MOVING INTO OUR FUTURE, FLOCK'S NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM

When FLOCK opened our doors 7 years ago my vision was to create an artistic home for more than just myself, driven by the belief that plural artistic identities would foster more than I could alone. I desired a place where rigorous exploration and research in our vast field would take root and allow those who choose to be FLOCK members to find new pathways, where they could be inspired, where they could to go deeper with their artistic practices and where they could be experimental in their ideas. 

I wanted FLOCK to hold workshops that had not landed in Portland yet, ideas that did not have a home and/or dance artists that were from out of town. And I wanted all of this to be done via a model that did not ask of me to be an arts administrator alone, where I could also attend to my own artistic endeavors.

FLOCK started as an experiment and continues to be ever evolving. I can truly say that so much of the success of FLOCK is because you showed up. You said yes. Simultaneously with these past 7 years to reflect on, I sense where I fall short, where FLOCK has room to grow. Through FLOCK I have always felt a huge responsibility to serve the community as best I can. I know that for FLOCK to be at its full potential I need not do this alone.

For the past many months a leadership team has been gathering around FLOCK. The new Leadership Team will usher us into our new space and continue to lead FLOCK into the future. This will help support FLOCK examine and reshape the ways that we nurture and support the art and artists that we serve.
We are so close to raising enough funds to move our floor and help build-out our new space.

It is with great admiration and respect that I share with you FLOCK's new leadership team and sign off as Artistic Director of FLOCK. We move into the future together....

Warmly,

Tahni Holt
FLOCK Leadership Team

Response to COVID-19

We have been closely monitoring the situation with COVID-19. First and foremost you and your community's health and well being is top priority.

With that said we want to let you know what we are doing in response to COVID-19.
-We are cancelling all classes until further notified, with the hopes to start classes back up in early April.

All rehearsals will continue with these measures put in place:
-We are disinfecting and mopping at the end of every day. This includes all surfaces that are heavy touch areas.
-There are disinfecting wipes available at the studio for all to use when coming and going.

-We will continue to monitor the situation with the Oregon Health Authority and follow their guidelines and suggest that you do the same.

We are exploring creative ways to combat isolation and to connections to our movement practices separate but together. We are hoping to bring classes to you in your own living room. Keep a look out for another email regarding our on-line classes.

There is much happening to FLOCK on the horizon. We will use this time to continue reshaping the future of FLOCK. In the meantime please take care of yourselves, your loved ones and all our more fragile communities.

And please consider donating to organizations that are meaningful to you as we all feel the effects of the virus closures.

With deep gratitude,
Tahni Holt

Big News: FLOCK Has Found A New Home!

Perhaps you didn't know we were looking? I kept it on the down-low for many reasons, most pressing because I really didn't know which way the news was going to go. This past summer, with our lease up, FLOCK walked the fault line of Portland's burgeoning real estate market (the one where the marginalized get kicked out). I tried to shimmy it every direction and I just couldn't figure out how to make FLOCK's mission work under the circumstances of a huge rent increase. I tried to imagine Portland without FLOCK. I did not take to this lightly. My heart broke into trillions of pieces many times over.

Through deep re-imagining and support, Disjecta found a way to sponsor FLOCK through a model shared space. They have FLOCK Friday-Sunday and FLOCK has it Monday-Thursday. We will continue with this model until the end of June. I will be forever grateful for this as it allows FLOCK to continue, albeit with less capacity, through the winter months.
The New FLOCK

Next summer we will move into the community of NW Marine Art Works, Building #5! This is one of a collection of buildings that Ken Unkeles owns. For those of you who do not know, Ken is a long term champion of Portland artists. He has been creating spaces for artists to work and thrive in our city for over 30 years. I cannot impress upon you enough exactly what this means for FLOCK and for our larger art community. This not only allows FLOCK to continue but also to thrive for years to come (and when I say years I really do mean it because Ken Unkeles means it too).

It is being built out to be FLOCK-same square footage, unreasonably high ceilings with windows of natural light streaming in and the same amazing floor that was put into our original space. We will have heating and air-conditioning and most importantly a place to call home where the bottom line allows for FLOCK to continue to do what it does and to do it better!

This process has made me realize I cannot usher in this new FLOCK alone. I am deeply honored to have held this space for 6 years. I am proud of what has transpired at FLOCK. And I recognize that FLOCK has more potential to offer with more people at the helm. I am not leaving, I am being joined by some fantastic people. The restructuring is still underway so stay tuned. Yet I can tell you that FLOCK remains an organization in the hands of artists for artists!
We Need Your Support To Make This Happen

While the world around us is quite literally on fire I am reminded every day why we need art. Artists are the incubators, the healers, the igniters, the instigators, the disruptors, the soul searchers. Art bring things into sharp focus and spins the world into poetics. Now more than ever we need artists and we need spaces where artists can thrive. I am so deeply grateful for the artists, cultural makers, advocates, administrators, partnered organizations, volunteers, audiences, friends, and family, that have made these first 6 years a success.

FLOCK provides support for artists to make their art, FLOCK provides conversations and community. While you are considering where to donate this season please do consider FLOCK. Your tax deducted donation goes toward all costs of moving FLOCK into its new space. Specifically, we will be re-installing our state of the art floor that makes FLOCK a safe space to move on. FLOCK might be small but impact is mighty. Please help FLOCK move into the future.

Our current goal before the end of the year is $3,000. Help us get there!


DONATE HERE

RACC Individual Project Grants

Congratulations to FLOCK Members Lucy Yim, Kaj-anne Pepper, Suniti Dernovsek, & Tracy Broyles who have all received individual project grants from Regional Arts & Culture Council for 2015! Stay connected with us to learn more about all their processes here in our studio & beyond.

Check us out!

A thoughtful article about FLOCK in Oregon Arts Watch by Nim Wunnan: http://www.orartswatch.org/flock/