BraddockActiveArts

We believe that artistic practice can be an accessible tool with which to confront the challenges of the post-industrial urban center. Braddock Active Arts aims to provide living models of possibility and transformation and catalyze sustainable growth and revitalization. We envision a community in which all residents are considered artists, empowered to change their own environments, and able to translate that empowerment into tangible social and economic benefits.

Braddock, Pennsylvania, located 5 miles east of Pittsburgh, was built by people who were unafraid to cross oceans in pursuit of new possibilities. Andrew Carnegie built his first steel mill here in 1875. Braddock's workers transformed this nation with the steel rails that crossed the continent, linking people and transporting new ideas. Strength, and the energy that comes from MAKING are part of this place, but the decline of the steel industry in the region has had a devastating impact on the town. Braddock has lost 90% of its population. The median household income is less than half the state’s median income. For individuals 25 years and older, the unemployment rate is over three times the national average. Does Braddock sound like a town you know, with a proud history and an uncertain future? We see great potential here, and we believe that Braddock can be a model for new ways of living in post-industrial urban centers.

We are building a framework of different possibilities. We are testing our limits. We are uncovering hidden resources. We are inviting conversation. Learn MORE about our process and projects.