It's official
Aug. 31st, 2021 11:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
offcntrClayfolk 2021 has been cancelled.
The show had a rocky road from the start. At first, it wasn't certain we'd have enough applications to pay for the hall, but enough came in at the deadline to pass our 70-booth minimum, with a comfortable cushion. We'd contacted our person at the Armory to reserve the weekend before Thanksgiving, our usual date, back in spring when it looked like with vaccinations we might actually be getting a handle on this pandemic.
Then everything fell apart.
First, there was the Delta variant, and the new surge in cases. Then we learned that our contact at the Armory had moved on to a new job, and hadn't passed on our reservation to their successor. Once again, they'd booked our date to someone else. They offered a half-price rental for Thanksgiving weekend or the first weekend of December.
The board sent out a survey to the general membership, asking for feedback about those dates for an indoor show, or interest in an outdoor event held at the Expo center earlier in the fall--late September or early October. The Survey results were released yesterday, in a letter that concluded:
The Board met yesterday (via Zoom) and decided not to pursue a Show this year (yes, it's official). We based this decision on the information provided in the survey and the uncertain future of the evolving pandemic, specifically for a venue in southern Oregon. Though we love our big Show, the health risk to our artists and customers is currently too great. Our treasurers will be coordinating the refund process for all applicants.
I think they made the right call. Vaccination rates are finally climbing in Southern Oregon, but they're still not great, and I suspect mask policing would be a real problem. I've gotta say, I'm feeling relieved.
The show had a rocky road from the start. At first, it wasn't certain we'd have enough applications to pay for the hall, but enough came in at the deadline to pass our 70-booth minimum, with a comfortable cushion. We'd contacted our person at the Armory to reserve the weekend before Thanksgiving, our usual date, back in spring when it looked like with vaccinations we might actually be getting a handle on this pandemic.
Then everything fell apart.
First, there was the Delta variant, and the new surge in cases. Then we learned that our contact at the Armory had moved on to a new job, and hadn't passed on our reservation to their successor. Once again, they'd booked our date to someone else. They offered a half-price rental for Thanksgiving weekend or the first weekend of December.
The board sent out a survey to the general membership, asking for feedback about those dates for an indoor show, or interest in an outdoor event held at the Expo center earlier in the fall--late September or early October. The Survey results were released yesterday, in a letter that concluded:
The Board met yesterday (via Zoom) and decided not to pursue a Show this year (yes, it's official). We based this decision on the information provided in the survey and the uncertain future of the evolving pandemic, specifically for a venue in southern Oregon. Though we love our big Show, the health risk to our artists and customers is currently too great. Our treasurers will be coordinating the refund process for all applicants.
I think they made the right call. Vaccination rates are finally climbing in Southern Oregon, but they're still not great, and I suspect mask policing would be a real problem. I've gotta say, I'm feeling relieved.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-31 09:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-08-31 09:51 pm (UTC)We've been there the weekend before Thanksgiving for decades (2019 was a very late Thanksgiving, so the booker scheduled us a week early without double-checking the date, then panicked when we weren't setting up the day they expected). You'd think they'd have some institutional memory...