The exterior of the New Orleans Creative Glass Institute, where budget cuts have meant high-level staff consolidation.
In an effort to improve its tight finances during what continues to be a difficult stretch for arts non-profits, the New Orleans Creative Glass Institute, an open-access non-profit glass studio started by area glass artists after Hurricane Katrina, has made the decision to shrink its executive staff following last year’s expansion spurred on by grants. On January 15th, 2011, NOCGI program director Jenny Knox will leave the organization and studio manager Mark Morris will assume her duties in a merged position.
“Like so many arts organizations in the country and in New Orleans, we’re having to reconfigure because of the reduction of grants being made in this economy. That meant losing one position,” said Carlos Zervigon, co-founder and CEO of NOCGI.
Morris, who came to NOCGI last March after teaching at the Toyama City Institute of Glass Art in Japan, plans to take advantage of his new role to strengthen the local glass community. He wants to build on NOCGI’s programming by continuing to provide a strong hot shop, expanding its equipment, and bringing in teachers for fusing classes. He also hopes to raise the city’s profile as a destination for glass artists.
“I want to encourage glassblowers to move to New Orleans because it’s such a great city,” he said. “It’s a great place to start a glassblowing studio, to rent hot shop time, and to be an artist because there’s so much inspiration here. If any glass artists are considering a move, consider New Orleans.”
NOCGI was formed at the former site of Conti Glass, an open-access studio established by Wet Dog Glass, a studio equipment fabricator which left New Orleans after the devastation of the hurricane.
—Grace Duggan