The Garfield Bridge

Our Mission

The mission of the Garfield Bridge is twofold.

First and foremost we strive to be good neighbors. To do this we look to engage with our neighbors and keep their needs and interest in mind as we host arts events and arts outreach that targets the residents of Garfield rather than mostly catering  to people from outside of the neighborhood.

The Anti-Gentrification Team

As Garfield is in a state of flux with more and more developers looking to invest in the area the Garfield Bridge will advocate on behalf of the existing residents as well as helping to teach them how to advocate for themselves ensuring that they are not brushed aside during the rush to redevelop.

The second part of our mission is to establish a residency program that will bring national and international artists to Pittsburgh. As a tie-in to the first part of our mission these residents will interact with the community through open houses, arts education, and everyday interaction.

Give and Take

The artists should leave their residency with a strong sense about the city of Pittsburgh – they should experience Pittsburgh’s openness and hospitality. They must also interact with the greater Pittsburgh art scene and complete at least one piece of work during their residency that they can show at a gallery or venue other than the Garfield Bridge in the city of Pittsburgh or the greater metro area. The artist will conduct at least one artist talk with other artists that will help local artists to gain a better understanding of where the resident artist comes from, their influences, their culture, and the way they approach their craft. This can help expand the collective knowledge and understanding of art and help increase Pittsburgh’s reputation as a cultural and artistic hub.

Current Events and General Information

For current events and general information please check out our blog here and our Facebook page here. We’ll have a calender up once we are done with the build out but for now we are still working on the physical structure as well as seeking grants to help us establish the residency and to provide funds for our advocacy and outreach. If you are a potential funding source we’d love to talk to you or to hear about grants that we can apply for.