Piper Strong, a well-known metalwork artist who teaches workshops at Fletcher Farm School, has boldly stepped into her new role as chairperson as she leads Society of Vermont Artists and Craftsmen into a new era.
She knows that at the heart of The Farm is dedicated to arts education and helping people follow their creative dreams. Students of all ages and abilities have been coming here for over 75 years to explore crafts!
Piper has strong roots in the Vermont artist community and believes her art represents her thoughts and views of the world; it is her truest form of communication.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024, Piper led a stellar annual member meeting at the farm campus. Caring people gathered to understand the dilemma that the organization faced in 2023 and how the board and community has come together to create a sustainable plan to keep the school operating well into the future. “This is important because we fill a void in the Okemo Valley, using your creativity is a necessary habit for children to learn critical thinking skills like problem-solving and decision-making. But it’s good for adults too, because the brain is a muscle and learning, doing, creating, and appreciating art helps them to think differently about how they approach other parts of their lives,” said Piper.
Regular workshops during 2024 are being paused to focus on revitalizing and creating a fiscally sustainable organization. It’s our goal to include all of the Okemo Valley community in visiting the farm campus and making the arts more available to our local residents. Piper is excited to work with staff, volunteers, and supporters on new plans and events aimed at bringing more stability and community involvement.
“As a teaching artist here for years, I care deeply about Fletcher Farm School’s mission and community,”
-Piper
stated incoming chair Piper Strong. “I look forward to collaborating with other artists, educators, members,
and supporters to strategize an updated vision and sustainable model for the School.”
Piper has always been passionate about giving back through the arts. I’m excited for her to share her artistic vision, ideas for workshops, and leadership experience with Fletcher Farm School as we transition to a new beginning. With help from folks as creative and dedicated as Piper, we will rebuild and reopen better than ever to continue its mission of accessible arts education.
It will be wonderful to have Piper involved in contributing to its enrichment as both an artist and community leader.