What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Last updated: May 28, 2020
This page will be updated regularly with relevant information for Ox-Bow students and faculty as we continue to monitor federal or state mandates.
May 27, 2020: New Horizons
Spring is here on the Ox-Bow campus – the woods are green with new buds and the meadow is alive in birdsong – as many of you know, it’s a beautiful time of year along the lagoon, and we are eager to share this place again with you soon. As with many of you, we are longing for community: to see our friends, to share in food, to celebrate people’s art, to spend time with the organizations and small businesses that bring people together. However, all of our lives have been tempered by a collective effort to protect one another’s health with respect for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since our last update in April, Ox-Bow staff, board and legal counsel has been working to assess our operations and develop community health and safety guidelines that would allow Ox-Bow to create and maintain the creative community that is the foundation of the organization. Like businesses across the United States, we are following our state guidelines, specifically the Michigan Safe Start protocol, consulting CDC recommendations and tracking operations in the field to arrive at a plan for the safe reopening of our campus and programs.
On May 22nd, Governor Witmer extended Michigan’s Stay At Home order until June 12th. Based on the Michigan Safe Start guidelines, we anticipate the cautious reopening of businesses across the state by region over late June, July and August. This pace will necessitate an incremental reopening of Ox-Bow and revisions to our current program for the interim. We will make final decisions about our programs and capacity for operations by mid-June, and we thank-you for your patience while we ensure we operate the safest and most responsible campus we can, given current conditions.
While the COVID-19 situation has remained dynamic, so have we: our staff and board have been nimble in the face of a global plight, looking for ways Ox-Bow can protect its program, staff, legacy – and importantly, its spirit, for the future. We are confident that together we can survive, and deliver an Ox-Bow experience that nurtures community, creativity and a rich learning environment while remaining vigilant about the dangers of COVID-19.
In the meantime, we are tremendously grateful to those who have provided financial support to Ox-Bow through gifts of all sizes. Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency is an independent, 501c3 non-profit organization that is primarily tuition driven. The support of friends who care about the stability and longevity of this community is imperative to the survival of our 110-year old campus and program. We appreciate those of you who have stepped forward during this time of uncertainty and need. Over the next month we will be launching a membership program and online auction to help further buffer Ox-Bow through this unpredictable and devastating moment. You can learn more by watching our social media and consulting our website or contribute now via our DONATE link online.
Ox-Bow is committed to its community of artists – staff, students, faculty, residents and visiting artists. Our small team is developing new projects and opportunities to share our campus and resources over the coming season, please join our mailing list or follow us on Instagram or Facebook for updates as they come available.
We are longing to gather again with you all: in the lagoon, at Goth Prom or a walk to the Temple with a cup of coffee. We truly do hope to see you soon. Until then, we wish you and your loved ones safety and health.
And with gratitude,
Shannon R. Stratton
Executive Director
Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency
Artists Resources
Ox-Bow has created a list of resources for artists and arts organizations. We will continue to update this list during the coming months as we push through the crisis of COVID-19.
Click the button on the right to view the list.
COVID-19 Resources
Resources on COVID-19 are widely available, please consider checking with the CDC for more information on travel restrictions, early symptoms and precautions you can take to stop the spread of contagious illnesses.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Illinois Department of Health
Michigan Department of Health
General questions about COVID-19: Call CO-Help at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 or email COHELP@RMPDC.org, for answers in English and Spanish (Español), Mandarin (普通话), and more.