
 
Call for Art Details:
  • New Deadline for Submission by Artists: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
  • Exhibition Dates: June 11 – July 5, 2026, at the Becket Arts Center
  • Artist Compensation: Artists retain 75 percent of the proceeds from any works sold, alongside community visibility and patron support.
  • Eligibility: LGBTQ+ artists residing in Berkshire County or the seven surrounding counties (Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden, MA; Bennington, VT; Litchfield, CT; Columbia and Rensselaer, NY).
  • How to Submit: Artists can submit their works online at https://www.becketartscenter.org/pridecall2026
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of arts leaders.
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Units Available at Lee's New Eagle Mill Housing Development

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

It's took more than a decade to bring the Eagle Lofts to fruition in the former Eagle mill. 

LEE, Mass. — Hearthway wants community members to know there are three-bedroom units available at The Lofts at Eagle Mill with little to no waitlist. 

The apartments at 73 West Center St. recently came online in the historic building on the banks of the Housatonic River after more than a decade of work. The first tenants began moving in last week. 

Three-bedroom units are less than $2,000 per month for those who meet income requirements. 

"These units are $1,855 a month with hot water included. To qualify, applicants must be under the 60 percent AMI income limit by household size and be able to afford the rent," the affordable housing provider wrote in a communication on Monday. 

"Mobile vouchers are welcomed."

A ribbon was cut at the former paper mill over the summer for 56 one- to three-bedroom, mixed-income units in the heart of downtown. 

According to a chart provided by Hearthway, 60 percent area median income is $55,320 per year for a one person household, $63,240 a year for a two-person household, $71,160 a year for a three-person household, and $79,020 a year for a four-person household. 

Applications are available in English and Spanish. They can submitted via email to leasing@hearthway.org, drop off to the main office at 1 Fenn St in Pittsfield, fax to 413-403-2710, or USPS mail to P.O. Box 1180, Pittsfield, MA 01202-1180. 

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