PITTSFIELD — 1Berkshire announced that the Norman Rockwell Museum has been selected as the 2025 Putting the Berkshires on the Map honoree.
1Berkshire presents this award annually to a project, initiative, or organization that has left an indelible mark on the region and contributed substantially to the advancement of the public perception and overall image of the Berkshires. This recognition will be presented at the 12th annual Celebrate the Berkshires event on Thursday, Sept. 18.
“Over the past four decades, the Norman Rockwell Museum has grown from a small hometown museum into a nationally recognized center for American illustration,” said Jonathan Butler, president and CEO of 1Berkshire. “This transformation was a collaborative effort led with clarity and purpose by the museum’s director/CEO, Laurie Norton Moffatt, and made possible by the trust, investment, and tireless support of board members, staff, volunteers, patrons, the Rockwell family, and the Berkshire community. 1Berkshire is proud to announce them as our Putting the Berkshires on the Map honoree.”
From its home in Stockbridge, the museum has welcomed more than 6.7 million visitors and brought travelers from across the globe to experience the Berkshires. Through nearly 250 exhibitions — circulating to 47 states and seven countries — as well as cultural diplomacy partnerships with the U.S. State Department in Ethiopia, Russia, and Mongolia, and collaborations with institutions including the White House and the United Nations, the museum has expanded its reach far beyond the region.
At the same time, it has remained firmly rooted in the Berkshires, enriching the local economy and reinforcing the county’s reputation as a world-class arts destination. Initiatives like the establishment of the Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies and the museum’s robust traveling exhibition program have sparked new scholarship and public engagement, cementing the museum as a national leader in the field.
“On behalf of all of us at the Norman Rockwell Museum, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to 1Berkshire for this meaningful recognition,” Norton Moffatt said. “For over 50 years, and especially throughout the past four decades, the museum has grown hand in hand with our Berkshire community. It has been an honor to help shape a cultural institution that not only preserves the legacy of Norman Rockwell, but also uplifts the power of illustration to reflect, challenge, and inspire.
“As one of the cornerstones of the region’s vibrant creative economy, the museum has helped position the Berkshires as a nationally recognized destination for arts and culture,” she added. “This award is a celebration of our shared commitment to creativity, storytelling, and place — and a testament to what can happen when vision meets community.”
Celebrate the Berkshires will also feature the announcement of the 2025 Berkshire Trendsetter Award winners, recognizing individuals, businesses, and organizations shaping the future of the Berkshires. Tickets are available at 1berkshire.com/events/celebrate-the-berkshires.
