Frog Hollow to suspend operations in Middlebury

Middlebury--Frog Hollow: The Vermont State Craft Center is suspending operations at its Middlebury location on January 31st. The organization, hard hit by the economic downturn, will suspend operations in Middlebury and focus on its Burlington location and web sales as it takes a strategic pause to determine its next steps and strategy moving forward.
Frog Hollow was founded in 1971, and received its designation as the Vermont State Craft Center shortly thereafter. This honorary title, bestowed by the state of Vermont, established the first state craft center in the United States. For 38 years, the non-profit organization has operated as many as three craft galleries as well as providing arts education and enrichment programs throughout the state of Vermont. A model for craft centers in other parts of the U.S., Frog Hollow, which features Vermont artists and Vermont companies exclusively, currently represents nearly 300 artists from across the state.
The impact on the local and state economy is expected to be quite serious but remains to be seen Frog Hollow has sold more than $20 million in art and craft over the last 11 years and generated $1.7 million in sales tax revenues during that time. Currently, there are nearly 300 artists represented by the organization. The organization underwent a series of reconstructive and fundraising efforts in 2008 which were part of a three year strategic initiative to build organizational stability and sustainability. While a number of those measures were successfully implemented, the stark decline in gallery sales that the organization experienced beginning in the fall and winter of 2008 could not be overcome and the organization can no longer manage both locations.
The organization will continue to offer classes at a reduced scale in satellite locations in Middlebury. Frog Hollow is also currently contemplating partnership and collaboration opportunities with other organizations. A series of meetings have also been planned to engage to the community and secure feedback to write the next business and program phases for the organization moving forward.
The meeting dates are:
Education Community Forum February 9th at 6 p.m. at Isley Library in Middlebury to solicit community feedback on education programs.
Artist Forum February 7th at 2:30 p.m. at Isley Library in Middlebury, and February 8 at 2 p.m. at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. These meetings will be held to solicit input from the artist and business community regarding the strategy and direction of its gallery and exhibition programs.
Frog Hollow: The Vermont State Craft Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting Vermont artists by promoting fine craft and fine art through programs in education, exhibition and sales in our galleries.