Welcome
Board
Funding
Special Gifts

 

Welcome

Our forty winning seasons happened only because of the vision and commitment of volunteer leaders and committee members. 

So their indefatigable spirit will continue to light our way, I take this opportunity to list their names. Founders: Emanuel Levenson, Fay Kleinman, Tully Filmus; Iris Deane, Corinne Hendrix. Past Presidents: Paul Metcalf (1970-71); Mark Miller (1971-72); Ethel Mecum (1972-1977); Philip Barber (1977-79); Corinne Hendrix (1979-80);  Marjorie McEwen (1980-1992); Dede Minich (1992-1999); Joan L. Davidson (1999-now). Since 1972 the Center has been guided by the Incorporation papers put together by our present Chairman of the Board, Hon.Rudy Sacco. 

Besides the founders and Presidents, active members, forgive me if I leave someone out: Gladys Filmus, Mary Jane Methe, John Stritch, Felicia Barber, Hanna Sidofski, Julio Granda, James Hollister,  Lois Ketler, Ann Jewet,  Bill
McEwen, Adele Burgess, Gunther Stuhlmann, Saul Hofstein, Barbara Stuhlmann, Michael and Stephen Filmus,  Andy Ingani, Jamie Marshall, Jeannette Roosevelt, Violet Brennan; Madelein Swindelhurst and under my leadership: Marty and Barbara Lasker, Jim and Sally Soluri,  Roberta and Jerry Goldman; Marty and Audrey Schlanger, Robert Gorden,  Jonathan L. Davidson, Dawn Greene, Ann Smith, Susan Edelmann; Jane Falcone, Tracy Wilson, Dorothy Napp Schindel, Michel Paul Richard, Arthur Winston, David Stein, Pat Parkins, Douglas Revely, Brehan Bruce, Sherry Wells-Levine, Joan and Arnold Drucker, Luba Fineson, Connie Chin, Jamie Wurzel and our new Board Members: Jonathan Schwartz, Gloria Goldstein, Robert Hyde and William Powers. 

I began working with the Arts Center as a young exhibiting artist in 1973 and as I write this I remember walking the journey and being touched in some way by the creative spirit of many of these special people.

The Evolution of the Becket Arts Center began in November 1970,  a small group of artistically minded people living in Becket and Washington decided to create an arts center in Becket.  Early programs by and for Becket residents were held in the annex of the Becket Federated Church.
In 1978 the town of Becket became the BAC’s landlord by leasing the building that from 1946-1975 had been American Legion Hall.  The building was built in 1855 in the Greek Revival style to be the school house (Seminary Hall) for North Becket. The Arts Center, by extending its commitment beyond Becket and Washington to the other hill towns of Chester, Hinsdale, Middlefield, Otis, and Peru, became the Becket Arts Center of the Hilltowns.

In the spirit of our first constitution, the mission of the BAC is to provide an environment in which a diverse population can come together to share common interests while learning about and experiencing a variety of art forms. We are committed to a) encouraging new ideas from our local community members and supporters and b) recognizing and promoting the work of local artists and artists who live beyond our community.

Funding from local community grants for programs provide a very small percentage of our total budget.  We count heavily on community members to provide support with their membership dollars and generous contributions.   I thank our Becket Arts Center members, local businesses, the Barrington Foundation, The New York Community Trust, Elaine Bernstein and the Town of Becket who value the Arts Center and continue their commitment to our mission.  We look forward to your active participation in our season’s program.

Joan Lipson Davidson-Winston, President

 

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Becket Arts Center of the Hilltowns -
2010 Executive Board & Board of Trustees

Executive Board
Joan L. Davidson-Winston, President
Sally Soluri, Vice President
Barbara Stuhlmann, Treasurer
Elizabeth Minich, Past President

Board of Trustees
Hon, Rudy A. Sacco, Chairman

Members
Arlene Adler
Violet Brennan
Brehan Bruce
Jonathan L. Davidson
Arnold Drucker
Joan Terry Drucker
Connie Chin
Gloria Goldstein
Luba Fineson
Robert Alan Hyde
Sherry Wells Levine
Pat Parkins
Michel Paul Richard
Douglas Reveley
Arthur Winston
Jaime Wurzel

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Funding

The programs of the Becket Arts Center of the Hilltowns are supported largely by membership contributions, We are grateful to the people and businesses who have taken ads in this brochure and to The Barrington Foundation Inc., The New York Community Trust and Elaine Bernstein for their project support. Low workshop fees and scholarship assistance for some workshop programs are also made possible, in part by grants from the local Cultural Councils of Becket, Hinsdale-Peru, Lee, Washington, and Worthington whose support comes from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Special Gifts To the Becket Arts Center

In honor of Chet and Madeline Vogel's 50th wedding anniversary a gift
was made by Arthur Winston.

In honor of Bryon Gibbs Birthday a gift was made by Troy Sherman.

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