The Crucible, a longtime West Oakland arts institution known for welding, blacksmithing, glassblowing and other hands-on classes as well as fire-related performances, has temporarily closed because of serious financial problems, leaving staff, faculty, students and artists uncertain about what comes next.
The closure took effect Sunday, Oct. 25, according to an email sent to employees by Interim Executive Director Douglas Yeiser. The Crucible’s board is meeting daily “to determine next steps,” board president B. Astrella said in a follow-up email Sunday night.
The organization has not said how long the closure will last or whether it will be able to resume classes and other programs. Astrella said in the email Monday that the building remains closed, including to people trying to retrieve belongings from rented studio spaces…