Our Story​

 

The History of Manchester Bidwell Corporation 

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The seeds of Manchester Bidwell Corporation (MBC) were planted by founder Bill Strickland in 1968, with a small ceramics program while he was still in college in Pittsburgh's Manchester neighborhood in 1968.

 

Strickland christened the program the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG) because he admired the European guild system in which masters passed on their skills and knowledge to young apprentices.

 

Now, the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild has two programs housed under it: the MCG Youth program, which serves public school students by offering courses in our ceramics, design, digital, and photography studios, and MCG Jazz, which has been preserving, promoting, and presenting jazz through its concert series and educational programming since 1987

 

Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild Acquires Bidwell Training Center

 

Bidwell Training Center was established in 1968 to provide residents with vocational training and employment opportunities.

 

Over the years, Bidwell Training Center (BTC) evolved to offer programs in fields ranging from horticulture to medical. Currently, BTC is nationally recognized as an industry leader in workforce development.

 

BTC's programs were created through strong partnerships with leading Pittsburgh corporations, agencies, and organizations. Several majors include externships with area companies, enabling students to gain practical on-the-job experience plus valuable professional contacts and references.

 

Social Enterprise Begins

 

The Drew Mathieson Greenhouse (DMG) at Bidwell Training Center was established in 2005 as a student-focused educational facility that supports Bidwell Training Center's Horticulture Technology program.  At the DMG, students work directly with Greenhouse staff to learn about and produce high-quality food and ornamental plants for the Pittsburgh region. In the near future, DMG will also serve as the home to Bidwell Urban Farm Shop (BUFS), a neighborhood resource for healthy, sustainable, and locally sourced food.

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The National Centers of Arts & Technology (NCAT), the Manchester Bidwell Corporation's enterprise unit, serves as a vital bridge between communities and the institutions that support them. Building on three decades of success replicating the Bidwell Training Center and Manchester Craftsmen's Guild models, NCAT has evolved into a trusted national convener that brings together diverse stakeholders to strengthen the community foundations.

 

Manchester Bidwell Corporation, from its clay beginnings in a Chateau rowhouse to the construction of Bidwell Urban Farm Shop, has always embodied Education, Expression, and Enterprise. The confluence of these three principles is the secret to our longevity and an affirmation of our commitment to the greater Pittsburgh community.