From Our Executive Director: A Note on Strategic Renovation

To our Umbrella community,

You may have heard that renovations are coming to The Umbrella Arts Center early next year. While we would normally announce such news once plans are fully in place, we noted that some incorrect information has been circulated on social media platforms, so we want to address that directly.

The beauty of a vibrant community arts center like ours is that we have the flexibility to grow and change, based on the needs and desires of the community members and artists who work, learn, play, and enjoy being here. We are taking great care with this project, which will both support our longtime artists and embrace new initiatives — not only nurturing the ceramics and woodworking offerings, but also welcoming new learners, reconfiguring artist studios to foster greater collaboration and accessibility, adding a community studio to deepen engagement with local artists, and strengthening our support for emerging artists through an expanded artist-in-residence program.

The upgrade means that thirteen visual and studio artists currently located in or near the ceramics wing will move to new spaces at the Umbrella. None of our artists are losing a space here; our plan calls for some artists to be relocated, while others will return to their current spaces after the renovation is complete.

Like any renovation project, not all the details can be known at the start; locations and timing of the new studios are still coming into focus. That is certainly a stressful situation for some artists, especially those who have been with us since our founding. However, as a result of ongoing and regular communication with the affected artists, we're assured that we're on the right track. We're happy to share that, for several artists who have identified accommodations for accessibility or artistic needs, this will mark a meaningful improvement.

The renovation will better accommodate our community's enormous interest in the ceramics program that — despite an expansion just a few years ago — still maintains a long waitlist for classes and workspace access. We are excited about plans now being made to add more space for pottery wheels, workspaces, and Kilns within our existing facility. This will allow us to invite more students, artists, and summer camp/vacation week participants into The Umbrella.

We look forward to sharing more information about strategic renovations at The Umbrella, including more detail about the vision for a community studio, expanded woodworking offerings, our growing Artist-in-Residence program, and more, as plans become finalized!

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Eileen Williston

Executive Director