Oct 9, 2021
A Train and a Craft School
e-newsletter sent to Snow Farm community on 10/09/21
Dear Snow Farm friends,
Over the last 18 months, I have often thought about The Little Engine That Could, a children’s story with illustrations of a bright blue train engine determined to make it over a mountain, pulling another train that had run out of fuel. Bigger, fancier engines had come by but would not stop to help. The little blue engine tackled the strenuous task with the mantra “I think I can, I think I can.”Since the pandemic halted almost everything in March 2020, running Snow Farm has felt like driving that bright blue train. Despite being one of the smallest and youngest residential craft schools, with no endowment or cash reserves, with each turn of our wheels and a lot of determination and resolve, Snow Farm reopened in August of 2020. And, we have continued to offer in-person workshops successfully and safely throughout 2021.
At a time when it was needed more than ever, Snow Farm offered a safe retreat space for all who came to engage their right brain, use their hands to create, find visual perspective, share inspiration, and make personal connections.
We may have been driving the train, but with no doubt, YOU hopped on board with us. It was a team effort. YOU wrote messages of support, YOU shared what Snow Farm was doing with others, YOU came and took a class (and sometimes another and another), YOU funded scholarships, YOU shopped at the Seconds Sale, YOU volunteered, YOU came and taught a workshop, YOU donated a handmade creation for our gallery, YOU gave and gave again to assure that Snow Farm continued on.
We thought we could, and we did.
Here’s what we accomplished for our community:
- Contracted 236 artist/instructors and paid out $192,000 in compensation;
- Gave 1018 students somewhere to go, a place to learn, create, connect, and be rejuvenated;
- Retained all Snow Farm staff positions while cutting expenses in other areas;
- Offered full scholarships and a life-changing opportunity to eight BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students (an initiative launched in 2020);
- Welcomed 60 teens back to the high school summer program with $15,000 in scholarships;
- Offered deeply discounted workshops to 35 participants in the Workshop Access Program;
- Ran the first full year of the Work-Study program which brought six people to live, work, and learn on our campus during the program season;
- Paid $90,000 to artists for their participation in the 2020 Seconds Sale; and
- Spent $300,000 in goods and services from the local community.
We thank YOU!
Snow Farm survives and flourishes because of YOU. On behalf of all who love and benefit from Snow Farm, I ask YOU to give, or give again, as generously as YOU can. Each time you give, it gets easier to climb the mountain. All gifts make a difference.
Cheers,
Executive Director
|
Blog Topics: