The Berkshire Award 2013 at Berkshire Museum

Fiona Breslin reports from Pittsfield. The Berkshire Museum, which has advocated for art, history, and education across Berkshire County for more than a century, held the first ever Berkshire Award on Friday, March 15. The award served to recognize those who promote the artistic, natural heritage, and history of our region. With that in mind the evening drew in artists, writers, activists, teachers, friends, and more to support this year's recipients: Berkshire County philanthropists The Crane Family, Community Access to the Arts (CATA) founder Sandra Newman (pictured left with CATA board president John Whalan), and naturalist, teacher, and former Berkshire Museum Natural Science Curator Thom Smith. The evening was a full plate: first a cocktail reception and then a light dinner that followed the award ceremony itself — a presentation in which museum director Van Shields screened three short films by West Tenth Media. The beautifully shot cinematic portraits focused on each of the honorees and their valued contributions to the community.

CATA Board of Directors Heather Wells-Heim with Margaret Keller; Kim Kinne, museum director Van Shields, and Berkshire Museum board president Bill Hines.

Carolyn King, Chris King, and Berkshire Creative's Cathy Deely; Steve Blanchard and reporter Seth Rogovoy.

Berkshire Museum board president Bill Hines and museum director Van Shields with the Berkshire Award 2013 evening honorees: The Crane Family, Sandra Newman, and Thom Smith.

CATA's program and artistic director Dawn Lane, Kate Whalan, and event planner Amy Rudnick; Casting director Elissa Myers, Shelly Friedman, VIM's Matt Mandel, and Catherine Mandel.

Museum trustee Eric Korenman and Marianna Poutasse; Berkshire Museum director of interpretation Maria Mingalone with Equinox Farm owner Ted Dobson.

Berkshire Museum trustee Mary Huth and jeweler Stephanie Iverson; Berkshire Museum's digital media marketing manager Jenn Gomez and filmaker James Sylvia.