About

Mission Statement
The Collaboration Room provides opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in collaborative art-making experiences. TCR aims to foster an appreciation of the the visual, performing, and literary arts, aid in the development of alternative means of communication, and create community connection.

What We Do
An artist-run space in downtown Bloomington, Indiana, TCR offers workshops led by community and visiting artists and teachers, hosts a variety of ongoing projects, installations and events, and maintains a gallery and store featuring work made exclusively for TCR.

TCR Philosophy
TCR is an experiment in working together on creative endeavors and is inspired by the spirit of open-ended possibility. TCR is interested in collecting, expressing, sharing, recycling, fabricating, and learning; we hope to serve as a community resource which connects the right goods, services, and ideas to the right people.

Who We Are

Matthew Searle, Founder/Director, matthew at thecollaborationroom.org
Matthew has a long history of working with youth and adults in formal and informal learning environments. Holding an BFA from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in studio art from Eastern Illinois University, Matthew has taught clay animation, printmaking, drawing, and collaborative workshops for several years. After designing programs at a children’s museum and running a gallery in San Francisco, he moved back to the Midwest, where he is currently the Program Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington, Main Unit.

John Berry, Key Member, Web Designer, john at thecollaborationroom.org
John completed his BFA at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2004, worked as an Associate Creative Director for several years, and recently received his MFA in painting from IU at Bloomington. He taught drawing at IU in 2008 and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing at DePauw University.

Matisse Giddings, Key Member, matisse at thecollaborationroom.org
A painter and educator, Matisse finished the Transition to Teaching Program at Indiana University in May of 2011 and is currently the Art Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington, Main Unit.