Announcements

Help Us Make the Match

Monday, November 22, 2020

With one eye on the fluid situation of rising rates of cases COVID-19 in our state and region, our other eye is focused on continuing preparations for re-opening when it is prudent and possible to do so.

To help us both open with current best practices and protocols and to safeguard CAW itself during this long closure, a donor has stepped forward with a challenge. They will give $1 for every $2 we raise. And we’re on our way to meeting that challenge. Your contribution will help unlock the full potential of this match.

Thank you.

Reopening Update

Monday, June 29, 2020

We are nearing the end of our fiscal year on June 30th. As we do, we’re reflecting on a remarkable 12 months–punctuated by a few key events, some very recent and with long lasting impacts.

We have formed a Task Force now hard at work to help us determine how and when to best open safely for everyone, which we hope will be in early fall. We are grateful to all of our Task Force members who are donating their time to help us understand the requirements from the state, best practices, common sense policies, social distancing needs, class sizes, physical modifications, access, sanitizing, and other safety precautions.

We’ll work to craft a roster of workshops, classes, and access to CAW that we feel will work in the fall. Likely both onsite and online. CAW will be different, and we’ll all adapt, yet again. But it’s important to hold onto the commitment to ensuring CAW has that essential spirit of being a place where we can make, do, and be creative. Freely.

And, getting ready will likely contain some new costs, some of which will be one-time, and some, unfortunately, will be ongoing. As those plans and associated costs become clearer, we communicate those to you and will very likely reach out and ask for help.

But until then, we send a big thank you to those of you who have supported through our boiler crisis in late fall (remember that??) to The Great Give to those who have given generously during the last 15 weeks of lockdown and self quarantining.

Your support has made all the difference in our ability to keep our heads above water and push on, to innovate by presenting content online, and continue to pay our basic operating costs.

Thanks for sticking with us.

Until then, will we see you online? We are still programming online and encourage you to sign up for Creating Freely offerings, and check our YouTube channel to re-watch free online programs.

Update on Reopening and the Summer Term

Thursday, June 11, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE

Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 3:00 pm

Dear CAW Community:

We are writing to continue the updates we began March 13th about the temporary closure of CAW due to the pandemic. We didn’t make the decision to close lightly but did it as a precautionary measure which is now ubiquitous across the region, nation, and indeed, the globe. 

Yesterday’s announcement from Governor Lamont that schools will open no earlier than April 20th shapes our thinking about what might be possible for a partial spring term at CAW. We are trying to be both realistic, vigorously prudent, and flexible all at the same time. At this time, we do not have a set re-open date for the building and classes there.

In the meantime, we are creating ways for our community to continue to practice creativity and stay connected to one another—two cornerstones of our purpose. Stay tuned for the launch of a new space on our website that links you to all we are doing and promoting online.

As for so many arts organizations, nonprofits and small businesses, the pandemic is straining the financial condition of our organization. We are taking multiple steps to reduce operating costs while we are closed.  Still, the expense of owning a building and retaining our already very lean staff are real.

We are writing to ask for your help. 

Here are six things you can do right now to help CAW:

Make a general operating contribution or a pledge for support that can come in before June 1. Click here to donate, or use the Community Foundation portal to donate to us. If you need assistance, email us for help.

Convert your spring registration to a donation. Contact Astrid Bernard for help.

Keep your spring term registration for a future term.  No need to do anything now, we’ll contact you.

Become a contributing or higher level member. (these levels of membership include a tax deductible donation) Your membership supports CAW and comes with a discount for classes as well as shopping for supplies at our local partners Hull’s and Artist & Craftsman. Contact development@creativeartsworkshop.org if you are interested.

Plan to support CAW during the Great Give on May 5 & 6. Please contact Rebekah Fraser if you’d be interested in making a challenge during the Great Give to help spur other individuals to join or if you’d like to find other ways to help during this drive . 

Last, we are looking for a few angel donors who wish to underwrite support for the creation of online classes. Your support will help pay our teaching artists, help us deliver this online content, new medium for us, and will help us stay connected to our community—and grow it—through creativity. Contact Anne Coates if you are interested in helping in this innovative way.

We are grateful to the individuals, foundations, and government agencies who are working with us to help address this serious situation through new donations, advance payments, repurposing of grants, and grant extensions.

