Schedule:
8:30 AM
Framemakers #36 -See the exhibit "Compilation of Artistic Endeavors" Start viewing art early, then stop at one of the many Black Rock eateries and cafes for a coffee and a breakfast nosh, Source Coffeehouse #32, Harborview Market #35 and others.
The Urban Bike Tour #22a meets up at City Lights Gallery #22 for a complimentary coffee and bagel and the annual photo and Evel Knievel faux stunt jump by Jeff Coleman. (You gotta see it to understand.)
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Bridgeport Innovation Center #2 Open Studios
Artists Gerald Moore of Gallery 1212 LLC and Robin Gilmore, formerly of Made In Bridgeport, will be partnering with BIC, BAT and City Lights Gallery to bring a sampling of artists from all over New Haven, Litchfield and Fairfield Counties. They have organized a multicultural / multigenerational gathering of creative people, activities, discounts, demonstrations, live painting, performances and workshops taking place on the second and third floors.
The Color Shop #33
Open house with professional tutorials and demonstrations of decorative finishes and kid-friendly crafting. Try your hand at our DIY Finish Kits, see our mock-up room displaying one of our decorative finishes.
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
American Fabrics #1 welcomes the public to tour their studios, view and purchase art, and meet the artists in their art-making environment. See how industrial warehouses have been transformed into creative spaces. Don’t miss the inaugural exhibit in the Stairwell Space curated by Terri Smith.
Visit the Reiki Room at the Knowlton #29b, Reiki Master Practitioner, Rev. Ina Andersen offers a serene, tranquil, safe and sacred space dedicated to promoting holistic healing.
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Reiki at the Bridgeport innovation Center #2
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Read’s ArtSpace Ground Floor Gallery #12 presents the group exhibit ”About Time” featuring Read’s residents and guest artists working in a variety of mediums.
The Nest Arts Factory #31 - Step into a world of creativity at Open Studios at the NEST Arts Factory, where art comes alive in every corner!
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Arts studios are open to the public city-wide including The Knowlton #29 and MNTD Studios #3 Check out their full listings for further info about activities, demos, receptions, and special projects.
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Metro Art Studios #7, Tour the studios, watch a series of short films, purchase some affordable art, visit the gift shop and see Transformations: Reimagining Earth and Waste Art Exhibit, curated by Carla Goldberg. Family fun activities include an artful scavenger hunt, live music and a body painting demo.
The Mary & Eliza Freeman Center For History And Community #26
The Hypogean Tip: What Lies Beneath the Surface? Sculpture by Rachel Owens. Featuring Gary Judkins, Jack Lardis, and Aisha Nailah.
12:00 - 2:00 PM
Colorful Bridgeport #14a public art walk - the best way to see all the incredible new public art in Downtown Bridgeport.
12:00 - 4:00 PM
City Lights Gallery #22, My Stories, .” Through their art and words, Chilean fiber artists share their personal stories and the memories of those who lived under the Pinochet dictatorship. A time that Chileans rarely talk about, funding from CT Humanities enabled City Lights Gallery and these artists to present important personal stories and relevant universal themes.
Family friendly demos at the NEST Arts Factory #31 from Abstract art, to glass blowing, Tai Chi and storytelling.
Demonstrations at Metro Art Studios #7 Interactive Cyanotype Demonstration and Body Painting
12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Ursa Gallery #18
Can It Be All So Simple, curated by Tara Blackwell, captures the raw nostalgia of a pre-digital era—before camera phones and social media reshaped our experiences—when life was lived fully in real-time.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Smooth Jazz/ Rhythm and Blues and Inspirational Sounds by the John & Co Music Group at the Bridgeport Innovation Center #2
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Neighborhood Studios #24 Open House, tour our creative classes for children in Bridgeport including student art, theater and dance classes.
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Iyaba Arts Open House at Gallery 9104 #6, view 3 floors of art in a stunning loft space in the South End.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
We Rise: Storytelling Collective in the Community Room at the NEST #31
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Live music at the NEST #31, Metro Art Studios #7, Bridgeport Innovation Center #2
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Live painting at Read's ArtSpace #12 by MIA
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Pangea Band #31f resident musicians play energizing world beat music in the NEST #31 community room
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Live painting at Read's ArtSpace #12 by MIA
3:30 PM
Downtown Cabaret #23 “In the Heights”, bring your snacks and drinks and enjoy this popular Tony Award winning musical. Tickets range from $43.50 - $49.50.
4:00 PM
BRAG #31b art exhibit reception at the NEST Arts Factory #31 with music by Dan Tressler
5:00 PM
Kindred Thoughts Bookstore #21b
I know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, book discussion moderated by Cultural Historian, Michelle Black-Smith, we will come together quarterly to engage with and celebrate the great canon of African American literature.
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
NEST #31 After Party | Community Room
Celebrate the evening at the After Party at the NEST, where good vibes and great company await! Enjoy complimentary refreshments while soaking in the sounds of the band Honest Ivy, alongside a lineup of lively reggae and world music performers. It’s the perfect way to unwind, connect with friends, and dance the night away in a vibrant atmosphere!
6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
See the debut of "URSA Underground"#18, a gallery group show of local hits. Curator Cris Dam creates a unique art space with art and music.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Talk That Talk - Bridgeport Art Legends Panel Discussion at the Arcade Mall (BACC #21e) A dynamic panel discussion featuring local legends and artists from a diverse range of backgrounds, bringing unique perspectives, experiences, and creative journeys. Engaging conversation will explore the intersections of art, culture, and identity.
7:30 PM
Downtown Cabaret #23 In the Heights, bring your snacks and drinks and enjoy this popular Tony Award winning musical. Tickets range from $43.50 - $49.50.
Greater Bridgeport Symphony #30a at the Klein #30
Guest conductor Leslie B. Dunner leads GBS, program includes Haydn’s Symphony #6, Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F major, and Ginastera’s Variaciones Concertantes.
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Live music at Ursa Gallery #18
