Trestle Projects

Trestle is a 501c3 non-profit contemporary art space in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Our mission is to foster creativity and community by offering exhibition, education, and networking opportunities for contemporary artists and curators. We provide a place for creative people to focus on the development of their art and their career. Our mission is carried out through four core programs: Contemporary Exhibitions, Professional Development, Community Classes, and Residencies.

Our Programs

The foundation of Trestle’s commitment to artists is our Contemporary Exhibition Program. Each season we showcase new work by a select group of artists in our two Gowanus spaces, Trestle Gallery, Trestle Projects, and our online Flat Files. Using a combination of invited exhibitions and open calls, we identify under-represented artists and offer them the opportunity to showcase their work and become part of a community.

At Trestle we work to create an essential community for artists through our Professional Development Program. This program includes monthly Critiques for groups of artists to give and receive feedback about their work. It also includes Panels and Art Talks with mid-career artists and art world professionals, who share their unique career paths, offer tips and discuss relevant topics for emerging artists.

Trestle’s Community Classes Program offers instruction in a wide variety of artist techniques and theories, as well as training in professional practices. This program serves a dual purpose of educating artists in new media and creating jobs for highly-trained teaching artists. The classes attract a wide range of artists from the neighborhood and help Trestle participate in the life of the local community while providing professional-level artistic instruction to a wide audience.

In collaboration with Brooklyn Art Space, Trestle offers three Residencies each year. These residencies are designed to help artists and curators find a foothold in the art world while they develop their practice. The Open Studio Residency offers ten emerging artists a six-month reduced rate studio membership. The Visiting Artist Residency offers one experienced artist a free six-month studio membership. And our innovative new Curator-In-Residence Program provides one emerging curator with a free six-month office and the opportunity to gain significant experience by curating and producing 2-4 exhibitions and public programs at the Trestle Project Space.