We know you value CAW and what we bring to you and the community. We hope you will join us in raising emergency relief—to fill the gap created by the pandemic and to enable CAW to continue to deliver high quality arts experiences to thousands of New Haven region residents.  

In this time of uncertainty, when we are witnessing the world through our windows and screens, we encourage you to step into your creativity, to help cope, relate, and connect.

Thank you.

With warm thoughts and wishes for health, peace, and safety in this very challenging time.

Anne Coates, Executive Director

Joy W. Ford, Chair, Board of Directors

COVID-19 UPDATE AT CAW

Friday, March 13, 2020, 4:15 pm

Dear CAW community,

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the many wise precautions being taken around New Haven to encourage preventing its spread, we’re writing to tell you all that CAW will close, effective today at 5 pm, until further notice. This is for the health and safety of all of the students, faculty, staff, board, and visitors — and all with whom we come into contact.

We were excited for the spring term, which was slated to open on Monday the 16th.  But the recent  — very rapidly  — changing landscape, and the information we are receiving, prompts this prudent action. For those who are registered for the spring term, you will hear from us shortly about your registration.

As we continue to receive and evaluate the situation, we will make a determination on when to reopen and will notify everyone accordingly.

At this time, we do not know how long CAW will be closed. You will hear from us as the details on the duration become clearer. We will use email, social media, and our website to keep everyone updated.

This is a time of significant uncertainty and fear for many of us, but the safety of the entire CAW community is of paramount importance. Despite the uncertainty, we know we will manage through it.

Our thoughts are with all who have been negatively impacted by this public health, and growing economic, crisis. As we emerge at the other end of this difficult time, I know that the arts will play a critical role as we rebuild our communities and face the future.

Be safe and well,

Anne Coates, Executive Director

Joy W. Ford, Chair, Board of Directors

BUILDING UPDATE AND FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE

Friday, November 22, 2019, 1:30 pm

On Tuesday, November 5th, the lining in CAW’s chimney cracked and a portion of it fell in on itself, leaving the building without heat. We are working with contractors to resolve this problem as soon as possible. Classes have been cancelled for the last 2 weeks — we hope to re-open next week. Please check back here for updates. We will post information as soon as we have it. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Please note that the 50th Celebration of American Crafts and the 23rd Annual Bowl-A-Thon are still on—we hope you join us for both this weekend! Celebration will open initially in the little gallery, and will expand to its regular footprint in the main galleries once we have heat.

For Bowl-A-Thon, best bet is to enter via the side door in the Park of the Arts.

No classes, open studios or practice times this weekend.

News

CAW hosted two emergency meetings on Monday, November 18, to share more details and launch a fundraising campaign for our new heating system. We are beyond grateful for the outpouring of support since Monday. Click here to read Lucy Gellman’s in-depth account of the heating crisis in the Arts Paper.

Here’s a brief brief:

Fixing the chimney would have been problematic, expensive, and temporary. We opted for a more lasting solution—one that is an investment in our infrastructure and future for decades to come: two new energy-efficient, low-emission boilers. They are environmentally friendlier and less costly to operate; and, while a significant expense upfront ($94,312) we know this is the right course.  Contemplating this large outlay was not easy. But we know this investment in our infrastructure will contribute to the longevity of CAW. We believe in our role in New Haven’s thriving future. And, we believe we need to take care of the safety and comfort of all of our students and visitors by tending to the building. Emergencies have a way of focusing our attention; having this heating issue arise as the cold weather arrived did just that.

We turned to the community, and it has responded. To those that have given or pledged their support—and there are more than 115 of you, thank you.

New Opportunity to Help

Now, an anonymous donor has stepped forward to offer a $15,000 challenge to help close the gap and to provide an incentive for others to give. For every $2 YOU GIVE NOW, they will add $1. That’s an automatic 50% increase in your investment in CAW. To donate now, click here.

The installation of the new boilers is underway, and nearing completion as of this writing. We are at Day 17 with no heat. Barring any complications during the installation, the projected expense is $94,312.

We are more than halfway there already to raise the necessary funds. This challenge, and the match fully made, will get us to the finish line.

Anne Coates, Executive Director

Joy W. Ford, Chair, Board of Directors