Get Creative at Powerhouse Arts This Summer!

The Brooklyn cultural hub prepares to welcome the MGC Community Print Studio, classes, workshops, and more!

A view of Powerhouse Arts across the Gowanus Canal (Photos by Pam Wong unless otherwise noted)

Tucked away on Third Avenue between a self-storage facility and the Gowanus Canal, a century-old, former power plant has been transformed into a thriving creative hub where artists bring their ideas to life.

Powerhouse Arts (PHA) officially opened its doors in 2023. The organization’s 170,000 square feet facility offers in-house production facilities and expert fabrication teams specializing in ceramics, print, public art, textiles, and metal as well as member studios offering ceramics and print artists access to workspace, materials, and equipment. The building also boasts three event spaces, and a new retail shop will open soon.

Fun with puppets at the second annual Community Day on May 31

After volunteering at PHA’s second annual Community Day – a family-friendly event that welcomed more than 3,000 visitors for art activities, workshops, demos, and performances – I was curious to learn what the organization has lined up for the summer.

"We often refer to Powerhouse Arts as a hive abuzz with creative energy, where artists and the community converge. Our new programs invite both working artists and the art-curious public to step inside, participate, and celebrate the shared possibilities of creative expression in Brooklyn," says Eric Shiner, President of Powerhouse Arts. "It is meaningful for our organization to continue expanding ways that local artists and arts enthusiasts can hone their skills and push the boundaries on their practice. Through the MGC Community Print Studio and the ongoing public events we host, we hope to inspire new possibilities among the community we serve."

Here are a few ways for the community to express their creativity in the coming months.