Key West The Newspaper

A Huge Thank You to everyone who took time to complete our survey and provide us with excellent feedback, which we will be taking on board as we start planning our next season’s program and our short & long term strategic planning for the organization!

We are thrilled that overall you think we are doing a good job in providing great exhibitions, concerts and workshops, but you have also indicated a number of areas where we can improve going forward – our aim is satisfy as many of our supporters as we possibly can!

You asked us for more diversity of workshops – more crafts; more fine art; more writing; photography; comedy; ceramics… And for different levels of expertise and at different days/times!

Our new building will be fully operational next season, which does mean that we will be able to offer many more workshops and educational services – with two dedicated classrooms – one for “messy” Arts & Crafts and the Media Lab for digital work, photography and literature oriented workshops.

So you should all be able to find something which suits your needs & desires! (With one exception – ceramics/pottery/welding – unfortunately we are not able to house a kiln or any other processes which could be considered as a fire hazard in our new home. BUT we are looking to find alternative venues/partnerships, so that we can offer these programs in the future).

We will also look at the times that our workshops are offered, as we know that many of you work and are not able to make day time classes.

Currently 31% of our workshops are in the evenings or weekends, and we will look at how we can expand that.

With our new dedicated Performance space we will be able to host significantly more concerts and performances of all stripes – so watch out for our new Catalog which we are currently working on!

We aim to support local artists as best we can – through our numerous exhibitions – 81% of last season’s exhibitions were of local artists’ work, plus 2 Members only shows (All local artists – professional and amateur!).

Local Artists teach 45% of our workshops each year!

And of course we do have 9 dedicated studios for local artists. They are on one-year leases that can be renewed up to 3 years total. So each Spring we expect to send out a call for new artists and bring fresh voices into the program.

We are constantly working with other non-profit organizations, such as The Tropic Cinema, and the Key West Art & Historical Society. Last year’s One Race/Una Raza exchange with Cuba was simultaneously presented by 5 different organizations! This Fall we’re excited to host Womankind’s annual BraZaar auction, and in the Spring, look for the return of our Spring Break Art Camp in Bahama Village.

You love getting tickets to events or workshops in person at The Studios, but we could definitely improve our online ticketing system and are working on ways to make this better for you (and us) for this coming season!

PARKING!!!!!

Many of you (although not as many as we feared) have asked to come up with parking solutions now that we are right downtown where parking is always a challenge. We have been working on this, as we do not want it to be a deterrent for our wonderful supporters to be able to attend events.

There are actually 8 parking lots within 2-3 blocks from 533 Eaton street, 4 of these are City owned and 4 are privately owned – see map. You can also park on the street as long as you have a City of Key West Resident sticker.

We LOVE hearing from our supporters and visitors, and even though we plan to conduct this survey annually, please feel free to give us feedback throughout the year…….that way we can constantly improve and grow in the way YOU, our community would like us to!

Sincerely,
Rosi Ware
Immediate Past President