A Reinvention At Brookfield Craft Center

BROOKFIELD — A limited number of classes have resumed at Brookfield Craft Center (BCC), which has been closed since mid May. To celebrate this, and with hope for the future, the craft center will host an open house this weekend.

“It was always our intention to reexamine our business model and determine how to create a stronger and more stable business platform in order to carry out the mission of the Craft Center,” BCC Board President Bill Markus said via a press release in August. “But like many non-profits dealing with the challenges of today’s economy, we were operating at a deficit. Therefore, we made the decision to suspend operations and take a hard look at the way we do business with the intention of restructuring to ensure the sustainability of Brookfield Craft Center.”

Brookfield Craft Center Executive Director Richard Herrmann, also speaking through the August 24 press release, commented: “Given our situation, we’re actually in the best possible position to reinvent the Craft Center. Without the demands of daily operations, we’re able to fully focus our energy on understanding what’s worked, what hasn’t and why. From there we can determine how to best serve the fine craft community, locally, regionally and nationally.”

The first step to rebuilding from the ground up was to eliminate the debt to artists.

“Without them, there is no Craft Center,” said Mr Markus. “They are the lifeblood here and we needed to do right by them first. In the past few weeks we have been fortunate in that a number of individuals have come forward with offers of significant financial help.”

In addition to private donations, The Windgate Foundation has offered BCC a $100,000 challenge grant. For every donation BCC receives through the end of the year, the foundation will match that amount, up to $100,000.

BCC’s historic 2.5 acre campus is at 286 Whisconier Road (Route 25), on the banks of the Still River. Six vintage buildings house seven fully-equipped studios, an exhibition gallery, a retail craft gallery and gift shop, and housing for visiting faculty. Classes has resumed in the glass, woodturning, ceramics and jewelry studios.

Visit BrookfieldCraftCenter.org, and click on Calendar to see the list and descriptions of classes back on the BCC roster.

Also, BCC plans to present its 35th Annual Holiday Exhibition and Sale, an event that, in the past, has been open daily through the holiday season. This year’s sale will open on Saturday, November 20. Additional details are still being worked on.

On Sunday, October 10, Brookfield Craft Center will host an open house. The facility will be open from 1 to 4 pm that afternoon. Visitors will be invited to tours all seven of the center’s teaching studios and buildings. Faculty members of the nationally recognized school will provide ongoing demonstrations of skills that are taught at BCC, with work done in glass, ceramics, weaving, woodturning and jewelry making.

A special exhibition in the Craft Center’s LTB Gallery features fine craft by faculty members, further demonstrating the level of talent and creativity of our instructors. (The work will be on display through October 24th; gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4 pm, and by appointment.)

There will also be door prizes, mask-making for kids, and refreshments.

Reservations are not needed for Sunday afternoon, but additional information is available online or by calling 203-775-4526.