903 Main Street | Manchester, CT | 860.647.6029 | WORKSPACEmanchester.com
Hello,

Our new art show, fresh stART has opened, and after a long winter, and a seemingly endless period of uncertainty and loss, I, for one, am looking forward to a fresh start. However, as I found out when I tried to create my own piece for the show, a blank canvas is also anxiety producing. At first, I was excited by the possibilities, but then I became overwhelmed. I can do anything. Anything I want. Anything? That’s a lot to choose from…Then I remembered the original intention of the show - a celebration of new beginnings, spring, positive change and the possibilities of a blank canvas. Possibility. That is a hopeful word, and hopeful is a good way to feel. New beginnings bring opportunity, a chance for a do over, and to do better. I am definitely ready for that.

I hope that you will join us any weekday from 10am-4pm or at our 2nd Saturday Open House on May 8 from 10am-2pm when you can view the exhibit, shop in our new Gallery Shop and talk to Leslie Printis, one of our artists who will be creating art onsite. The upcoming programs that accompany the fresh stART exhibit include two taking place this week.
  • TEDtalk Tuesday at 12:15p on April 20 (free)
  • An Evening of Improv at 7p on April 22 ($10 per household, free for members)
The fresh stART exhibit runs through May 28th and submissions for our Juneteenth: The Art of Independence exhibit are being accepted now through May 17th. And for those that have been working from home and think coworking might possibly be for you, WORK_SPACE is offering free coworking Mondays in April and buy one/get one (BOGO) day passes in May.
 
Wishing you the best of possibilities,
Shannon Burke, Gallery Coordinator
The Galleries @ WORK_SPACE
ART EXHIBIT
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
You are invited to come Downtown and visit our Main Street Gallery, Peruse the Gallery Shop, Tour our Coworking & Meeting Spaces.
EVERYONE LOVES IMPROV!
Join us on Wed., April 21 (7-8:30PM)
for an IMPROV SHOW & TALK BACK with the amazing SEA TEA IMPROV of Hartford.
$10 per household, free for members and town employees.
See a GREAT Show.
Talk to some GREAT improvisers.
Learn some GREAT improv tools for work & life.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
STAYCATION EXHIBIT - submissions due July 15

Featuring art of all types that features the activities, landscapes and moods from our forced staycations when we entertained ourselves within our homes and became tourists in our home state.

Show runs in Aug/Sept in our Creative Commons & coincides with the CRUISIN' ON MAIN CAR SHOW.


Email or call for more information:
860.647.3168
DAYTIME COWORKING PASS - BUY 1 GET 1 in MAY
SHOP LOCAL - UNIQUE GIFTS
Visit our new Gallery Shop - featuring art and products created by local artists.
Open M-F, 10a-4p and each
2nd Saturday, 10a-2p.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS & WRITERS
Separate from WORK_SPACE's Gallery exhibit, Manchester Adult & Continuing Education and the Department of Race & Equity are sponsoring an artistic contest for aspiring poets, singers, or dancers?
Submissions should answer the question, "WHAT DOES JUNETEENTH MEAN?"
Enter for a chance to be featured in our Juneteenth Artistic Celebration Video and other prizes listed below. Submit your work or any questions to tamaras@mpspride.org by May 14, 2021.
WHAT DOES PRIDE MEAN TO YOU?

Southern Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA) invites community Artists to submit artwork for THE First Southington Pride Festival event and the SoCCA 2021 PRIDE Exhibit, June 1 - July 2, 2021
PRIDE 2021 explores LGBTQIA+ themes, same-sex attraction, related feelings and issues of our recent social landscape including issues, monuments and identifying achievements and challenges. Artists need not be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender to participate.
The Artists of Color Unite! program was developed to create a more united community that recognizes and celebrates artists of color. 10 artists will become cultural ambassadors paired with 10 Hartford arts organizations.
APRIL 23 - 24, 2021

LIVE ONLINE

2 days of sublime storytelling performances and workshops with amazing storytellers.
COMMUNITY EVENTS OF INTEREST
Saturday, October 2nd - Charter Oak Park - FREE
Saturday, October 2nd - Charter Oak Park - FREE
The Rotary Club invites you to join an ALL ABILITIES COMMUNITY OUTING that including bike rides of 17 or 28.5 miles. Walkers, joggers, wheelchairs, equestrian & pets welcome.
Registration @ 9:30am, Welcome @ 10am, Bike Send-Off @ 10:30am
Contributions can be sent to: RCM/RIM, PO Box #1, Manchester, CT 06045
COVID-19 Plasma Shortage - donations of plasma from people who had and have fully recovered from the coronavirus to help those who are seriously ill with the virus. Click for more info.
LOCAL BLOOD DRIVES - CLICK FOR MORE INFO.
  • April 19 - 11:00a-4:00p at Manchester Church of Christ, 595 Tolland Tpke.
  • April 30 - 1:00p-6:00p at Buckland Hills Mall, 194 Buckland Hills Dr.
  • May 6 - 1:30p-6:30p at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.
  • May 7 - 10:00a-6:30p at Buckland Hills Mall, 194 Buckland Hills Dr.
Downtown Manchester is excited to launch Curb Local! The Downtown District has designated 15 Curbside Pickup Spots on Main Street.

Seeking volunteers to assist our elderly and disabled neighbors with everyday tasks to make their day a little easier and potentially help them continue to live independently in their own homes Click to learn more about giving or receiving assistance.

BUSINESS RESOURCES
Do you know any dislocated workers in the fields of Construction, Healthcare, IT, Manufacturing, or Transportation/Logistics? Some grant money for training and job placement support is available.
CWP has also opened applications for their Summery Youth Programs.
Contact Tim Geary, Business Services Representative via tgeary@capitalworkforce.org for more information about Capital Workforce Partners and the American Job Center.
The Small Business Administration and the CT Small Business Development Center offer a wealth of great public programs and private advising for businesses to help with issues related to the pandemic and general business development support.

CT Small Business Development Center Resources

April 16 or April 20 @ 9:30am – Overview: Restaurant Revitalization Fund
Join the U.S. SBA Connecticut District Office and CTSBDC to learn about the soon to be launched Restaurant Revitalization Program. We will review eligibility, the covered period, eligible expenses, estimating grant amounts based on revenues as well as the time the applicant has been in operation, and required documentation.
CBIA - CT Business and Industry Association has many links to updates and resources including signs to post at your workplace about staying safe, healthy, and physically distant. Click here.
The CT Bar Association has created a FREE Legal Clinic offering 45-min phone or video calls for small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking limited-scope legal guidance. Click here.
WORK_SPACE WORKINGS
GET & GIVE FEEDBACK while
GROWING YOUR NETWORK
WORK_SPACE is hosting industry specific "Feedback Loops" - part networking, part pitching, part professional development. If you are interested in participating in one related to your field, please contact Stacey at manager@WORKSPACEmanchester.com.
FEEDBACK LOOPS
WORK_SPACE
903 Main Street
Manchester, CT 06040
860.647.6029
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