using the arts and arts education to expand notions of who belongs on Cape Cod
We believe Cape Codders are the main characters in the story of Cape Cod; not accessories to someone else’s vacation.
New location now open
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New location now open *
We have some exciting news! Our new location with Belonging Books at 438 Main St, Hyannis is open! Visit our new space Monday - Thursday 11 am - 3 pm and Monday and Friday evenings from 4 pm - 8 pm.
Our Mission
The Cordial Eye is a community arts organization based on the Mid-Cape that strives to use the arts and arts education as a tool for expanding the definition of who belongs on Cape Cod and what it means to be a creative person here. We are dedicated to dismantling systems of oppression in our community by creating space for marginalized groups to amplify their impact in creating a more just and equitable world, through gathering, experimentation, exhibitions, and cultural expression.
What we do
Our two branches - The Cordial Eye Artist Space, which provides performance, exhibition, and professional development opportunities for artists, and The Cordial Eye Learning Lab, which provides educational opportunities for learners of all ages- are committed to centering the voices and needs of historically-excluded communities. By creating programming by, for, and with these communities- which include BIPOC folks, LGBTQ+ folks, disabled folks, and folks with financial barriers to access- we seek to create a Cape Cod that is vibrant, equitable, and a place of belonging for all
upcoming events
Visiting Artist Jynx Prado will be performing in our window wednesday, april 9th, and thursday, April 10th.
In their newest edition Queery Tales III: Nature Leading with Petals the Artist Jynx Prado depicts themselves as a contemporary version of Mother Nature (They/Them) but in a rendition of the mythos of Mother Nature as a welcoming figure to those who seek safety, validity and the pursuit of Happiness within the United States by embodying lady Liberty.
This performance opportunity is part of a continued relationship between The Cordial Eye and Slanguage Studios and Slanguage University, based in Los Angeles, CA.
Slanguage Studio, founded in 2002, has led the field in mentoring new artists in contemporary art, community art engagement, and artistic placemaking. They founded Slanguage University, a program that emerged from their residency at architecture studio, Studio 111, in partnership with other avant-garde art organizations, non-traditional art learning, and mentoring facilitated locally, nationally, and internationally.
CRAFTIVISM PARTY FOR MATERNAL HEALTH
FRIDAY APRIL 11th 5:30 - 7:30
Crochet artist and birth doula Marissa Currie is concerned about health inequities and racial disparities for birthing people in the United States. She is making these disparities visual with a crochet blanket made of granny squares, an item often gifted to a new child. Each square symbolizes one maternal death in the United States in 2023, the most recent year we have statistics for. She needs to make 669 squares, and the Cordial Eye is hosting a craftivism party to make it happen! These granny squares follow an easy beginner pattern.
All supplies are provided. Suggested donations of $10-20 are appreciated and will be split between The Cordial Eye and Mass Mom Advocates.
Community Zine Making: Border X Edition
Join us on Saturday, April 12th, to show your support for our immigrant community by creating a collaborative zine! What’s a zine? A zine is a small-circulation, self-published, DIY booklet.
We’ll provide the art and collage supplies, but this isn't just for visual artists. We encourage all forms of creation! Have a story, poem, or photo you’d like to share? We’d love to include it! Share your rage about our broken system and tell your story through a zine!
Our community zine-making event is in conjunction with BORDERx: A Crisis in Graphic Detail. This art exhibition, on display at the Cordial Eye Gallery and Artist Space through May 2nd, consists of oversized reproductions of comics pages from the anthology of the same name as well as works from local immigrant artists. BORDERx examines the crisis at the United States' southern border through first-hand testimony, historical context, and other accounts told in comics form.
Each participant will receive a copy to be picked up at a later date, and the zine will be available for purchase, with proceeds being donated to Latinx in Action and the Texas Human Rights Center.
Border x: A crisis in Graphic Detail
Border X: A Crisis in Graphic Detail is a collection of comics about the border crisis. It details testimony from migrants themselves, responses to the crisis by people and organizations trying to help, the history of how the crisis evolved in the first place, and imaginings of a healthier future. The border crisis impacts not only our Southern states, but also the immigrant communities in our own backyard.
