GCC presents Black History Month event
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College will host a Black History Month event, “The Sound of America: Negro Spirituals as Narratives of Freedom,” on Friday, Feb. 20, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Cohn Family Dining Commons. The event is free and open to the public, with light refreshments provided.
The program will feature a performance and lecture by Perry Brisbon, an operatic tenor and director of Turning Point, University Choir and the Templeton Honors Choir at Eastern University. Through live performance and commentary, Brisbon will explore traditional negro spirituals and their influence on American music, including blues, gospel, jazz, classic soul, rock ’n’ roll and hip-hop.
Negro spirituals emerged from the lived experiences of enslaved African Americans and served as expressions of faith, resistance, hope and the pursuit of freedom. The event aims to highlight their lasting cultural and musical legacy while tracing how these songs shaped the foundations of American music across generations.
The event is presented by GCC’s Office for Institutional Mission, Culture and Climate as part of the college’s Black History Month programming.
Community members are encouraged to RSVP by visiting gccfor.me/sound-of-america.
Poetry contest winners to be featured at Writers Read
GREENFIELD — The LAVA Center’s next installment of its monthly Writers Read series on Feb. 11 will feature Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest 2025 youth winners Rex Kim, Calliope Pietrewicz and Rebecca Zhang.
The second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., three writers read from their work, followed by a discussion facilitated by Lindy Whiton. There is a $1 to $5 suggested donation.
Kim is a 17-year-old senior at Four Rivers Charter Public School in Greenfield who has been experimenting with poetry and enjoys writing.
Pietrewicz is a preteen poet and writer who focuses on feminism and political action in poems, and in her mini novels, she focuses on portraying both fantasy and mortality. She’s a student at Four Rivers and lives in Ashfield.
Zhang is a freshman boarding school student at The Bement School in Deerfield. “I write for my past self and past events as well as for under-addressed issues that need a voice,” the Shanghai resident said.
Register for chair Pilates by Feb. 6
GREENFIELD — Advance registration for a three-week chair Pilates class coming to the Greenfield Senior Center is due by Friday, Feb. 6.
The classes will be held on Fridays, Feb. 13, 20 and 27, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
Chair Pilates helps with better posture and mobility, and is especially helpful for those struggling with osteoporosis. There are various exercises that can be done while seated to tone a person’s whole body. This is a slow-paced and gentle exercise class.
A $15 payment and Senior Center membership (free) are required.
Feb. 11: Learn iris paper folding
GREENFIELD — Margot Peck will lead an iris paper folding class at the Greenfield Senior Center on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Iris folding is done by arranging and layering strips of paper or fabric in a spiraled pattern that resembles the iris of a camera lens. In this workshop, attendees will make a card or a unique piece of art to bring home.
No experience is necessary. Attendees are asked to bring a roll of Scotch tape; all other materials will be provided. Free of charge.
Advance registration and Senior Center membership (free) are required, but there is no cost to participate. To sign up, stop by the center’s front desk or call 413-772-1517, ext. 0.
‘Connections’ group to meet Feb. 19
GREENFIELD — Social worker Irene Woods will lead “Connections,” a group exploring ways to be proactive about making connections with others, at the Greenfield Senior Center on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Advance registration is required. Space is limited to 11. Call 413-772-1517, ext. 0 or stop by the center’s front desk to sign up. Seniors from all towns are welcome.
Mike and Beth Cabaret Show coming to Senior Center
GREENFIELD — Back by popular demand, the Greenfield Senior Center presents the Mike and Beth Cabaret Show on Friday, Feb. 20, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
The program is sponsored by RegalCare at Greenfield. Senior Center membership is not required, but registration is necessary by calling 413-772-1517, ext. 0 or by stopping by the center’s front desk.
Residents are also invited to join Mayor Ginny Desorgher for coffee and conversation at the Senior Center on Friday, Feb. 20, at 2:30 p.m., immediately following the concert.
Feb. 27: Learn pour painting
GREENFIELD — Ellie Harris will teach pour painting at the Greenfield Senior Center on Friday, Feb. 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
No art experience is needed, and attendees will be able to bring home a painting for themselves or to give as a gift. The class is limited to six participants.
