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Dear Community, As the leaves turn and we move fully into autumn, I’m looking back on this year with deep gratitude, and looking ahead with some important questions. In my nearly four years as part of the EVFAC community, we’ve made a great deal possible together. This past September was the first month in three years that I didn’t send out a newsletter—a small but telling sign of how stretched we’ve become. It’s one reminder that we need to make room to reflect honestly on our work, our capacity, and what it will take to sustain the resources and programs our community values. Thanks to your support, our youth program reached new heights this year, and the creative energy we shared felt truly generative. Our adult classes continue to welcome more local and regional students, with offerings still underway through the end of the year. Through the Rio Grande Yarn Cooperative, we purchased and distributed 5,400 pounds of yarn in 22 colors, including warp, to local weaving galleries and instructors. Our Tuesday class for adults with disabilities continues in its ninth year. Our shop remains a treasure for fiber enthusiasts from near and far, and its sales provide our most consistent source of revenue. Each month, we sell an average of $1,500 in consignment work, directly supporting our member artists. And we’re preparing for our 14th annual Fall Fiber Fiesta, December 4th, 5th & 6th, featuring more than 40 member artists and their handmade fiber creations. These accomplishments matter. So does being honest about what it takes to make them possible. This year brought us to the limits of our capacity. Our operations have grown faster than current infrastructure can support and our staff, systems, and resources have been stretched thin. To care for this organization—and the people who make its work possible—we need to give those underlying needs our full attention. With support from the Craft Catalyst Initiative award, we’ll be scaling back on additional outward-facing programming this fall and winter to focus on essential internal work. Working with hired consultants, we will concentrate on: Strengthening our board and governance, and assessing our direction for the next 3-5 years Clarifying staff roles and updating policies and procedures Repairing and refreshing equipment, studio spaces, and retail operations
This work may be less visible than more classes, exhibitions, or community programs but it is just as important. It means creating a healthier working environment, supporting our staff, and examining whether our commitments are realistic—financially, legally, and operationally. We are entering this process with hope, but without assuming the answers. We need to understand what we can sustain, what needs to change, and what we may need to scale back or let go. Our goal is not growth for its own sake. It is a clear, responsible understanding of how—and whether—we can move forward on a sound foundation. Fall Fiber Fiesta remains a bright spot on our calendar. Beyond that, you may hear about fewer program adventures for a few months. This quieter season will give us room to reflect, listen, and make thoughtful decisions rather than continue at a pace we cannot sustain. Your perspective is an important part of this process. We’ll be hosting a community roundtable this fall, and we invite you to join the conversation. **Please use the short survey below to share your availability.**
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