SURGE Arts Initiative

SURGE Arts Initiative SURGE Arts Initiative is a creative platform amplifying diverse voices through the power of the arts

Conflict: Self and the World is a solo exhibition by Denycia Thompson, on view May 18–30 in the Baldwin Room at The Peop...
05/12/2026

Conflict: Self and the World is a solo exhibition by Denycia Thompson, on view May 18–30 in the Baldwin Room at The People’s Place.

Spanning 30 abstract and mixed media works, the exhibition explores the tension between inner life and the external forces that shape identity, drawing from personal experience, questioning social norms, and navigating vulnerability and self-definition.

The exhibition is accompanied by a series of artist-led moments:

• Opening Reception — May 18, 4–8pm
• Live Painting — May 23, 2–5pm
• Artist Talk — May 30, 12–1:15pm
• Private Tours — Tuesdays & Thursdays, May 18–30

Katiana Jarbath Smith will be facilitating the artist talk on May 30.

Please visit Denycia’s page for additional details and scheduling.

Last night was special.The room was full of laughter, stories, and hands moving with intention. We learned about Dr. Pam...
04/24/2026

Last night was special.

The room was full of laughter, stories, and hands moving with intention. We learned about Dr. Pamela D. Jones’ journey, the history of quilting within African American communities, and got to create something of our own in the process.

Every piece that started in that room was different. Personal. Real.

If you were there, thank you for showing up and being part of that energy.

And if you didn’t finish your piece, we definitely want to see it when you do 👀

We’re running it back at the

Exhibition + workshop.

Spots are limited, don’t wait on this one:
https://bit.ly/QuiltingAtSilas

If you know someone who needs to be in spaces like this, send this to them.

We’re building something real over here.

Quilting CreativeCommunity

$575 RAISED 💛14 SUPPORTERSGrateful.Thank you to everyone who donated, shared, texted, and supported SURGE. This was my f...
04/23/2026

$575 RAISED 💛
14 SUPPORTERS

Grateful.

Thank you to everyone who donated, shared, texted, and supported SURGE. This was my first time doing something like this, and it really meant a lot to see people show up.

This work has been a grassroots effort, built through exhibitions, workshops, conversations, and taking the time to understand what artists actually need.

These 14 people made a real decision to support this, and that doesn’t go unnoticed.

This support will go directly back into the work: materials, Artist Circles, workshops, and continuing to build something more intentional for BILPOC artists in Greater Waterbury.

And this is just the beginning.

Thank you for being part of this 🙏🏽

Last call.Give Local ends soon.If SURGE has resonated with you, if you believe artists deserve space to grow, connect, a...
04/22/2026

Last call.

Give Local ends soon.

If SURGE has resonated with you, if you believe artists deserve space to grow, connect, and be seen here, now is the time.

No amount is too small.

Let’s build this together.

🔗 Donate now:
https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/surge

We’re still live for Give Local.If you’ve already supported, THANK YOU. It means more than you know.If not, there’s stil...
04/22/2026

We’re still live for Give Local.

If you’ve already supported, THANK YOU. It means more than you know.

If not, there’s still time to be part of building space for artists right here in Waterbury and surrounding towns in the region.

Every donation moves this forward.

🔗 Donate:
https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/surge

Today is the day.If you’ve been meaning to give,this is your moment.$10 puts materials in an artist’s hands$25 helps fun...
04/21/2026

Today is the day.

If you’ve been meaning to give,this is your moment.

$10 puts materials in an artist’s hands
$25 helps fund an Artist Circle
$50 supports a community workshop
$100 supports an artist’s growth

Small gifts add up. Truly.

We’re building something real here, and you can be part of it.

🔗 Give here:
https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/surge

Artists in Greater Waterbury are creating powerful work but too often, they’re doing it without consistent space, suppor...
04/21/2026

Artists in Greater Waterbury are creating powerful work but too often, they’re doing it without consistent space, support, or opportunities to grow.

Some leave to find what they need elsewhere.
Others stay, but create in isolation.

SURGE was created to change that.

We’re building space for artists to connect, grow, and build community through workshops, exhibitions, and shared experiences with a focus on supporting BILPOC artists who have historically been underrepresented and under-resourced.

This is about more than art.
It’s about access, visibility, and belonging.

If that matters to you, support SURGE through Give Local.

🔗 Donate:
https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/surge

We’re live for Give Local!Artists are here.�The space, infrastructure, and support isn’t.SURGE is building real space fo...
04/21/2026

We’re live for Give Local!

Artists are here.�The space, infrastructure, and support isn’t.

SURGE is building real space for artists in Greater Waterbury and we need your support to make it happen.

Every dollar helps:�
put materials in artists’ hands�
fund Artist Circles + workshops�
create opportunities for artists to grow and be seen

Give what you can. It all matters.

🔗 Donate:�https://www.givelocalccf.org/organizations/surge

The EVOLVE Pitch Fair at Five Points Arts Center was beautiful, nerve wracking, exciting, full of nervous energy, big su...
12/18/2025

The EVOLVE Pitch Fair at Five Points Arts Center was beautiful, nerve wracking, exciting, full of nervous energy, big support, and yes… great refreshments. 😋

Our cohort truly showed up for one another. We shared encouragement, whispered good-luck wishes, and celebrated every pitch like it was our own. And the work leading up to that night was no small thing:

✔️ UVP building
✔️ customer discovery
✔️ pivoting
✔️ venture mapping
✔️ identifying gaps & constraints
✔️ refining problem statements
✔️ real commitment to developing our ideas

SURGE is deeply grateful to receive support through the Empower Grant Initiative from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.

Thank you to the Arts & Culture Collaborative (ACC) for recommending SURGE to participate in EVOLVE.

And a very special thank you to Rafael of the Afro Caribbean Cultural Center for your belief in SURGE and for reminding me what advocacy truly looks like.

Shouting out the amazing creatives from my region who were also recommended by ACC:

💛 Cinthea Cabrera – Polanco & Cabrera Foundation
💛 Shelby Davis – City Youth Theater
💛 ShawnaLee Kwashnak – Portraits by ShawnaLee

And big love to cohort members who shared this journey with me:
 - Jacque Williams
 - Brailyn Rodriguez
 - Ken Masslon
 - Andre Rochester

Congratulations to fellow EMPOWER recipients:
🎉 Ryan Scails – Steady Habits
🎉 Nathalie Feliz – Tia Candy

Thank you to , , and Five Points Arts Center, and our incredible cohort whose encouragement and dedication made this experience something special.

If you’re a Black or Brown visual artist in Waterbury or Greater Waterbury, SURGE wants to connect with you.
Send us a message.

Meet the Artists: Alicia Pittman + Carin BernardTwo artists. Two stories.One shared language of healing, faith, and ligh...
11/09/2025

Meet the Artists: Alicia Pittman + Carin Bernard

Two artists. Two stories.

One shared language of healing, faith, and light, expressed through color, portrait, and lens.

Join us for this group exhibition celebrating art’s power to restore and connect.

Saturday, November 22 | 2:00–4:30 PM
📍Silas Bronson Library, Waterbury, CT

**Light refreshments available while they last.

Address

101 Pierpont Road
Waterbury, CT
06705

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