March 18, 2020
These are unprecedented times and we’re pivoting to adapt to them just like all of you. The Greenville Arms 1889 Inn, where we host our workshops, is our home as well as our place of business. It is of paramount importance to us that our home be as safe as we can possibly make it, while still warmly welcoming everyone who comes our way.
Of course, we can’t predict how the situation will evolve and change. So, we and we hope you too will be following the guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) & World Health Organization (WHO) and adapt our plans and daily lives accordingly.
Important Information For April & May Workshops
At this time our season is continuing on as planned with our first workshop beginning in April. Like everyone else we’re enhancing our cleaning routines with special attention to disinfecting common hand holds and surfaces around our facility. Once the season starts, guests will see our staff cleaning common areas multiple times throughout the day and we will also have hand sanitizer and bleach wipes available for personal use during your stay.
If you are enrolled in one of our spring workshops and find yourself coming down with relevant symptoms just before – please get in touch with us. We’ll work together to be socially responsible about containing the spread of this virus but still get you the creative time you’re looking for.
For as long as it is recommended, we will also be instituting social distancing procedures during out workshops. This will include different table arrangements within the studio and offering all meals to-go. Students will have the option of making the best choice for themselves on where to dine – whether it be in their room, outdoors, or elsewhere.
If you’re looking for official recommendations on travel within the United States at this time, we will point you toward this excellent breakdown from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.html
On Being A Small Business During This Time
Just like small businesses, service industry workers, artists, musicians, and freelancers everywhere around the world – we are deeply feeling the economic impacts of this event. As a business based on bringing people together, we don’t know what our future holds – but we do know it’s time to do the right thing and take measures to be socially responsible.
Part of being socially responsible for us is working to continue to employ our year-round staff and getting our seasonal staff onboard, working, and paid just as they had planned on. That means we need to pivot our business model to both meet your needs in a socially responsible way.
As we share the new ways we’re working to keep our business running and employees paid – please share them with your friends! If you’re in a financially secure situation through all of this – please consider transferring to another workshop instead of cancelling, enroll in a 2021 workshop (we’ll have the schedule up on our website this week), or purchasing a gift certificate for another wonderful human.