Our organizational experience with events at Black Forge has been rocky at best.  Recently, we have become aware of new issues regarding denial of accessibility accommodations for disabled people at shows there.  We have also witnessed extensive defensive social media activity centering non-Black people in conversations regarding Black Lives Matter protests in Pittsburgh over recent weeks, Coffee With Cops, and other troubling behaviors.  We work to see growth and improvement from ourselves first always, and from our venue partners. That has not happened in this case.  We don’t feel that Black Forge is building the welcoming space we strive for at PPC events.  We believe in rehabilitative justice and hope to see improved allyship in the greater Pittsburgh area community from Black Forge in the future. At this time, we are severing our event contract with Black Forge.  

We apologize sincerely if there has been harm done in our community through our choice to hold events at Black Forge in the past. Please contact us if you would like to discuss these concerns.