editorThe Berkshires Only Winter Contemporary Arts Festival to be Held February 12-22, 2015 in Downtown Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District
(Pittsfield, Mass.) The City of Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District has a sure cure for cabin fever this February: the fourth annual 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival featuring a lively array of music, art, theatre, dance, comedy, film, fashion, magic, a bonfire and fireworks and more from February 12-22, 2015 in the hub of the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.
“The 10×10 Upstreet Holiday Festival is one of my favorite cultural events of the year because it brings affordable fun to the winter time,” noted Pittsfield Mayor Dan Bianchi. “I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy everything from the winter fireworks display to new theatre at Barrington Stage.”
Shire City Sanctuary is a new addition this year featuring an evolving community demonstration and installation of a screen printed poster over the course of the 10 day festival. They will also host a Valentine’s Day dinner and dance party following Berkshire Historical Society’s 10x10x10x10 Undergarment Fashion Show featuring ten models wearing ten outfits from ten eras by ten designers, highlighting the winter exhibition at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead. Other new additions this year include: a free, community wide bonfire and fireworks extravaganza at the newly renovated Common on First Street; WAM Theatre’s return to Pittsfield with a one night only staged reading of their critically acclaimed 2013 production of Emilie; two family friendly shows at the Colonial Theatre; 10 Decades of Jazz Piano with master pianist Bill Mays; 10 Shorts, a multi-disciplinary, multicultural work by Berkshire-based performing artists at the Whitney Center for the Arts and Berkshire International Film Festival hosts a closing night Academy Awards party at the Beacon.
Returning highlights of the festival include Barrington Stage Company’s popular 10X10 New Play Festival, featuring ten new 10-minute plays; Dance Ten, a performance showcase of ten community dance groups and schools from throughout the Berkshires; the 10X10 Real Art Party fundraiser organized by Berkshire Art Association at the Berkshire Museum; and the Ten Spot Art Show at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, featuring ten of the best contemporary artists in the Berkshires both in the gallery and on billboards throughout Berkshire County.
“This is going to be the biggest and best 10×10 Fest yet!” stated Jen Glockner, the director of cultural development for the City of Pittsfield. “We’re thrilled to have a winter fireworks display for the first time and look for some surprise pop-up performances along North Street as well.”
This year there are a variety of family-friendly free or low-cost daytime activities, perfect for a week when many schools are on vacation. They include daily adventure play at the Berkshire Museum, two shows at the Colonial Theatre, the bonfire and fireworks extravaganza, a concert at Berkshire Music School and the Dance Ten performance showcase.
The 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival is a winter arts festival located in Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, organized by the City of Pittsfield and Barrington Stage Company. Festival partners this year include: the Beacon Cinema and Berkshire International Film Festival; Berkshire Art Association; Berkshire Historical Society; Berkshires Jazz; Berkshire Museum; Berkshire Music School; Berkshire Theatre Group; the Crowne Plaza; Gypsy Layne Cabaret; the Whitney Center for the Arts; the Laugh Lounge; Shire City Sanctuary; WAM Theatre and more.
Berkshire Gas is the lead sponsor and additional support is generously provided by Greylock Federal Credit Union, Massachusetts Cultural Council, The Berkshire Eagle, Berkshire Magazine, Lamar Advertising and the Crowne Plaza. Performances and events will take place every day during the festival. For regular updates to the Festival, like the 10×10 Upstreet Festival on Facebook and follow the 10×10 Upstreet on Twitter.
