BRAINworks - Berkshire Regional Arts Integration Network
BRAINworks facilitates a cross-sector collective impact initiative that connects arts learning to larger regional goals, including community engagement, career readiness, prosocial opportunities for youth, placemaking, and connection to Berkshire County. The initiative is comprised of two key components: professional development for Berkshire County educators and a professional learning network for arts organizations. BRAINworks Professional Development Program is an arts integration professional development program for Berkshire County educators across PreK-12 classrooms that leverages the region’s existing arts/cultural assets. Berkshire Cultural Assets Network is a professional learning network for arts education and community engagement staff working at Berkshire County 501(c)3 arts/cultural organizations.
BRAINworks Professional Development Program is an arts integration professional development program for Berkshire County educators across PreK-12 classrooms that leverages the region’s existing arts/cultural assets.
Berkshire Cultural Assets Network is a professional learning network for arts education and community engagement staff working at Berkshire County 501(c)3 arts/cultural organizations.
The Berkshire Regional Arts Integration Network (BRAINworks) is supported by two main pillars of activity: professional development (BRAINworks PD) and a professional learning network (BCAN). The work rests on a multi-layered foundation of research, strategic planning, and organizational collaboration.
Funding from BERK12, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the Pittsfield Education Enrichment Fund, and the Mill Town Foundation have supported:
the development of year-round offerings for arts integration professional development for Berkshire County public school educators.
the expansion of the Berkshire Portrait of a Graduate arts alignment work
advancement of DESE arts education initiatives including research support and piloting the Arts & Cultural Vitality Index
the continued operation of a professional learning network, the Berkshire Cultural Assets Network (BCAN) for arts education and community engagement staff working in arts organizations across Berkshire County.
the continued pursuit of grant opportunities
For more information about ways to get involved or about the work, you can contact Lisa Donovan at Lisa.Donovan@mcla.edu or Leslie Appleget at lappleget@napsk12.org.
Arts Alignment to Berkshire Portrait of a Graduate
Since 2022, Berkshire arts and cultural organizations have dedicated time and resources to aligning their creative youth development programs and offerings to the Berkshire Portrait of a Graduate competencies and academic standards from the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Through this process, 10 organizations across the county have created, piloted, and reflected upon high-impact arts-based experiences that support the classroom foci of educators and provide robust opportunity for students to cultivate the six Portrait competencies.
Each of the following organizations has created extensive, project-based curricula. The overview of each program, its learning objectives, enduring understandings, and relevant standards are available in the PDF accessible HERE:
Barrington Stage Company
Berkshire Art Center
Berkshire Film & Media Collaborative
Berkshire Museum
Berkshire Pulse
Clark Art Institute
Jacob's Pillow
MASS MoCA
Norman Rockwell Museum
WAM Theatre