New Artsbuck Incentive Announced for Pittsfield ArtswalkBy Joe Durwin, Pittsfield Correspondent
01:27PM / Wednesday, September 19, 2012 | |
 Berkshire Money Management's Allen Harris is emerging as an innovative sponsor for local arts and humane groups. |
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| Town Players board member Sara Clement channels Mona Lisa for an 'Artsbuck. |
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Money Management announced Wednesday the second of two recent investments in the city's burgeoning monthly Artswalk exhibitions with the unveiling of a new "Artsbuck" designed to encourage art purchases at participating downtown venues.
"Artists want to be able to have an opportunity to present what they've done," said CEO Allen Harris, who announced last week that his company would become the new lead sponsor of the First Fridays Artswalk. "But they also want to be able to sell what they've created."
Harris said sometimes all it takes to turn art browsing into art buying is "just a little nudge."
The Artsbuck is essentially a $100 mail-in rebate, good for a single purchase of an original art work priced at $200 or more. Following the purchase, the buyer may send in the Artsbuck along with a copy of a signed receipt to receive a $100 check from Berkshire Money Management. The offer is limited to one redemption per person, and must be redeemed before Nov. 15 of this year.
Mayor Daniel Bianchi praised the new incentive sponsorship by the investment firm at Wednesday's announcement. "It's great to have this type of a promotion, for those of us contemplating art for our walls."
"I've participated in two or three of the Artswalks so far," said Bianchi. "It's really wonderful to soak in the creativity of all sorts of mediums of art."
Artsbucks feature the image of Da Vinci's celebrated Mona Lisa, and the press conference featured its own life-size Mona Lisa, performed by Town Players board member Sara Clement. Mona Lisa will also be walking around this week's 3rd Thursday street fair passing out the new Artsbucks.
Downtown Artswalk partners include Empty Set Projects, Miller Supply, Berkshire Museum, Crowne Plaza, Brix Wine Bar, Marketplace Café, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pateez Boutique, Brenda & Co, Bagels Too, Berkshire Carousel Gallery, Steven Valenti Clothing for Men, Berkshire Community College Intermodal Gallery, Paul Rich & Sons, Spice Dragon, Alchemy Initiative,Art.On.No, Treehouse, Gallery 25, Mad Macs, BINGO!, Wild Sage, Aerus Electrolux, Y Bar, Ferrin Gallery, Circa, the Lantern, West Side Clock Shop and the Berkshire Medical Center.
The next Artswalk is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 5.
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