Before getting into the update on what’s happening at Quickdraw, I wanted to thank our staff for all the work they’ve done this past week. As I’m sure everyone reading this can relate to, this is a strange time to be working. There’s a lot of uncertainty out there, and I’m grateful to work with a group of people who are so thoughtful, empathetic, and dedicated to this community. It’s a privilege.

With that said: You may be wondering what’s going on at Quickdraw. The short answer is, for the time being, physical Quickdraw is on hold. Our offices in Sunalta are closed until further notice, and we aren’t hosting any courses, workshops or screenings until it seems wise to do so. If you’re renting studio space from us or taking a class, you should’ve heard from us already. If you haven’t, please send us a note with any questions. If you’re a key-holding member, we’re still asking you to avoid the studios for now, and appreciate your consideration.

But as filmmaker Richard Reeves is always quick to remind us, QAS isn’t a place, it’s a community, and a state of mind. What exactly that means at a time like this, we aren’t sure, but we’re in the process of figuring it out. Mihaela has already started making Facebook groups for our members and QuickKids, where folks can share projects they’re working on, give tips for rigging up makeshift animation stations at home, or just generally keep in touch. Tyler’s been helping folks take their projects home and scheming on ways to share member films online. All of us are looking for ways to continue being a positive space, a place where creativity and collaboration can happen—just without being an actual place for a little while.

If you’re interested in any of that, please keep an eye on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Have a look at our Indie Animation Mixtape on Vimeo if you haven’t already; it’s packed with great films. Share what you’re doing with us, and we’ll do the same. If you’re working on anything—short loops, doodles, comics, whatever it may be, we want to see it and share it. It’s what we’re here for and what we love doing.

Stay well,
QAS

PS – I know this is a difficult stretch for a lot of arts organizations, and we’ve definitely been impacted, too, but for anyone worried about Quickdraw right now, I want to reassure you that we’re in good shape to weather this. We’ll do what we always do, which is figure out out how to serve this community the best way we can. Thanks for being with us.