As most of you know, I tend to be an optimist who looks on the bright side. That has been difficult these past nine months, which for most of us have been heartbreaking, difficult, strange, hopeful, and extremely stressful. I am in awe of health care professionals and other essential workers who have put their lives on the line for others. I am inspired by those who keep moving forward despite the difficulties around them. I am proud of those who have created new ways of reaching out and connecting with others. I am thankful and grateful for my family and friends.

Being nimble and flexible are traits often used to describe gymnasts, dancers, and others who use their bodies, muscles, and tendons to do their work. I have to say that the VisArts staff went above and beyond in demonstrating these traits as we quickly pivoted from conducting classes, gallery exhibitions, and community events onsite to online platforms. We started out creating simple videos demonstrating art projects for you to do at home and moved quickly to more extensive education and gallery program offerings. In June, we re-introduced socially distanced onsite classes and workshops. This work was done with you, the community, in mind because we know that the arts are healing, help us sustain our spirits, and help us find firm footing.

 A respondent of this year’s annual demographic survey said it best:

  "It is no exaggeration to say I was dying a slow death until I returned to art. Art is healing and transformative.

I hope you will once again support our work by donating to the VisArts Vibrancy Fund. Your gift this year is more important than ever before. Our revenues have been extremely hard hit as a result of COVID and we have furloughed and reduced the hours of various staff members and reduced expenses across the board. Your dollars will go to providing scholarship support to those who can't afford our programs, keep our galleries free and open to the public, award stipends to exhibiting and studio artists, conduct community outreach programs for underserved populations, and support the work of our VisAbilityArt Lab that provides individuals with disabilities a safe space to create art and develop critical workforce skills. 

Thank you so much for your continued support of the work of VisArts. I am extremely grateful.