Save the NEST Arts Factory
Donation protected
The artists of the NEST Arts Factory in Bridgeport CT are relocating to a new building in the South End of Bridgeport. This move will allow our community to expand from 29 studios to 41 studios and give us the stability of a long term lease at a reasonable cost; a lease that will give us the security to grow and create, and to thrive, without fear of being pushed out of yet another neighborhood.
We have been working hard to secure funds for our part of the renovation of this new-to-us old factory building - to build the partition walls to form the studios, to add electric and heat, to install track lighting in the gallery spaces, and so much more - but we've come up short! We need a minimum of $50,000 to complete this project.
Things are a little desperate, timing wise. Our current lease is up early this summer and we need to get walls built and painted, floors sanded, heaters installed, and a thousand other things done in the new building so we can move our current community and invite new artists to join us. We need to raise $50,000 by the end of May 2019 to complete our project before we lose our community!
Who We Are
The NEST Arts Factory is a collaborative, creative, and nurturing community of nearly three dozen artists, many of whom have occupied their studios for more than six years in our current location on Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Our community opens its doors for the public during events 6-7 times a year, hosts musical performances and poetry readings, and holds workshops on topics like painting, ballroom dancing, printmaking, and drumming. We are active in our city as well, with many of the NEST artists offering classes and demos in the public schools, volunteering at cultural institutions, and supporting the larger arts community in Bridgeport. The artists of the NEST are professional, dedicated, and hard working painters, sculptors, printmakers, jewelers, fiber artists, sculptors, decorative artists, singers, songwriters, musicians, and sound designers. Learn more about our current artists on our website.
The NEST has been in Bridgeport for the past 25 years and we want to stay in Bridgeport. We have deep ties in our city and we add to its cultural vibrancy. Thousands of people visit the NEST each year - to see the studios and the artists, to take classes, to enjoy a performance, or to attend an event by one of our community partners.
Where We're Moving
We've signed a long term lease on a three-story factory building in the South End of Bridgeport with room to grow! The new NEST will have a 1200 square foot art gallery and event space, 41 studios for artists and musicians, and even outdoor space for projects and events. There will be a small conference room for the use of local non-profits, and the whole building will be completely accessible. We're looking forward to seeing new windows installed allowing light to flood in, to sanding the old-growth maple floors to reveal their natural beauty, and to the historic building to once again being alive to the sounds of creativity and productivity. The South End of Bridgeport is home to Seaside Park (the most gorgeous oceanfront beach in all of Connecticut - but we're a little biased), the University of Bridgeport, Harboryard Arena, and the historic neighborhood of Little Liberia and the Freeman Houses. We can't wait to be an active part of this diverse neighborhood!
How You Can Help
We would be so grateful for your support. We want to stay together as a vibrant, dynamic, diverse, and strong group of artists, in Bridgeport, the city we all love. And we look forward to sharing our work and our passion with you in our new building.
If you give $100, it will help us buy 12' feet of track lights and fixtures
If you give $200, it will help us buy a studio door or a clean-up sink
If you give $500, it will help us buy and install a heater for a studio
If you give $1000 or $5000, it will help us pay the electricians and framers
Thank you! We are very appreciative of all of the support, advice, and encouragement from our friends, families, allies, partners, patrons, and visitors as we navigate this big change. Please help us to save the NEST Arts Factory and ensure a successful future in Bridgeport!
We have been working hard to secure funds for our part of the renovation of this new-to-us old factory building - to build the partition walls to form the studios, to add electric and heat, to install track lighting in the gallery spaces, and so much more - but we've come up short! We need a minimum of $50,000 to complete this project.
Things are a little desperate, timing wise. Our current lease is up early this summer and we need to get walls built and painted, floors sanded, heaters installed, and a thousand other things done in the new building so we can move our current community and invite new artists to join us. We need to raise $50,000 by the end of May 2019 to complete our project before we lose our community!
Who We Are
The NEST Arts Factory is a collaborative, creative, and nurturing community of nearly three dozen artists, many of whom have occupied their studios for more than six years in our current location on Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Our community opens its doors for the public during events 6-7 times a year, hosts musical performances and poetry readings, and holds workshops on topics like painting, ballroom dancing, printmaking, and drumming. We are active in our city as well, with many of the NEST artists offering classes and demos in the public schools, volunteering at cultural institutions, and supporting the larger arts community in Bridgeport. The artists of the NEST are professional, dedicated, and hard working painters, sculptors, printmakers, jewelers, fiber artists, sculptors, decorative artists, singers, songwriters, musicians, and sound designers. Learn more about our current artists on our website.
The NEST has been in Bridgeport for the past 25 years and we want to stay in Bridgeport. We have deep ties in our city and we add to its cultural vibrancy. Thousands of people visit the NEST each year - to see the studios and the artists, to take classes, to enjoy a performance, or to attend an event by one of our community partners.
Where We're Moving
We've signed a long term lease on a three-story factory building in the South End of Bridgeport with room to grow! The new NEST will have a 1200 square foot art gallery and event space, 41 studios for artists and musicians, and even outdoor space for projects and events. There will be a small conference room for the use of local non-profits, and the whole building will be completely accessible. We're looking forward to seeing new windows installed allowing light to flood in, to sanding the old-growth maple floors to reveal their natural beauty, and to the historic building to once again being alive to the sounds of creativity and productivity. The South End of Bridgeport is home to Seaside Park (the most gorgeous oceanfront beach in all of Connecticut - but we're a little biased), the University of Bridgeport, Harboryard Arena, and the historic neighborhood of Little Liberia and the Freeman Houses. We can't wait to be an active part of this diverse neighborhood!
How You Can Help
We would be so grateful for your support. We want to stay together as a vibrant, dynamic, diverse, and strong group of artists, in Bridgeport, the city we all love. And we look forward to sharing our work and our passion with you in our new building.
If you give $100, it will help us buy 12' feet of track lights and fixtures
If you give $200, it will help us buy a studio door or a clean-up sink
If you give $500, it will help us buy and install a heater for a studio
If you give $1000 or $5000, it will help us pay the electricians and framers
Thank you! We are very appreciative of all of the support, advice, and encouragement from our friends, families, allies, partners, patrons, and visitors as we navigate this big change. Please help us to save the NEST Arts Factory and ensure a successful future in Bridgeport!
Fundraising team: NEST artists (6)
Jane Davila
Organizer
Bridgeport, CT
Gwen Hendrix
Team member
Kristin Merrill
Team member
Patrice Barrett
Team member
Rick Shaefer
Team member
Inspired to help? Start a fundraiser for someone you know