Advance registration with a $5 materials fee (cash or check) and Senior Center membership (free) are required. Stop by the center’s front desk to sign up.
Cultural Council awards $23K in grants
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Cultural Council has awarded 36 grants totaling $23,161 to a wide array of arts and culture projects in Greenfield and neighboring communities. Grants range from $300 to $1,500 and support projects in literature, science, music, theater, visual arts and more.
The Greenfield Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 local cultural councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the state. The Legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency that allocates funds to each municipality.
“I am thrilled that the city has the opportunity to allocate state funding to such a vibrant and diverse selection of arts and culture projects,” Mayor Ginny Desorgher said in a statement. “This funding supports creators and performers, enriches our community, and activates public and private spaces to the benefit of our local economy.”
In 2024, the Cultural Council conducted a community survey that informed local priorities for allocating funding. The results favored live performances and festivals, social justice and cultural diversity events, and public art.
More than 90 applicants, which were reviewed in December, requested a total of $93,000 in funding. The next round of Cultural Council funding will take place in the fall of 2026.
Funding recipients include “A HAPPENING VI,” Fiery Hope, Montague World Music Fest, Balance the Wave Contra, Franklin County Community Chorus, Valley Arabic Music Ensemble (VAME), musical storytelling and folk songs by Eli Elkus, “Following the Dino Tracks” live science events, Franklin County Pride parade and festival, Roundhouse winter crafting series, Molten Bellydance Showcase, Pollinator Pride Mural, the Richard D. Little Geology Collection at Greenfield Community College, Greenfield Clip Day, Greenfield Community Television’s film contest, farmers market musician/entertainment stipends, the “Read Between the Reels” banned book cinema series, The Comedy Project, Greenfield Community Band’s 2026 summer concerts, JingleFest, Montague Square Dance and Jam, “How the Moth Fell in Love with the Light” Winter Carnival puppet show, Greenfield Crankie Fest, “We, the poets, grant you refuge” — How Palestinian poetry inspires activism, “On the Boards” 2026, Looky Here Magazine yearbook edition (publication and release party), Community Concert Series, the Fanfare Brass Ensemble, Secrets of the Sovereigns: Franklin County Pride edition, DinoFest, “SheaK it Up” variety series, 2018 Handel Society MDP Competition: A Theater Thursday Reading, Liberation Playback Theatre 2026 Training Series, Full Snow Moon Gathering and Social Dance, and James Dean January.
College-bound Greenfield students can get funding through Jennie L. Bascom Educational Fund
GREENFIELD — The Trustees of the Jennie L. Bascom Educational Fund invite college-bound students who are residents of Greenfield to apply for a financial award to support their post-secondary education. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 1.
Established in 1953 through the will of Jennie L. Bascom, the fund was created to provide assistance to deserving students who are seeking an education beyond high school. Award amounts will be determined based on the number of qualified applicants.
The trustees encourage school administrators, guidance counselors, teachers and community members to share this opportunity with students who may be eligible. Applications for the Jennie L. Bascom Educational Fund have been sent to guidance counselors at local high schools.
Applicants must submit three copies of all application materials to: Jennie L. Bascom Educational Fund, c/o Ann Mayo, 143 Wells St., Greenfield, MA 01301.
GCC Community Chorus welcomes new members
GREENFIELD — The GCC Community Chorus welcomes new members for the spring
semester, for all voice parts. Rehearsals will be held on Fridays through April 24, from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m.
The group is open to community members as well as Greenfield Community College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Several performances are held both on and off campus each semester during noon and weekend/evening time blocks.
Music includes a variety of choral works drawn from classical and other styles. In recent semesters, the group has performed programs titled “Peace,” “Choral Classics by Great Composers” and “Four Centuries of American Choral Music.” Vocal development, sight reading, languages and background material are all part of the experience. An ability to carry a tune and a commitment to the rehearsal and performance schedules are the only requirements to participate.
Margery Heins directs the GCC Community Chorus. She has directed choruses at GCC since 2001, and is known in the area for work with other community choral groups, church choirs and voice teaching. John Yannis is the group’s accompanist.
Registration for the GCC Community Chorus can be completed at engage.gcc.mass.edu/workshops/community-chorus. Questions may be sent to Dana Ovitt at ovittd@gcc.mass.edu.