A new space dedicated to “performance, culture, conversation, community, and food” is coming to Wilkinsburg, in the Community Forge space that is home to Bricolage Production Company.
The announcement today stated that, “Thanks in part to investments from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation and Senator Jay Costa, with programming support for Bricolage from the Hillman Foundation, Community Forge will house a new venue that will be a premier cultural destination of the East End.”
Groundbreaking for construction is set to begin in January 2025. Opportunities for public engagement events, pilot shows, and announcements of request for proposals (RFPs) for artists, vendors, and a cafe concept will be shared throughout 2025.
What was once a library and gymnasium of the Johnston Elementary School at 1256 Franklin Avenue “will be transformed into a 10,000 square-foot venue space, equipped with a 130-person seated theater, a multipurpose lounge and community room, and a cafe that will be open to the public.”
“Since we first came into the former Johnston School to start Community Forge, we have aligned our goals with those of the community,” said Michael Skirpan, executive director of Community Forge. “There has been a clear demand for cultural and performing arts, food, and a community meeting point. We’ve done our best to meet these goals, but this venue will realize in full what we have wanted to offer to Wilkinsburg and the East End. This project wouldn’t be possible without the input of the community and our amazing partners.”
The concept for the venue and cafe, according to the announcement, “stems from two years of partnership and planning alongside the Wilkinsburg community, in collaboration with the founding leadership of Bricolage Production Company, and Pittsburgh based, cross-disciplinary artists of KinselLand.”
The partners intend to continue the current open mic series that Community Forge hosts on the third Friday of each month, before launching new “Soul Lounge” and “Community Storytelling” events that are seen as central to establishing the venue.
“We’re excited to be partnering to support the launch of what will be an amazing new venue. Our role in this project will help build a long lasting infrastructure of opportunities for artists across disciplines, bringing soul-filled, imaginative performances and artwork to the Wilkinsburg community,” Anqwenique and DS Kinsel of KinselLand LLC said in a statement.
Tami Dixon, who can be seen this month in City Theatre’s 50th-season launch, and Jeffrey Carpenter of Bricolage, said, “We are thrilled to have found a creative home at Community Forge. It is deeply meaningful to share our experience and creativity, as well as materials and equipment from the space we ran for 20 years in the Cultural District. We are grateful to the Hillman Foundation for supporting this vision, and we look forward to our continued collaboration building new work and nurturing local artists.”
Since being repurposed as Community Forge in 2017, the investment from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation and Senator Costa “represents the largest investment … to-date, resulting in a modernization of the facility’s infrastructure and the addition of this new East End destination.”
“I am always delighted to support Community Forge, a mission-driven nonprofit delivering necessary support and community to the people of Wilkinsburg,” said Senator Costa. “’ve been proud and honored to work alongside these visionary leaders to reimagine not only the physical space, but also the entire local ecosystem and economy to be more equitable to all. I look forward to their continued strong work as we move forward.”
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