Brookfield Craft Center Plans to Reopen

Despite our recent suspension of daily operations, plans are in development to reopen Brookfield Craft Center under a new business model this fall.

"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," says the Craft Center's Board President, Bill Markus. "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 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, Markus said.  "Without them, there is no Craft Center. 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 fact, the Windgate Foundation has offered a $100,000 challenge grant, which means that for every donation we receive through the end of the year, they will match the amount, which effectively doubles individual donations."

While the effort to reinvent the Craft Center has only just begun, there is strong optimism.  The excitement and anticipation of creating something new is clear among a core group of individual volunteers who have named themselves the Reinvention Team. 

Herrmann continued, "The core team we have in place is both experienced and multi-disciplined.  So not only do we have strategic thinkers on board, we're also able to leverage multiple perspectives and resources to create the best result.  We are all focused on having the Craft Center emerge stronger than ever."

Please consider a donation now to help the Craft Center build a new foundation and reopen.  Send your check to P.O. Box 122, Brookfield, CT 06804.  Thank you.

The mission of Brookfield Craft Center is to teach and preserve the skills of fine craftsmanship and enable creativity and personal growth through craft education.