In association with the Smithsonian since 2013, Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA is part of a select group of museums, cultural, educational, and arts organizations that share the Smithsonian's resources with the nation. Established by Zenas Crane in 1903, Berkshire Museum integrates art, history, and natural science in a wide range of programs and exhibitions that inspire educational connections between the disciplines.
A new exhibition, Berkshire Collects, will open this Saturday, January 25th. It showcases Berkshire County residents’ passionate pursuit of every imaginable kind of object from rare motorcycles to wind-up toys, exotic insects, vintage guitars, antique toasters, Pez dispensers, and a host of other artifacts and memorabilia. With more than 40 collectors sharing their treasures, the exhibit is a salute to the long and diverse tradition of collecting that built the Berkshire Museum 110 years ago.
Van Shields, Executive Director of Berkshire Museum and their Director of Communications, Lesley Ann Beck, join us to tell us more.