Hyde Park Art Center’s COVID-19 Update

January 2, 2022

Dear Art Center Community, 

In light of the increasing spread of the Omicron variant, the Art Center will remain closed to the public the week of January 3-January 9. In accordance with the city of Chicago’s recent ordinance, effective January 3, all eligible visitors and guests (5&up) to Hyde Park Center are required to be vaccinated.

Additionally, all class takers ages 5 and up will be required to show proof of full vaccination, including a booster if/when eligible starting February 6th. This change will enable us to safely increase our capacity for in-person programs and offer more expansive open studio hours while promoting the safety and well-being of our entire studio community. All in-person teaching artists, staff, and independent contractors have been vaccinated since May 31, 2021. We will continue to mandate masks and distancing to minimize transmission risk and will continue to offer reduced-capacity open studio hours and classes for high risk individuals. For further details on our safety precautions, see our FAQs.

For more information on how and where to get vaccinated in Illinois, please visit this page. 

If you have any questions, comments, or would like additional information about this policy, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can contact Jen (jchambers@hydeparkart.org or 773.324.5520 x1007) or Eileen (etruong@hydeparkart.org or 773.324.5520 x1021). 

August 26, 2021

Dear School & Studio Community, 

This fall term, we have some important updates to our studio policies. We are eager to open our doors a bit wider to our community of class-takers. In light of the increasing spread of the Delta variant as well as the broad accessibility of vaccines, beginning October 18, the Art Center will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for any class-taker (ages 12&up)  enrolled in an in-building program beginning Fall Term 2021. Class takers will have the alternative option to provide a negative COVID test performed prior to each building entry (within 72 hours prior for PCR test result; within 6 hours prior for antigen test result.) This change will enable us to safely increase our capacity for in-person programs and offer more expansive open studio hours while promoting the safety and well-being of our entire studio community. All in-person teaching artists, staff, and independent contractors have been vaccinated since May 31, 2021. We will continue to mandate masks and distancing to minimize transmission risk and will continue to offer reduced-capacity open studio hours and classes for high risk individuals. For further details on our safety precautions, see our FAQs.

Fall Term: October 18-December 12

Registration Opens: September 20 at 12pm

Fall Term Updates: 

• To participate in any course with an in-person component, including Ceramics Work From Home, students will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination (a photo of your vaccination card will suffice). We’ll share logistical details when course registration opens on September 20. 
• Increased class size to accommodate more community members.
• Expanded in-person course offerings.
• Additional open studio hours for independent art-making outside of class time.
• Community members will continue to sign-in at the front desk for contact-tracing purposes.
• We will continue to offer limited virtual and in-person community-supported classes to keep our programs accessible.

For more information on how and where to get vaccinated in Illinois, please visit this page. 

If you have any questions, comments, or would like additional information about this policy, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can respond directly to this email or call (773) 324-5520 ext. 1009. We look forward to making art with you this fall.

All my best,
Allison

February 9, 2021

Dear Community,

Hyde Park Art Center is excited to announce limited reopening hours starting Monday, February 22. Our opening will unveil three new shows we have been anxiously waiting to share: Cuts and Beasts: Cecil McDonald, Jr., Ground Floor, and our Teen Program show, Next Window, Please!  All shows can be seen by pre-registering for our Exhibition Hours four days a week.

We are not ready to offer in-person Studio Classes yet, but are hard at work preparing the studios for students’ return.

All visitors are asked to pre-screen and stay home if they are feeling unwell. Anyone in the Art Center will be required to wear a mask (we have extras on hand). We also request all visitors practice social distancing and wash their hands. We will continue to keep tabs on COVID-19 rates in Cook County and state-wide, and are following all public health guidance. You can learn more and plan your visit here.

For questions, please reach out to Deputy Director Danny Urbina-McCarthy (durbin.mcc@hydeparkart.org).

January, 2021

Dear Community,

Happy New Year!

Hyde Park Art Center remains closed for public events, classes, and exhibitions. We continue to keep tabs on COVID-19 rates in Cook County and state-wide, and will provide updates about building hours as we know more. We look forward to welcoming folks back into the building when it is safe to do so.

For questions, please reach out to Deputy Director Danny Urbina-McCarthy (durbin.mcc@hydeparkart.org).

Monday, November 2, 2020

Dear Community,

We are keeping tabs on the increasing COVID-19 rates in Cook County and state-wide. We recognize it is a fluid situation, and are in the process of determining what is best for our community, staff, and facility at this time with safety being our number one priority. Our exhibition Artist Run Chicago 2.0 and the school and studio term ended, so in the interim weeks we are closed to the public. We will keep tabs on public health guidance updates and continue to keep our community informed.

For questions, please reach out to Deputy Director Danny Urbina-McCarthy (durbin.mcc@hydeparkart.org).

