Wilkinsburg, PA: September 10, 2024– There will be a new space for performance, culture, conversation, community, and food coming to Wilkinsburg based out of Community Forge, located in the former Johnston Elementary School. Thanks in part to investments from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation and Senator Jay Costa, with programming support for Bricolage Production Company from the Hillman Foundation, Community Forge will house a new venue that will be a premier cultural destination of the East End. What was once a library and gymnasium of the Johnston Elementary School will be transformed into a 10,000 sqft venue space equipped with a 130 person seated theater, a multi-purpose 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. 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.”
- Michael Skirpan, Executive Director of Community Forge
The concept for the venue and cafe 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 offering the current open mic series that Community Forge hosts on the third Friday of each month until they begin piloting the new “Soul Lounge” and “Community Storytelling” events that will be central to the launch of 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
“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.”
- Jeffrey Carpenter and Tami Dixon, Bricolage Production Company
Since being repurposed as Community Forge in 2017, this investment from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation and Senator Jay Costa represents the largest investment into the Community Forge facility to-date, resulting in a modernization of the facility’s infrastructure and the addition of this new East End destination. This investment comes at the tail end of years of rapid growth of Community Forge’s programs in education, youth empowerment, economic mobility, and violence prevention. Interested members of the public are encouraged to review their website for more information on the growth in programs, staff, and leadership happening at Community Forge.
Groundbreaking for construction is set to begin in January 2025. Opportunities for public engagement events, pilot shows, and announcements of RFPs for artists, vendors, and a cafe concept will be shared throughout 2025.
“I am always delighted to support Community Forge, a mission-driven nonprofit delivering necessary support and community to the people of Wilkinsburg. Throughout the LSA process, I’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”
- Senator Jay Costa
For inquiries, contact Anneliese Martinez, Director of Operations: ani@forge.community
