New beginnings are always a welcome event. Whether taking the form of a new idea, a new relationship, or simply the changing of the calendar, these are moments of potential, full of opportunity and excitement. They may begin with a bit of uncertainty, a little bit of trepidation, but are guided by a belief in the future and seeing endless possibility in all that is around us. The start of 2015 is just such a time for The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, as we dedicate ourselves to building a platform for creativity that connects artists and the community together.

Over the last several years, The Bridge has pushed the boundaries of what art can be and how art connects our community and community interests. 2014 was a memorable year with Simon Draper’s Habitat City project, the second year of our Community Supported Art program, a host of exhibitions, and the massive announcement of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for Play the City, a project focused on magnifying the creativity of the community. At the core of these projects is a belief in the ability of art to create dialogue and be a catalyst for making Charlottesville and Albemarle County a better place for everyone. Whether through building a school garden shed or training students to use photography as a way of telling their story, The Bridge envisions art as a primary form of collaborative community engagement and problem solving.

Called by the idea “We are all in this together,” we are taking ambitious steps in 2015 to expand The Bridge’s scope as a community resource. We want to celebrate and value the skills and knowledge we hold collectively. Instead of seeing our community as divided by its differences, we embrace the community we can create together through those differences. As Charlottesville’s Creative Hub, The Bridge will provide a platform for artists and the community to join creativity and the arts in addressing community needs.

Throughout the year we are organizing a multitude of projects and programs that will bring us together. Our Arts Incubator will host a monthly series of events, workshop, talks, and exhibitions to focus on sharing knowledge and developing unique creative collisions. Play the City will center on working with those living south of downtown to explore their skills, knowledge, and experience to shape future urban development. Our Public Artist, Benjamin Thorp, will work with local students to record the voices of the community and then embed the recordings throughout the city. We will be collaborating with the Virginia Department of Health on a long term infant mortality awareness project and the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conversation District on a watershed awareness project. In the fall we will again host City Assignment, this time focused on getting to know your neighbor, and we will organize an exhibition called Global Village that pairs local and international artists together.

It is going to be an exciting year and we want you to join us. Attend an Arts Incubator event, propose a project, sponsor an exhibition, or lead a community conversation. Be a part of using the arts as a means to make both Charlottesville and Albemarle County a better place for everyone. We are all in this together!

 Matthew Slaats - Executive Director