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Oakman Clinton School + Studio Update

Hyde Park Art Center classes are moving online! Our teaching artists and education team have been hard at work reimagining the studio classroom for an online platform. We are translating some of our most popular classes, like Intro to Drawing and Documentary Video, into the virtual realm. We will also offer an array of new programs for youth, families, and adults, like DIY Textile Mending, Mosaic Design, and many others, all taught by your favorite teaching artists.

Registration for online classes opens today, Wednesday, April 8, at noon (12:00 PM CST). classes begin the week of April 20.

We are also excited to announce that all of our spring online programs will be community-supported! Community supported programs are a contribute-what-you-can tuition model. Because of this extraordinary time, we know that many of class takers may not be in a position to pay tuition, and others may be able to pitch in a little more to make it possible for the Art Center and our teaching artists to weather this storm. Either way, we want to ensure our virtual doors are open to everyone.

In addition, we have recently launched a Hyde Park Art Center Teaching Artist Relief Fund. The Relief Fund is in recognition that our teaching artists’ classes and lives have been interrupted and need our support. The fund goes directly to the teaching artists at the Art Center who make our classes and community what it is.

None of this would be possible without the amazing dedication and creativity of our teaching artists. Please consider helping us continue to support our teaching artists and our Community Supported Programs by contributing to the Teaching Artists Relief Fund or general operating fund today!

While we are all at home, we think of the Art Center community everyday and look forward to being back in the building with everyone!

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

An Open Letter From the Director of Studio Programs and Strategic Initiatives

Dear School & Studio Community,

I hope that you are all safe and well. I’m writing both with a heavy heart and with great optimism. As you may have expected, Hyde Park Art Center will not be able to offer an in-person spring term due to the continuing situation with COVID-19 and the extended shelter-in-place ordered yesterday by the state of Illinois.

However, your teaching artists have been hard at work reimagining the studio classroom for an online platform. We are excited to announce that Hyde Park Art Center classes are moving online! We are translating some of our most popular classes, like Intro to Drawing and Documentary Video, into the virtual realm. We will also offer an array of new programs for youth, families, and adults, like DIY Textile Mending, Mosaic Design, and many others, all taught by your favorite teaching artists.

Registration for online classes will open at noon on Wednesday, April 8. Classes will begin the week of April 20 unless otherwise noted in the class description. Online classes will run for an 8 week window of programming between April 20 – June 14.

All of our spring online programs will be community-supported! Because of this extraordinary time, we know that many of you may not be in a position to pay tuition, and many others of you may be able to pitch in a little more to make it possible for the Art Center and our teaching artists to weather this storm. Therefore, instead of having a required tuition price, students and families will be asked to contribute what you can. This means that our virtual doors are open to everyone. And even if you decide not to take a class yourself, it’s still a great opportunity for those of you who would like to support our teaching artists, students, and vibrant creative community in a time of heightened need.

Many of you have already registered for an in-person spring term class, and we thank you for your support in doing so. For you, there are several options moving forward:

• If you would like to move your spring registration to an online class, we are happy to help you with that!
  • Courses will be posted and open for registration at noon on Wednesday, April 8.
  • Once you know which class(es) you’d like to transfer to, please complete this class transfer form or reply to this email.
• If you would prefer not, or are not able, to transfer to an online class, you may:
  • Donate all or part of your tuition to the Art Center’s Teaching Artists Relief Fund or general operating fund. All donations are tax deductible, and we thank you for your support!
  • Request a credit to your account, which can be used for classes or supply purchases (like clay) anytime through December 31, 2021. To request a credit, please complete this credit request form.
  • Request a full or partial refund for your tuition by completing this refund request form.
• If you have received a financial aid award for spring term, you may still transfer to an online class, or request a credit or refund as applicable. If you have any questions about your financial aid, please contact Jacqui Guerrero at jguerrero@hydeparkart.org.

We know that this is a big shift in how we’re used to being together, and it will be hard not to share space, and food, and hugs with one another while we continue to ride this out. But I have been inspired every day by the creative ways our students, teaching artists, and staff have found to foster a new kind of community and creative practice.

I anticipate you will have many questions, and I am here to answer all of them. I look forward to hearing from you!

Kind regards,

Jen

Friday, March 13, 2020

Dear Hyde Park Art Center Community:

As we continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19, the Art Center has decided to take preventative measures to help keep our community safe and healthy. To that end, we will be temporarily closing to the public beginning March 14th. We understand that many people find respite and community within our space and programs and that social distancing practices go against our very purpose and nature. We made this difficult decision with the best interests of our whole community in mind, and we appreciate your understanding and patience while we do our part to keep the community safe and healthy. We also look forward to reconvening with you when it is fully safe to do so.

 Updated information on Spring Term registration and scheduling is found here. 

You can keep abreast of any changes or updates in our plans via our website or follow us on social media at Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. We are very much looking forward to being open and convening with you again soon. 

Please direct any questions regarding events and facilities to our Deputy Director, Daniel Urbina-McCarthy (durbin.mcc@hydeparkart.org).