Join us at The Foundry in East Cambridge from Saturday, February 15 to Saturday, February 22 for our third annual Foundry Festival! Immerse yourself in a week of free public programming and create connections with diverse communities.

All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in as many activities as you are excited about. This is a great chance to engage the family over the February school break!

This year's festival theme is Resilience. Resilience to us is celebrating how our stories, cultures, and communities continue to thrive. It is not just the act of survival, but creating strong communities that take care of each other. Many of our communities have been consistently forced to practice resilience due to systemic oppression. This year we want to take the time to uplift the ways in which we band together to not only survive but to create moments together where we can truly live. We invite you to our weeklong festival that celebrates who we are, who we want to be, and a vision for a future where resiliency can be a word that is not only a response to hardship but the way we interact with the world around us. This year we welcome you to cook with us, create with us, dance with us, and continue to grow together.

Schedule of Events:

10:00 am - 11:00 am: Unmasking Resilience- How We Survive Turbulent Times - Trinette McDowell

This workshop discusses the many facets of resilience and how it manifests in the personal, daily lives of the members of society. The participants will be making a mask or self-portrait with upcycled and recycled materials.

10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Comfort Cups Cooking Demonstration - STEP Nation Inc.

Join us for a cooking demonstration of "Comfort Cups" - sweet potato cornbread muffins inspired by African American history. Learn to bake these versatile treats that showcase resourcefulness and creativity.

10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Threads Of LEGACY - STEP Nation Inc.

Threads of Legacy is a vibrant sewing community that brings people together to create meaningful events supporting STEP Nation Inc. Through workshops like Patches of Pain and Christmas On The Block, participants upcycle and revamp used items, offering a creative escape and social therapy. This program fosters community engagement, cultural stimulation, and healing through crafting. We will be making aprons and pillows.

11:00 am - 11:30 am: Story Time with Cambridge Public Library - Cambridge Public Library

Join us for 30 minutes of stories and songs. Recommended for youth ages five and younger and their caregivers.

11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Mindfulness in Movements - Art of Mindfulness Foundation - Drop-in program

Take a moment to slow down, pause, and relax in mindfulness practices. Connect with yourself and others in a mindful way, a deep and authentic way. This is a space of no mistakes, non-judgment, and radical acceptance.  We are here to connect with you through laughter, movements, and improvisation.

11:00 am - 1:00 pm: Design Your Own Upcycled Earrings/Accessory! - Emily Seaman - Drop-in program

In this workshop, you'll learn how to use recycled, reclaimed and thrifted materials to design your own eco-friendly earrings. (If you don't have your ears pierced, you're welcome to come design clip-on earrings or another type of accessory!) By upcycling materials collected from our communities, we can keep plastic out of landfills and create accessories that are more ethically and sustainably made, when compared to most mass-produced fashion items. Join us to try your hand at jewelry design, play with how you express yourself, and leave with an accessory that helps showcase your own unique interests and style

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Your Authentic Movement/Dance - Ynav Avlis

A guided movement/dance workshop to connect to your true body movements. Embody your playful and childlike self. Learn the art of authenticity with self and others through movement/dance. No previous dance experience is required - just a curious heart and body.

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Rise and Bloom: A Seed Bomb Workshop - Rooting For You - Drop-in program

Celebrate resilience by crafting your own seed bombs-tiny bundles of soil, clay, and seeds that, like us, are designed to rise and bloom even in the toughest conditions. Using cookie cutters, lollipop sticks, and more, participants of all ages can create and decorate seed bombs to grow wildflowers that support pollinators like bees and butterflies. This hands-on activity is the perfect way to connect with nature, embrace growth, and celebrate the power to rise and thrive.

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Dancing History Through Poetry - Alexandria Nunweiler - Drop-in program

Utilizing the little-known Henry Longfellow's poem "The Skeleton in Armor" as a guide, this workshop peels apart art and history through dance, providing a space to experience a creative practice first-hand. Together we will ponder how art preserves history, create new movement phrases inspired by poetry, and ultimately uncover who and what is being left out.

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Threads of RESILIENCE - HELP by AMG

The "Threads of Resilience" workshop series is a hands-on program designed to inspire creativity, promote sustainability, and strengthen community connections through the art of clothing repurposing. This program empowers participants to transform pre-loved garments into unique and functional creations, blending practical skill-building with artistic expression. Participants will learn basic and advanced sewing techniques, garment mending, and upcycling methods, with access to sewing machines, sergers, and embroidery equipment. The workshop emphasizes the importance of sustainability by encouraging the reduction of textile waste and fostering an appreciation for resourcefulness. Through guided activities, participants can personalize their creations with fabric paints, stencils, embroidery, and decorative notions, culminating in a showcase where they share the stories and inspirations behind their designs. By connecting personal creativity with shared experiences, the program highlights resilience as an essential quality for individuals and communities alike. Hosted by HELP by AMG, a nonprofit committed to empowering communities through inclusive and sustainable initiatives, this workshop aligns with its mission to help everyone live prosperously.

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm: Cuban Style Dancing - Boston Rueda - Drop-in program

Welcome to Boston Rueda and come join our community! We dance Rueda de Casino (a form of Cuban Salsa) in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and beyond. Rueda is a group dance involving the changing of partners while dancing to Cuban and other salsa music. We have created and grown a diverse and inclusive community that aims to welcome everyone to join us in dance.

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm: The Friendship Affair: A Mixer and Market - Sustainable Swaps - Drop-in program

Join us for "The Friendship Affair" a vibrant networking event designed to celebrate the resilience of friendships and help you form new, meaningful connections. Whether you're a creative, a maker, or someone looking to meet like-minded individuals, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect in a fun and engaging atmosphere. Explore our mixer and market, where local vendors will inspire collaboration through interactive activities like community art projects, a Polaroid photo station, caricature drawings, and sustainable arts and clothing. Break the ice with mini-games designed to spark conversations and new friendships, all while enjoying the backdrop of a live DJ set to keep the energy high. Come ready to connect, create, and build lasting relationships in a space where community thrives.