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:

11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Inventing Samanta (Our Ray of Hope)  - Central Square Theater's Youth Underground - Drop-in program

Central Square Theater is excited to present a performance of "Inventing Samanta (Our Ray of Hope)". In partnership with Lemelson-MIT, playwright Betsy Bard and our resident youth performance ensemble Youth Underground created the original play, "Inventing Samanta (Our Ray of Hope)". The play follows a group of very different high school students coming together to learn about the process and creativity of becoming an inventor and why - despite age, identity, or background - anyone can be an inventor.

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Japanese Origami Table - The Japan Society of Boston - Drop-in program

Learn how to make two fun origami designs with the Japan Society of Boston to celebrate our theme of resilience. We will be folding lotus flowers, which are known to bloom beautifully from dark and murky waters, a popular Eastern representation of strength, resilience, and overcoming adversity. Our second design is daruma - Japanese Buddhist dolls that are symbols of perseverance and good fortune in our goals.

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Savoring the Tea in Quiet - karen Krolak

Have you ever noticed the silence hiding in resilience? Drawing from Monkeyhouse's Geochoreography practice, Six people are invited to join karen Krolak for a quiet tea party at Twilight. There will be art supplies and reading materials for parallel play as we silently savor tea in a handmade kulhad. Please register in advance so that we can learn about any allergies or access accommodations that participants have. Guests are free to come and go as needed during the workshop.

5:00 pm - 7:00 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.

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Line Dancing Through Time: LGBTQ+ Resilience - 617 Country

When uncertainty feels overwhelming, many of us turn to one thing that unites us across it all: dance. Country dancing and cowboy culture hold a rich and vibrant history within the queer community, a connection that's seen a beautiful resurgence in recent years. From line dancing to partner dancing, these traditions bring people together in an increasingly unique way. Join us for this workshop hosted by 617 Country, where we'll dive into the heart of queer country dance culture with three engaging lessons: a partner dance and two line dances. Together, we'll explore choreography that has withstood the test of time, honoring the roots of traditional country western dancing, as well as newer variations that highlight the style's evolution. These dances are designed to be inclusive of various ages and mobility levels. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or a first-timer, all bodies and identities are welcome here! This is more than a dance workshop-it's a celebration of resilience, joy, and self-expression. Step onto the floor, feel the music, and let's honor the past while dancing toward the future-together.

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Build with the Power of Plants - Project Leafcare LLC

We will explore a variety of topics on plant design, greenhouses, and the human and plant connection. Take home a plant of your own and learn how you can spread the power of plants!