Dear Pulse Community,
As we begin a new calendar year and the official start to Berkshire Pulse’s 30th Anniversary, Pulse’s leadership and Board of Directors are thrilled to share some monumental news about our future. Thanks to the incredible generosity of a small group of anonymous donors, we have recently acquired an historic mill building in downtown Housatonic to be Pulse’s future, permanent home.
On December 20, 2024, we closed on the sale of an incredible 13,350-square-foot, three-story building at 410 Park Street, located directly next door to our current facility at Rubin Mill (420 Park Street), which will serve as a new center for Pulse’s programs and community. This new space will provide room to expand our programming, support more artists, and strengthen our connection with you, our community.
Berkshire Pulse’s future home is on the left, our current home is on the right. Photo Credit: Birch Properties
Early in 2025, Pulse will begin the planning process to refine the renovation designs, timeline, and funding requirements to convert 410 Park from a private residence to a new, dynamic dance and creative arts center. Project planning costs will be partially supported by a feasibility study grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund program.
“Berkshire Pulse was founded with the core belief that dance and the creative arts can profoundly enrich peoples’ lives—and that everyone should have direct access to the arts, regardless of their age, abilities, or life circumstances. Our community in Housatonic has been incredibly supportive of this mission since we first started holding classes here nearly 20 years ago, and we are grateful for their continued encouragement today,” said Bettina Montano, Founder and Artistic Director of Berkshire Pulse. “This new space will allow us to expand our programs, offer more opportunities for local artists, and deepen our impact and connection with the community. We can’t wait to envision how our Pulse will evolve now that we finally have a permanent home and a place to grow.”
The purchase of 410 Park was made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of several anonymous donors. Though the building’s purchase and acquisition costs have already been fully underwritten through these contributions, the project’s planning and construction expenses will need to be raised separately through an anticipated multi-million dollar capital campaign to be launched by Berkshire Pulse’s Board of Directors and volunteers later in 2025.
“We are so grateful to these extraordinary donors whose transformational gifts have laid the foundation for what promises to be a bright new future for Pulse,” said Abigail Rollins, Executive Director of Berkshire Pulse. “And on the cusp of Pulse’s 30th anniversary, we look forward to seeing how our future home will not only allow us to fulfill our mission in new, exciting ways, but also to serve as a community resource for Berkshire-area artists and families for generations to come.”
To that end, our Board or Directors and volunteers we’ll be launching an anticipated multi-million dollar capital campaign later in 2025 to make this vision a reality.
What does this mean for Pulse’s current classes and programs?
For now . . . Very little will change.
Pulse will continue to operate its Youth Performing Arts and Community Classes at Rubin Mill for the next several years while it undergoes the construction and capital campaign work required for 410 Park. In addition to maintaining classes in Housatonic, Pulse will continue to offer its many off-site In-School and Community Outreach programs, including its expanded presence in Pittsfield through its ongoing partnership with the Berkshire Boys & Girls Club.
Thank you for being such an essential part of our journey. We look forward to keeping you updated as we move forward with this exciting new chapter and hope you will join us in making it a success!
Interested in staying informed or getting involved in the 410 Park Street Project?
A copy of the 410 Park Press release may be read here. Subscribe to our e-newsletter here.
Media and general inquiries may be directed to Berkshire.Pulse@gmail.com.
Capital Campaign inquiries may be directed to Executive Director Abigail Rollins at Abi@BerkshirePulse.org.
A Brief History of Berkshire Pulse’s Past, Present and Future Homes
1995 – Pulse Founder Bettina Montano begins an afterschool program (“The Flowering Child Performing Arts Program”) for children in a gym in Stockbridge, MA.
1996 – 2014 – A vibrant community of participants ranging in ages 4-84 formed, and the seeds for Berkshire Pulse began to take root. In addition to classes hosted at the gym in Stockbridge, Pulse begins teaching a variety of dance and creative arts classes at locations throughout the region courtesy of the town of Great Barrington, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, and Berkshire South Community Center. Coincidentally, one of the locations rented to host Pulse classes in the early years – and Pulse’s first home in Housatonic – was at 410 Park Street. Friends of the organization donated considerable time and resources to convert raw space on the bottom floors of 410 Park into two dance studios where Pulse held classes for seven years before the property was ultimately sold and converted into a private residence.
2014 – After years of temporary spaces, Pulse found its current home next door on the 3rd floor a historic textile mill at 420 Park Street in Housatonic (“Rubin Mill”) where it leases 6,500 square feet of space. Generous architects, builders, donors, friends and family supported moving into the gorgeous studios at Rubin Mill.
2023 – Nearly ten years later, Pulse has dramatically outgrown our space at Rubin Mill. To meet community needs, and achieve long-term sustainability, Pulse deserves and needs a permanent and expanded home. The Pulse Board forms a subcommittee to search for a new space.
2024 – After many months of searching, and considering a variety of options, only one property met the necessary specifications to accommodate Pulse’s vision and needs for its permanent home. And in an act of extraordinary generosity from a few anonymous donors, contributed transformational gifts that allowed Pulse to purchase 410 Park Street.
2025 – 2027 (TBD) – 410 Park Street is a historic mill building that had already been restored as an artist’s residence, benefiting Pulse with several of the infrastructure upgrades. Once renovations are complete, the new facility will more than double Pulse’s classroom/performance studios, common areas, guest parking, and administrative offices. All of this so we can better serve this amazing community!
Photo of 410 Park Street taken just after the board subcommittee toured the building while searching for Pulse’s future home. A sign from the universe! Credit: Joan Coombs.