Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area Inc

Housatonic heritage awarded a grant in the amount of 20,000 to the nonprofit center of the berkshires (fiscal sponsor for the du bois sculpture project). The project has been raising funds to create a life- size statue of native son w.e.b. Du bois to be located in front of the mason public library in great barrington, ma. The w.e.b. Du bois sculpture project was organized in march of 2022 to honor w.e.b. Du bois, a native son of great barrington, by commissioning a statue of the civil rights hero to be displayed in front of the mason public library. Fiscal sponsor for the project is the nonprofit center of the berkshires. A statue of du bois will celebrate not only his achievements in the fight for racial equality, but it will also acknowledge how great barringtonwith its long abolitionist history and powerful commitment to public education helped shape the man du bois became. We expect that a statue of this quality on the main street of town will heighten awareness of berkshire countys exceptional black history. A sculptor has been selected, a majority of funds necessary has been raised, and the group has partnered with the town to complete this project by spring of 2025. The group requested 20,000 to complete casting of the bronze.

Housatonic heritage awarded a 16,000 grant to assist the library to complete the concept design & draft master plan. The proposed project aims to transform the 3.5-acre undeveloped lot and repurpose the adjacent former library building into an integrated public space that serves as a vibrant community hub along the shore of the housatonic river in the heart of historic west cornwall. To assist this effort, we are seeking a development grant to properly survey the site, continue clearing and restoring the shoreline, and work with a licensed landscape architect and key stakeholders to produce a draft master plan for the site. This will serve as the basis for future private, state and federal funding, including a small town economic assistance program (steap) grant application in 2026 or 2027.

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