ABOUT US
Saint James Place opened in 2017 as a state-of-the-art cultural center and event space where Berkshire County residents and visitors enjoy year-round music, theater, dance, and other performances along with lectures, classes and meetings.
Saint James Place enriches the non-profit landscape in the Berkshires. The arts and culture center is a year-round performance venue and home for arts and community partners. Over 50 arts groups in need of quality performance, rehearsal and office space have brought their creativity to our stage, thrilling audiences and event participants since 2017. Our historic building was built in 1857 and has been transformed into the dynamic venue that it is today.
Saint James Pace is proud to be the home of The People’s Pantry, Great Barrington’s community food shelf. The Pantry has an above-ground basement entrance on the south side of the building where shoppers enter into a spacious room for Monday and Thursday shopping. This portion of our building was renovated as a donated permanent space for The Pantry.
Performance Highlights:
April 2017
Crescendo: “Paintings in Song: The Visions of Norman Rockwell”
SJP Presents Curtis Institute on Tour: “Fiddlefest” featuring Ida Kavafian
July 2017
Berkshire Playwright’s Lab: “Some Old Black Men”
May 2019
“TheatreFest” featuring Berkshire Voices, Ghostlit Repertory Theatre & New Stage Performing Arts
December 2024
The Paul Winter Consort: “A Winter Solstice Celebration”
Look Who’s Been Here!
January, 2017 – December, 2024
- Aston Magna Music Festival
- Barrington Institute
- Berkshire Bach
- Berkshire Children’s Chorus
- Berkshire Choral International
- Berkshire Community College
- Berkshire Community Land Trust
- Berkshire Co-Op Market
- The Berkshire Eagle
- Berkshire International Fim Festival
- Berkshire Lyric
- Berkshire Minyan
- Berkshire Music School
- Berkshire Natural Resources Council
- Berkshire Opera Festival
- Berkshire Piano Academy
- Berkshire Playwright’s Lab
- Berkshire Pulse
- Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
- Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
- Berkshire Voices
- Berkshires Jazz
- Cantilena Chamber Choir
- Charlie’s Trains
- Chesterwood
- Clarion Concerts
- Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church
- Close Encounters with Music
- Converge Northeast Baptist Church
- Crescendo
- Curtis Institute of Music
- Fairview Hospital Gala Committee
- Fanna-Fi-Allah
- Flying Cloud Institute
- The Forward
- Four Nations Ensemble
- Gallery 315 Home
- Ghostlit Repertory Theatre
- Great Barrington Arts Market
- Great Barrington Downtown Cultural District
- Great Barrington Historical Society
- Great Barrington Land Conservancy
- The Great Barrington Project
- Great Barrington Public Theater
- Green Fire Press
- Green River Literacy & Learning Center
- Ivan Trabka in Concert
- Jazz & Classics for Change
- John Dewey Academy
- Lenox Garden Club
- Lucien Aigner Photography Exhibit
- Massachusetts Cultural Council
- Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
- Moving Arts Exchange
- MPZ Productions / Touching Humanity
- Multicultural BRIDGE
- New Stage Performing Arts
- Non-Profit Center of the Berkshires
- Norman Rockwell Museum
- Olga Dunn Dance Company
- Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
- Pachano & Vollert, Architects
- The Paul Winter Consort
- The People’s Pantry
- Preservation Massachusetts
- Roadtrip, Inc.
- Roger the Jester
- The Salvation Army
- The Sandisfield Players
- Schumacher Center for New Economics
- Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce
Southern Berkshire Wedding Showcase - Stockbridge Sinfonia
- TheatreFest at Saint James Place
- Triplex Cinema
- Vocalis Youth Choir
- W.E.B. DuBois Legacy Committee
- Western MA Preservation Practitioners
- Wilbur Wadlington, Author
- YMCA Camp Hi-Rock
History
Saint James Episcopal Church was built in 1857. It’s a significant and early example of 19th century Gothic Revival architecture in Western Massachusetts, constructed of locally quarried blue dolomite limestone with a central tower, pointed arch windows, and exquisite stained glass.
In 2008 the wall at the rear of the choir experienced partial collapse, creating a dangerous safety hazard and the building was condemned. In 2010 Sally and Fred Harris, former parishioners and Great Barrington residents, stepped in to rescue the historic church by creating a non-profit entity to purchase the property as multi-use cultural and educational center.
The Commitment
Saint James Place is committed to enriching the non-profit landscape in the Berkshires. The arts and culture center is a year-round performance venue and home for arts and community partners. Over 50 arts groups in need of quality performance, rehearsal and office space have brought their creativity to our stage.
Saint James Pace is also the rent-free home of The People’s Pantry, Great Barrington’s community food shelf. The Pantry has an above-ground basement entrance on the south side of the building where shoppers enter into a spacious room for Monday and Thursday shopping.
