Public Kitchen & Dance Court Coming Soon!

Dance Court & Public Kitchen

1st weekend
Friday, October 14th, 5-9pm
Saturday, October 15th, 5-9pm
Sunday, October 16th, 2-6pm

Highlights of Weekend 1 include:
Dance Court:
Dance classes, DJ Savuth, Madtunez & Ninrod, open floor
Saturday night: performances by Modern Connections/ Samba/ Lock Unity/ Sidestreet/ Afro Beats Boston
Public Kitchen:
Food demos
Garlic circle, gossip foods
Saturday night: Rice Ball Party

2nd weekend
Friday, October 21st, 5-9pm
Saturday, October 22nd, 2-6pm
Sunday, October 23rd, 2-6pm

Highlights of Weekend 2 include:
Dance Court:
Dance classes, DJ Indiglo and Black Mamba, open floor
Saturday night: 6 workshops + Social Clash Exhibition (Hustle, House, Popping, Chicago Step, Dance Hall, and more!)
Public Kitchen:
Food demos, garlic circle, and more
Saturday night: Jollof Cook-off!
Sunday: Rice Party! Who makes the best rice?

The Dance Court and Public Kitchen serve as installations designed to help us reimagine, experiment and realize the ways in which public infrastructures can improve the quality of our lives. We have room to imagine the futures we want to create! Doing this takes experimentation and creativity. To spark this, we invite you to experience the Dance Court and Public Kitchen as “productive fictions" in Mary Hannon Park* in Roxbury, over the course of two consecutive weekends. (*if permitted)

We are honored to welcome Ashton Lites as our Dance Court Design Lead and Sasha Coleman in partnership with Comfort Kitchen as our Public Kitchen Design Leads. These community gatherings will include music, dance, and food from a variety of cultures and genres. There will also be opportunities for YOU to lead your own workshops.

More details coming soon! We can't wait to share time, space and a meal with you!

Sign up for Design Gym Classes!

Design Methods Classes (Wednesday nights, 6-7:30):

Co-imagining New Arrangements with PAR
Wednesdays, October 12^th, 19^th, 26^th, Nov 2^nd

A Participatory Action Research (PAR) practicum

How can you use an imagined infrastructure to engage the community? And what can you learn from it? In this course, we will design PAR tools and protocols for the upcoming Public Kitchen / Dance Court demonstration project. Participants will not only co-design civic engagement tools, but also learn how to analyze and share the data back to the community.
Email us here to sign up.

Imagination Methodologies
Wednesdays, November 9^th, 16^th, 30^th

Design Dialogues

Can one become better at creativity and imagination or is it simply a gift? In Imagination Methodologies, we’ll talk with three different creatives who use methods and techniques as part of their practice of imagination. Through the sharing of these techniques, we hope to make the case that we can all practice imagination.
Email us here to sign up.

Maker Classes (Thursday nights, 6-8pm):

Sewing 101
Thursdays, October 13^th, 20^th, 27^th 6pm-8pm

In this workshop, you will learn all the basics of the timeless craft of sewing. You'll learn how to wind a bobbin, thread the machine and execute basic stitches. Finally, you'll put your new skills to use and make a beautiful throw pillow that you can use in your home or gift to a friend for the holidays.
Email us here to see if there is space in this limited class.

Documentary Video
Thursdays, November 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th 6pm-8pm

In this workshop, you will learn the basics of documentary videography. You will complete your own project from start to finish—learning to use the camera and to utilize editing programs.
Email us here to see if there is space in this limited class.

Woodworking
Thursdays, December 1^st, 8^th, 15^th 6pm-8pm

In this workshop, you will learn the how to use large and small woodworking tools in order to manifest your own project during the winter holidays!
Email us here to see if there is space in this limited class.

Class numbers are limited, so let us know you're interested!

MORE CLASSES & OPEN GYM HOURS COMING SOON

Funding Opportunities

NEFA Spatial Justice Grants Open 'til Oct 17!

Grants include Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice and Public Art for Spatial Justice (now 2 years and $15-30k!) Available for artists and organizations across Massachusetts. Watch the informational VIDEO and learn more. Applications due October 17th.

Also coming soon: Public Art Learning Fund Grants, Making it Public, and more.

Learn More and Apply

Upham's Corner Arts and Innovation District

555-559 Columbia Road Virtual Community Meeting

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Meeting ID: 161 900 3009
Link to register on Zoom: bit.ly/3SCCFUk
Join the City of Boston and the Boston Planning & Development Agency for the two developers’ presentations for Site 1 (555-559 Columbia Road) within the Upham's Corner Arts and Innovation District. This will be an opportunity for the community to share your feedback on the two proposals submitted in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP). This site will include affordable housing and a new branch of the Boston Public Library to fulfill the community’s vision.