We are seeking art and written first-hand accounts from immigrant community members, artists, authors, poets, and musicians about their experience as immigrants in the United States or more specifically, on Cape Cod. Topics could include but are not limited to your first memories, day-to-day experiences, how you were received, finding community, assimilation or refusal to assimilate, holding onto or rediscovering your culture, and survival strategies like sharing trusted sources or laughing about ridiculous situations with friends. Works and testimony can be submitted anonymously.
This exhibition is sponsored by the Mid-Cape Cultural Council, Mass Cultural Council and private sponsors.
Exhibition on view March 22nd - May 2nd
Opening reception March 22nd from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Meet our new Creative Futures Cohort!
We are so thrilled to introduce you to this year’s incredible cohort of artists and teaching artists! Ali Miller, Nor Lucas, Marissa Currie, Dani Flowers and Karla DeStefano are this year’s Artist Fellows and Ravi Lesser, Sophia Flowers, Alexis Charles, Tish Vargas, and Kai Barrows are this year’s Teaching Artist Fellows. These talented creatives are gearing up for an exciting showcase on May 9th, featuring their amazing work, live music, and free food!
The Cordial Eye, in collaboration with Amplify POC, Belonging Books, EforAll Cape Cod, the Hyannis Public Library, and Love Live Local, is pleased to announce the 2025 session of Creative Futures Cape Cod (CFCC). CFCC is a 12-week paid fellowship for adults on Cape Cod ages 18-40, who desire a career in the creative economy. CFCC provides education on a wide range of topics and skills, including the role of artists in equitable communities, brand development, financial management for artists, best practices for securing paid work, and more. Open to musicians, writers, and visual artists of all genres, CFCC offers two tracks: The Artist Fellowship and the Teaching Artist Fellowship.
-The Artist Fellowship will pair each fellow with a local arts professional for weekly individual mentorship, includes weekly cohort classes, provides free studio space, and pays a stipend of $3600. This track requires a commitment of approximately 12 hours per week.
-The Teaching Artist Development Fellowship provides 10 weeks of student teaching with a local Teaching Artist, weekly cohort classes, and a stipend of $1500. The commitment for this track is approximately 5 hours per week.
Both tracks will run from February 3, 2025, to May 9, 2025, and conclude with a community showcase and celebration. All applicants will be notified of their status in the program by Monday, January 13th, 2025.
CFCC prioritizes individuals from historically excluded communities (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, those impacted by the justice system, and low-income) and is open to applicants from any background. Applications will be open from December 16, 2024, to January 1, 2025, and can be found on our website, thecordialeye.org. CFCC is funded by a generous grant from the MA Executive Office of Economic Development’s Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Program and the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod.
Join our Collaborative WorkSpace
The Cordial Eye Collaborative Work Space is designed as a shared space for creative professionals to connect, create, and share in a relaxed, creative setting. Think of it as a gym membership for your creative practice. Membership includes: access to wifi, workspace, art making space, a kitchenette, and a 10% discount on regular Cordial Eye classes.
Not an artist or creative professional? Still looking for a supportive and creative working space? Please know you are still welcome to join us.
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The Cordial Eye Collaborative Work Space is designed as a shared space for creative professionals to connect, create, and share in a relaxed, creative setting. Think of it as a gym membership for your creative practice. Membership includes: access to wifi, workspace, art making space, a kitchenette, and a 10% discount on regular Cordial Eye classes.
$45/m
$25/m for WIC/EBT/ConnectorCare card holders
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This $5 option is perfect for artists and other professionals who are testing out the space, in town for just the day, or not able to commit to the monthly membership for a variety of reasons.
The Hyannis COmmunity Art Wall is open!
After two years of administrative labor we are elated to announce the opening of the Hyannis Community Art Wall. The wall is open to community members to add to during library hours and is BYOP (bring your own paint)
