Made in the Berkshires took its first bows in 2011 and will be lighting stages again, over the 2012 Columbus Day Weekend.

If you attend Berkshire performances on a regular basis, you have no doubt run into the Governor of Massachusetts who is no stranger to the arts. I have seen him at music, theatre and dance performances up and down the Berkshires and he appears to genuinely enjoy being able to take them all in. It makes sense, too, since the Berkshire’s cultural attractions are a major component of its economic base. Locally based events – Made in the Berkshires comes to mind – provide a showcase for some of the area’s most creative and hard working artists and artisans This, in turn, helps to attract creative businesses and their jobs, as well as new families to reside here. In essence, cultural ticket buyers tend to be the best prospects for the Berkshire’s economic future.

Governor Patrick shares the joy of a live performance.

So it really didn’t come as a big surprise when Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire announced that Governor Deval L. Patrick has accepted and will preside as Honorary Chair of 2012′s Made in the Berkshires Arts Festival, taking place this year over the Columbus Day weekend, October 5-8, 2012. The competition portion of Made in the Berkshires is completed, and the final schedule is currently being finalized. The full slate of performers, dates and times will be announced just after Labor Day. We will reprint the schedule as soon as it becomes available.

Made in the Berkshires is sponsored by Kate & Hans Morris and Morris House Antiques & Interiors LLC.

The Festival opens with a gala performance at the Colonial Theatre on Friday October 5th. The Made in the Berkshires festival, now in its second year, features plays, films, dance, music and multi-media created and presented by local Berkshire County artists.

“The Festival was such a huge success last year,” said Kate Maguire, “co-curators Hilary Somers Deely and Barbara Sims have, once again, helped put the spotlight on the incredibly vibrant arts community in our region. The 2012 festival will take place over a single weekend; with eight performance blocks utilizing both the Colonial and the Stockbridge theatre facilities. We’ve been able to schedule over 30 separate performances involving 100 local artists!”

“In some ways we are more ‘professional’ this year,” said Barbara Sims, “thanks to a support grant secured by Pittsfield’s director of cultural affairs, Megan Whilden, we were able to enhance our web site and we received a record number of submissions which presented a real challenge to Hilary and I.”

“However, it is in the nature of live performance for there to be lots of surprises and special moments—some planned and some not!” added Hilary Somers Deely.

Festival-goers have the option of purchasing tickets for individual performance blocks at $15 or they can purchase an all performance sponsor pass for $100, which allows them immediate seating at any performance and venue, as long as they arrive fifteen minutes prior to show time. Future information on the festival and ticket availability can be found at www.madeintheberkshires.org or directly from The Berkshire Theatre Group ticket office at 413-997-4444.

For more information about the performances, check out www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org