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ALPENA -- Art in the Loft closed for the month of October to restructure and reevaluate for the future, according to Interim Board President Raelyn Szatowski. This followed a resignation of all Art in the Loft staff last month.
At a monthly board meeting in September, Kendra Neumann, Art in the Loft’s previous executive director, informed the public that Art in the Loft was facing a “threat” of closing its doors following grant cuts and dwindling funding.
The next day, previous staff members resigned from the Art in the Loft. Board members responded by turning into a volunteer working board, running events and upholding gallery hours, Szatowski said.
She said that Art in the Loft has taken the month of October to restructure and reevaluate the direction the Board of Directors want to move forward with to create a sustainable future for the community art organization. She added that the board has been focused on fundraising and connecting with donors and members.
"We took the time to restructure," Szatowski said. "From there, we gave the board of directors time to evaluate where we want to go. We are really honing in on fundraising."
The next priority for the organization is bringing on an events coordinator so that Art in the Loft can remain open and remain accessible, Szatowski said.
She explained that the main stressors that caused uncertainty at Art in the Loft was the lack of federal and state funding for arts institutions. She also said that the economic outlook contributed, as less people were donating to the organization.
Szatowski added that any donation of any value is beneficial and appreciated.
"No matter what the amount, we definitely value your support," she said.
Other ways community members can contribute to the organization is through attending classes or becoming a member. Szatowski said Art in the Loft will establish a volunteer program sometime in the future.
Despite the previous uncertainty of the organization's future, Art in the Loft is planning events and programming for the future, and Szatowski noted the upcoming Art-A-Thon event on Nov. 7. She said the event will be an open house for Art in the Loft members, donors, community members, and community partners to reconnect with Art in the Loft and its programming.
"Donors and members will come in and see programs not only offered to APS and local institutions, but essentially what our impact is," she said.
Additionally, The Loft will still unveil its new TIME exhibit on Nov. 1. The exhibit will run through Dec. 31.
According to Art in the Loft, the exhibit is "a diverse range of artistic mediums, techniques, and perspectives, artists explore the concept of time, capturing its influence on our memories, experiences, and the world around us."
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.