Sitka Fine Arts Camp 2020 Cancelled
Dear Students, Families, and Staff,
With my deepest regrets I am writing to let you know that Sitka Fine Arts Camp is cancelling our summer programs. As many of you know, our program is an international program. Each summer students and staff come from throughout Alaska, the country, and the world. In normal circumstances this richness is one of the qualities that makes our camp community so special. This year, however, it is dangerous. With the pandemic crisis, we feel a strong sense of responsibility to keep our small community safe along with the communities our students and staff would return to.
We feel the same eagerness that all people must feel to have this pandemic behind us and get back to the joys of regular life. For us and for many of you, Camp feels like that joy–the bright light in the year, a moment in time that is unique and special. This summer, though, to do our part supporting the work of medical professionals and scientists and honor the sacrifices made, it is our job to be patient and to find other ways to contribute and to find richness.
A message for our students: It is my experience that time is one of the most valuable possessions we have. And free time is rare and precious. I hope you will take advantage of this time and, if art is your passion, you will find a way to dive deep into it, whether taking the time to paint, creating music, practicing an instrument, dancing, singing, making films, writing, learning Shakespeare, or memorizing a monologue. Most artistic practices, in addition to the intense social experience that we find at camp, also require reflection and individual work. We will have Camp 2021 and already our team is thinking how to make it the best. In the meantime, perhaps you can use this time for the practice of your art.
For our families: We thank you for your belief in the value of our program and we are grateful to have you part of our camp community. Because we are unable to offer camp this summer we will be issuing full refunds to our programs this Friday, April 17th. We ask you to consider making a donation of your deposit or any portion of your tuition. If you are able to donate please fill out this short form before the 17th. This will be a challenging year for us and we will need help. Many of the expenses to hold camp 2020 are unrecoverable and we also normally depend on a portion of the summer’s tuition to help us make payroll in the fall as we begin planning for the next camp. At present, because of loss of income, the majority of our full-time staff have been furloughed until we have business again.
Our hearts are with all of you and, especially our students, as we get through this hard time. We are excited, though, to begin thinking about Camp 2021 and hope you will all join us. (Seniors, for whom this would be your last year, you are also welcome to join us in 2021).
Please stay safe.
With love,
Roger Schmidt
Director, Sitka Fine Arts Camp
With my deepest regrets I am writing to let you know that Sitka Fine Arts Camp is cancelling our summer programs. As many of you know, our program is an international program. Each summer students and staff come from throughout Alaska, the country, and the world. In normal circumstances this richness is one of the qualities that makes our camp community so special. This year, however, it is dangerous. With the pandemic crisis, we feel a strong sense of responsibility to keep our small community safe along with the communities our students and staff would return to.
We feel the same eagerness that all people must feel to have this pandemic behind us and get back to the joys of regular life. For us and for many of you, Camp feels like that joy–the bright light in the year, a moment in time that is unique and special. This summer, though, to do our part supporting the work of medical professionals and scientists and honor the sacrifices made, it is our job to be patient and to find other ways to contribute and to find richness.
A message for our students: It is my experience that time is one of the most valuable possessions we have. And free time is rare and precious. I hope you will take advantage of this time and, if art is your passion, you will find a way to dive deep into it, whether taking the time to paint, creating music, practicing an instrument, dancing, singing, making films, writing, learning Shakespeare, or memorizing a monologue. Most artistic practices, in addition to the intense social experience that we find at camp, also require reflection and individual work. We will have Camp 2021 and already our team is thinking how to make it the best. In the meantime, perhaps you can use this time for the practice of your art.
For our families: We thank you for your belief in the value of our program and we are grateful to have you part of our camp community. Because we are unable to offer camp this summer we will be issuing full refunds to our programs this Friday, April 17th. We ask you to consider making a donation of your deposit or any portion of your tuition. If you are able to donate please fill out this short form before the 17th. This will be a challenging year for us and we will need help. Many of the expenses to hold camp 2020 are unrecoverable and we also normally depend on a portion of the summer’s tuition to help us make payroll in the fall as we begin planning for the next camp. At present, because of loss of income, the majority of our full-time staff have been furloughed until we have business again.
Our hearts are with all of you and, especially our students, as we get through this hard time. We are excited, though, to begin thinking about Camp 2021 and hope you will all join us. (Seniors, for whom this would be your last year, you are also welcome to join us in 2021).
Please stay safe.
With love,
Roger Schmidt
Director, Sitka Fine Arts Camp