LENOX — The Mount, Edith Wharton Cultural Center announced the appointment of two new members to its board of trustees: bestselling novelist and short story writer Lauren Groff and landscape architect Mark Strieter, principal at Nelson Byrd Woltz. These appointments reflect the Mount’s continued commitment to bringing together outstanding voices in literature, design, and the arts to advance its mission as a vibrant center for intellectual and artistic exchange.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lauren and Mark to the Mount’s board,” said Barbara Cooperman, chair of the Mount’s board of trustees. “Lauren’s profound engagement with Edith Wharton’s work and her stature in contemporary American letters, together with Mark’s exceptional expertise in revitalizing cultural landscapes, each bring invaluable perspective as we continue to expand the Mount’s reach and shape the institution’s next chapter. We look forward to the creativity and leadership they will bring to our work.”

Groff is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Monsters of Templeton, Arcadia, Fates and Furies, Matrix, and The Vaster Wilds, and the celebrated short story collections Delicate Edible Birds, Florida, and, most recently Brawler. Strieter has focused throughout his career on revitalizing and interpreting complex cultural sites and ecological systems, working at the intersection of landscape, history, and public life. His portfolio spans urban and rural contexts alike.

“Lauren and Mark each bring a longstanding engagement with the Mount and with Edith Wharton’s enduring legacy,” said Susan Wissler, executive director of the Mount. “Lauren’s 2024 In Conversation program demonstrated the continuing power of literature to spark dialogue across generations, while Mark’s work on the Mount’s landscape master plan has helped us think more deeply about the estate as both a historic home and a significant cultural landscape. As we continue our evolution as the Mount, Edith Wharton Cultural Center, and embark on a new strategic plan, their insights will be enormously valuable.”

LENOX — The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home, invites the public to a free musical celebration of Berkshire Latinx culture and artistry on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. Attendees will enjoy a performance under the tent from Brazilian samba/salsa dancer Luana Días and live Mexican music from Loreli Chavez and Laura Cabrera, the multifaceted singer of Yo Soy Arte, a collective of local Latinx artists dedicated to preserving their cultural heritage through music and dance while bringing people together in celebration and unity.

Food will be available for purchase from local favorite La Chalupa y la Enchilada, and a beverage garden will feature a variety of drink options. Children’s activities will include face painting and, or course, dancing.

Free bus transportation from Pittsfield to Lenox will be provided; a 3 p.m. bus departs from Hotel on North (297 North St.) to the Mount, returning to Pittsfield at 7 p.m. Register for transportation by calling (413) 707-2607 or emailing [email protected].

“I’m thrilled to be leading the Mount’s efforts to build authentic relationships and highlight the rich cultural talent we have within our community,” said Liliana Atanacio, the Mount’s new Outreach coordinator.

This project is supported by a grant awarded by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community initiative with funding from the Barr Foundation.

LENOX — The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home, is collaborating with the Straw Dog Writers Guild of Western Mass. to offer a unique residency experience for nine emerging writers. Residencies will be for one week and include lodging at Brook Farm Inn in Lenox, a workspace at the Mount, breakfast, lunch, and a $500 stipend. The residencies run weekly from March 5 to March 25, and three writers will be selected for each week. Applications opened on Sept. 1. Visit edithwharton.org for more information and to access the application form.

This will be the ninth year the Mount has offered writers an opportunity to create at the Mount and its second year partnering with Straw Dog Writers Guild. The revamped residency now focuses on writers who are developing their craft. There is no prerequisite for being published.

“The Mount was conceived as a private retreat by a writer on the verge of her literary ascent; in the 21st century, what better way to share Edith Wharton’s home and legacy than with an organization of writers devoted to supporting emerging voices?” said Patricia Pin, director of Public Programs at the Mount.

Jacqeline Sheehan, author and president of Straw Dog Writers Guild, added that, “in collaboration with the Mount, Straw Dog Writers Guild is honored to offer residencies to writers early in their careers. Just as Edith Wharton gained her early literary footing at the Mount, our contemporary emerging writers are offered the gift of support and our belief in them.”