Dear Community,
It is so strange to see our normally bustling building so quiet. We miss you. Because the Hoffman Center is such a hub for connecting, the need for physical distancing has hit very hard. We want you to know that we are working on how to best serve the community.
Some programs lend themselves to cyber sessions. Several of the writing programs have been moved online to great success. We also had an engaging horticulture class. There will be more coming up — hopefully a visual arts workshop focused on journals, and a horticulture class about hardy geraniums. For these efforts and other current information, please visit our website and look at the program you are interested in. Or check the calendar https://hoffmanarts.org/calendarhttps://hoffmanarts.org/calendarhttps://hoffmanarts.org/calendar.
We also have an ongoing project for these difficult times. It’s called “Creating in Place: Connecting in a Time of Uncertainty” https://hoffmanarts.org/events/creating-in-place-connecting-in-time-of-uncertainty/. We invite everyone to submit newly-created art for posting online. Visit the page to see the wide variety of creative expression from our community. Plus, we invite you to submit, through the end of April, for our popular Word & Image project https://hoffmanarts.org/writing/word-image/.
We hope to reopen the gallery – ensuring adequate distance and limiting the number of people inside, when restrictions are loosened.
Here is the tour that the Pioneer did of the April exhibit with Hoffman Center Board Member Dave Dillon:
We’re also exploring how to show some of our special films via the Internet, which would allow for some discussion after each screening.
In other programs, it is not so obvious how and when we can safely re-open. The clay studio has small spaces, limited doors, and narrow passageways. It will certainly be awhile yet. Most of our visual arts classes have been cancelled or postponed. Our last two music events of this year had to be cancelled.
On the other hand, the Wonder Garden is a magical place to visit right now. Our garden lead, Ketzel Levine, has spent hours weeding, moving, and speaking with the plants. It shows. The Arctostaphylos (Manzanita) beds are looking better than ever, and new flowers are emerging. We ask that visitors observe appropriate physical distance from others and our volunteers so we can keep this community treasure open and safe for all.
Our financials will take a hit from this closure. We are buoyed by your interest and encouragement, and need your financial support to help see us through. Send your donations of any amount to Hoffman Center for the Arts, P.O. Box 678, Manzanita, Oregon 97130. Thank you for considering us at this time.
From all of us at the Hoffman Center for the Arts,
Mary Roberts, Board President
On Behalf of our Entire Board of Directors and our Dedicated Volunteers