She called Freeman an icon and a trailblazer. Gwendolyn VanSant, the CEO of BRIDGE, an area nonprofit that fosters racial understanding and equity, is overseeing the scholarships. He brought together stakeholders and raised about $280,000, enough money for the roughly 8-foot statue, as well as a scholarship fund in Freeman's honor for area high school students. Anthony in Adams, the Berkshire County community where the suffragist was born. Pignatelli was inspired to raise a statue of Freeman last year when he attended the unveiling of a statue of Susan B. He found that many of his colleagues in the Statehouse were also largely in the dark about the significance of her case, which set the legal precedent that essentially ended slavery in Massachusetts. William "Smitty" Pignatelli grew up not far from Sheffield in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts yet didn't hear her story until about 20 years ago. Her story, while remarkable, remains relatively obscure. The story of an enslaved woman who went to court to win her freedom more than 80 years before the Emancipation Proclamation had been pushed to the fringes of history.Ī group of civic leaders, activists and historians hope that ended Sunday in the quiet Massachusetts town of Sheffield with the unveiling of a bronze statue of the woman who chose the name Elizabeth Freeman when she shed the chains of slavery 241 years ago to the day. It hosted a total of over 11,000 audience members at the open-air venue using “seating pods,” hand sanitizer stations, and mask requirements.A monument of civil rights pioneer Elizabeth Freeman is unveiled in front of Sheffield's Old Parish Church in Sheffield, Mass., Sunday, Aug. The Freeman Stage managed to hold 49 performances between July and September last year despite the pandemic. A 2021 lineup will be announced this spring. ![]() Grime says that acts are being booked for the 2021 season, including many forced to cancel last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grimes notes that $20 million has already been raised.Ĭonstruction is expected to finish in four to six years. Grimes says there will also be new lighting and video equipment, an expanded concession and dining area and a larger artist dressing room and production space when the project is completed in four to six years.Ī capital campaign is underway to raise the needed funding for the proposed $27 million upgrade. The new set-up will allow up to 500 four-person seating pods, with an eventual capacity of 4,000 seats, up from 2,700 seats pre-COVID. We've been in the planning stages," said Grimes "We’ve have the approvals for the project, which ultimately when it’s finished, will have a covered stage, with some covered seating and a grand lawn.” “Our Board of Directors actually approved the planning of the Freeman Arts Pavilion several years ago. Last November, the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission approved an interim site plan for that property. Grimes says the Freeman Arts Pavilion will expand on the existing Freeman Stage site, using an adjacent property. Given the pandemic and what we endured in 2020, our Board of Directors approved us moving forward with Freeman Arts Pavilion in 2021 in a phased approach.” said Patti Grimes, executive director of the Joshua M. ![]() ![]() The Freeman Stage in Selbyville hopes to get a jumpstart in 2021 with a larger venue and a new name.įreeman Stage officials feel 2021 is the right time to transition to a new name - the Freeman Arts Pavilion - as its expansion plans move ahead.
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