(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – A bevy of downtown businesses and cultural organizations, led by Barrington Stage Company, will stage 10×10 On North, a winter contemporary arts festival, from February 16 to February 26, 2012, with a mix of new art, dance, music, theater, and more.

The festival is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by Barrington Stage Company, with partners including the Beacon Cinema, Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF), Downtown Pittsfield Inc., Lichtenstein Center for the Arts and the City of Pittsfield, Mission Bar + Tapas and Y Bar, New Stage Performing Arts Center, Pittsfield Bra & Girl and Shawn’s Barber Shop.

The theme of ten runs throughout the festival programming. Barrington Stage will present ten 10-minute plays; the Beacon Cinema and BIFF will present ten new short films shot on cell phones; the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts will host an art show called Ten Spot featuring ten emerging Berkshire artists; Mission Bar + Tapas will host ten songwriters; Y Bar will play host to ten poets; New Stage will host ten comedy and variety acts; ten tangos at Pittsfield Bra & Girl; and ten comic-strip artists at Shawn’s Barber Shop. More activities and events will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We want to celebrate Pittsfield as an arts community all year long. We are excited about this festival and the brand new collaboration we’ve formed this winter,” said Barrington Stage Company’s artistic director Julianne Boyd.

Tickets for Barrington Stage Company’s 10-minute play festival will go on sale at the BSC Box Office on January 2, 2012, by phone at 413.236.8888 or online at Barrington Stage Company. Visit 10×10 On North or find 10×10 On North on Facebook for more information about tickets and the schedule of events.