SNOW FARM- THE NEW ENGLAND CRAFT PROGRAM INC

SNOW FARM: THE NEW ENGLAND CRAFT PROGRAM IS A NON-PROFIT, RESIDENTIAL CRAFT SCHOOL LOCATED IN THE HILLS OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. SNOW FARM IS ONE OF NINE RESIDENTIAL CRAFT SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE ONLY ONE IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS 2-, 3-, 4-, AND 5-DAY WORKSHOPS FROM LATE APRIL THROUGH LATE OCTOBER ACROSS EIGHT STUDIOS: WOOD, CERAMICS, KILN/STAINED GLASS, PAINTING/DRAWING, METALS/JEWELRY, 3D, 2D, AND TEXTILES.2025 OBSERVATIONS AND OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:OPENING DAY REGISTRATION IN JANUARY 2024 SET A RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST SINGLE-DAY DOLLAR AMOUNT OF WORKSHOP REGISTRATIONS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S HISTORY.SNOW FARM CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE WORK STUDY PROGRAM, WORKSHOP ACCESS PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS, THE NEW COLLEGE CRAFT CONNECTION INITIATIVE, AND PARTICIPATION IN THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL CARD TO CULTURE PROGRAM.A CAPITAL PROJECT THAT BEGAN IN LATE 2024, WAS COMPLETED IN EARLY 2025. A NEW ACCESSIBLE RESTROOM WAS ADDED BETWEEN THE 2D AND 3D STUDIO AND PLUMBING TO THESE TWO STUDIOS AND THE METALSMITHING STUDIO WERE BROUGHT UP TO CODE. A NEW GARAGE DOOR THAT KEEPS OUT THE ELEMENTS WAS ADDED IN 3D AS WELL. ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVED THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE STUDIOS.THE SNOW FARM TEAM WORKED EFFECTIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY THROUGHOUT 2025, WITH NO TURNOVER AMONG SALARIED EMPLOYEES. THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR TOOK A THREE-MONTH MATERNITY LEAVE AT YEAR-END. STAFF REMAINED FULLY COMMITTED TO ENSURING SMOOTH WORKSHOP OPERATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE STUDIO MANAGER IS ON-SITE EVERY WEEKEND PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED, SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCING CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTORS. THIS LEVEL OF SUPPORT CONTRIBUTED TO A HIGH NUMBER OF POSITIVE PROGRAM EVALUATIONS.SEPARATING THE ONE-TIME $45 REGISTRATION FEE WITHIN THE PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENTS ENABLED MORE ACCURATE TRACKING OF PARTICIPATION. BASED ON THIS ADJUSTMENT, APPROXIMATELY 901 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST ONE WORKSHOP DURING 2025.BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REQUIRED INCREASED ATTENTION DURING THE FOUR-WEEK HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION'S MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST WAS CONSULTED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT. THE INTENSITY OF THIS PROGRAM ON BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOL STAFF, THE KITCHEN, AND FULL-TIME STAFF LED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PROPOSE REDUCING THE PROGRAM TO ONE (2 WEEK) SESSION RATHER THAN TWO SESSIONS IN 2026. THE GOAL IS TO DELIVER AN A+ EXPERIENCE FOR THE ONE (2 WEEK) SESSION. A DONOR CONTRIBUTED $15,000 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW STORAGE SHED, WHICH WAS INSTALLED BEHIND THE DORMITORY BUILDINGS.DURING 2025, SNOW FARM OFFERED A LIMITED NUMBER OF GLASS BLOWING WORKSHOPS. DUE TO LOW STUDENT ENROLLMENT, RISING OPERATING EXPENSES, SIGNIFICANT TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, AND ONGOING OPERATING DEFICITS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PROPOSED THE PERMANENT CLOSURE OF THE GLASS BLOWING STUDIO. THE BOARD REACHED CONSENSUS TO CLOSE THE STUDIO AT THE END OF 2025 AND TO DISPOSE OF THE RELATED EQUIPMENT. IN 2026, STAFF WILL PRESENT SEVERAL VIABLE OPTIONS TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION REGARDING FUTURE USE OF SPACE.SNOW FARM UTILIZED A $95,200 GRANT FROM THE WINDGATE FOUNDATION TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL A LARGER GENERATOR CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING THE ENTIRE MAIN BUILDING DURING POWER OUTAGES. THIS INVESTMENT STRENGTHENS OPERATIONAL CONTINUITY DURING ELECTRICAL DISRUPTIONS.THE SECONDS SALE, HELD OVER THREE WEEKENDS IN NOVEMBER 2025, ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST SALES IN THE EVENT'S HISTORY. THE SECOND'S SALE IS SNOW FARM'S PRIMARY ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT. MORE THAN 250 ARTISTS CONSIGNED WORK FOR THE THREE-WEEKEND EVENT, AND OVER 2,800 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED. IN 2025, SNOW FARM PAID MORE THAN $121,000 TO PARTICIPATING ARTISTS FOR THE SALE OF THEIR WORK.