SURGE Arts Initiative

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

Your work doesn’t need to fit neatly into a category to belong here.SURGE Studios is looking for BIPOC visual artists wh...
08/12/2026

Your work doesn’t need to fit neatly into a category to belong here.

SURGE Studios is looking for BIPOC visual artists whose existing practices engage the stories, histories, cultures, and issues that shape our collective lives.

That might mean preserving cultural memory. Challenging what gets erased. Carrying folklore and tradition forward. Confronting injustice. Questioning dominant narratives. Creating space for dialogue.

We’re not asking you to change your practice to fit this residency.

We’re making room for the work you’re already doing.

SURGE Studios supports a range of 2D and 3D visual art disciplines. Film, video, and animation may be incorporated into a multidisciplinary visual arts practice, but cannot be the sole medium.

SURGE Studios is a three-month artist residency for BIPOC visual artists who live in, work in, or have a deep connection to Waterbury.

September 15 – December 15, 2026
Apply by August 24 at 11:59 PM EDT
bit.ly/surgestudios

THIS WORK DESERVES SPACE.Applications are now open for the inaugural SURGE Studios Residency.If you're a BIPOC visual ar...
08/03/2026

THIS WORK DESERVES SPACE.

Applications are now open for the inaugural SURGE Studios Residency.

If you're a BIPOC visual artist who lives in, works in, or is deeply connected to Waterbury, this residency was created for you.

SURGE Studios offers dedicated studio space, financial support, professional development, and the opportunity to deepen your practice while sharing your work with the community.

We're looking for artists whose work invites deeper engagement with the issues, histories, cultures, and communities that shape our collective lives.

Important Dates:
September 15–December 15, 2026
Applications close August 24.

Apply:
https://bit.ly/surgestudios

Know an artist who should see this? Please share.

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

Address

101 Pierpont Road
Waterbury, CT
06705

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