{"id":6424,"date":"2021-03-03T09:51:59","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T14:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/?p=6424"},"modified":"2025-08-23T19:06:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T23:06:45","slug":"covid-19-restrictions-or-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/2021\/03\/03\/covid-19-restrictions-or-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19: Restrictions or Opportunities?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For River Tree Arts in Kennebunk, Maine, a pivot to change strategy is creating growth.\u00a0 When COVID closed its doors in March 2020, the small nonprofit relied on the pivot to adapt and grow. President Paula Gagnon said that agile plans led to innovation, flexibility and perseverance.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Masked ballerinas pose at the River Tree Arts Winter 2020 Dance Recital at The Atlantic Hall, Kennebunkport, Maine. COVID-19 style, performers danced to an audience of one guest each, Jan. 12, 2021. (Photo by River Tree Arts)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Professional artist and educator Heather Lewis shares the same philosophy. Lewis teaches art classes at River Tree and a local community college. COVID’s impact, she said, \u201cprovided absolutely incredible expansion and growth for me. Intellectual expansion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0River Tee was already operating on a shoestring pre-COVID. Lockdown forced the center to decrease the hours of its two part-time employees. The organization also reduced non-essential costs and reached out to grant makers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Board, faculty and staff made plans that could pivot to change with agility. COVID was uncertain, so the center planned for a quick pivot if necessary. Gagnon said, “It’s a very good idea. I see us continue to operate in ways we are now\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To build trust and show appreciation, the Art at Home program developed. With a small grant, local artist Piper Castles designed children\u2019s projects. Parents picked up supplies curbside, and their children attended virtual classes. Gagnon said, “It was engaging and free! They learned. It was perfect.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Before its fall re-opening, the organization worked to ensure safety for everyone. They cleaned and sanitized. But social distancing in small rooms was not possible without a decrease in class size.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some instructors were comfortable with teaching in-person classes. Others donated instead. Plans moved forward for a safe reopening. A plexiglass wall now protects the reception area. Velour roping discourages roaming. A new micro-gallery hangs on freshly painted walls.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gagnon said that the pivot to change strategy guided the center\u2019s decisions. No one could be sure when restrictions would change again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0COVID forced Lewis to online teaching and technology at the college. She said, “I had to come face to face with what I thought I knew to be true about being a learner. I realized I really learned … because I didn’t know how to do any of this tech stuff.” Lewis talked about the way she asks students to forget what they learned before their first class with her.\u00a0 She asks them to begin with a blank canvas. \u201cI realized it\u2019s really hard. These students are really brave and courageous when they choose to learn\u2026.\u00a0 I had to do that too. I had to be a learner and it was really life changing.\u201d When Gagnon offered her the opportunity to teach in-person, she said, “It was party time for me.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0River Tree had challenges to make these in-person classes possible. Gagnon recalled afternoons when school buses dropped off 150 children all at once. It was chaos as they descended on reception. Now parents, not busses, bring students to River Tree. Fifteen minutes between classes allows for sanitizing. Staff walks children to the door to ensure that a parent is there to pick them up. Classes still fill but are smaller because of social distancing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ventilation concerns paused metalsmithing. For Lewis’ classes, the post-holiday spike caused fear and cancellations. River Tree saw a 20 percent decrease in revenue from classes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0River Tree created safe and virtual events to boost funds. The Small Works Show, with over 80 pieces of donated art, raised $10,000. The center tried a hybrid model for the show. Potential buyers made reservations to view art in the gallery. Others purchased online. River Tree’s online auction raised another $7,500.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lewis serves on the gallery committee. She said, “There is a complete paradigm shift about how we present and sell art\u2026.\u00a0 It has revolutionized income streaming for artists and artwork organizations.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0River Tree had not done an annual appeal for many years but, in 2020, it reached out to donors. River Tree was honest about the need, and the appeal was successful. It increased its agility and funders moved to support.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0River Tree is tapping into grant writers, but social and welfare grants are the priority. Gagnon said, “I don\u2019t ever want to compete with foundations that support essential services and human needs.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0New opportunities have presented themselves. The town allowed River Tree Arts dance classes to use the town field. The students loved it, pleading to stay outside even in rain, and the town appreciated the use of the field. Art instructors taught along the bend of the river at The Nonantum Resort. Gagnon imagines outdoor music lessons to promote awareness in the community.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many changes caused by COVID are better than what existed before. The plexiglass will stay in place to define workspace from public space. The absence of so many students arriving at the same time has reduced chaos. Gagnon said, “We look like an art gallery now.\u201d The annual appeal was not only successful, but it also improved donor tracking. Funders are moving to support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The hybrid art show was a good model. Gagnon expects that model to continue and expand. Having small groups of six move through the gallery avoids rushing. She envisions the group moving through the gallery to a wine reception. Buyers may use their smartphones to complete a sale.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gagnon talked about River Tree’s “new normal.” She said, “Much like after 9\/11, we know that air travel was never the same. After the pandemic, I think there are things culturally that will never be the same again\u2026.\u00a0 A pandemic never has an upside. But all the things we changed were things that drove us crazy.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0COVID has paused some events. Gagnon misses the elegant events such as the all-women art exhibit. It is representative of the non-chaotic events she prefers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gagnon is optimistic. \u201cRiver Tree will survive because of the quality of the people–our artists, staff, parents who care about River Tree Arts and the passion they have for River Tree Arts. They don\u2019t want to see us close.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For River Tree Arts in Kennebunk, Maine, a pivot to change strategy is creating growth.\u00a0 When COVID closed its doors in March 2020, the small nonprofit relied on the pivot to adapt and grow. President Paula Gagnon said that agile plans led to innovation, flexibility and perseverance. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Professional artist and educator Heather Lewis shares the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":258,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7381],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archives","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/258"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6424"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8323,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6424\/revisions\/8323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}