Dear friends and supporters,

After six weeks of crisis planning, fundraisers, and careful consideration of the myriad possible paths forward for Pig Iron after University of the Arts’ abrupt closure, we have come to a very difficult decision: we are not able to reopen the Pig Iron School this fall and must pause our graduate program for at least a semester. We had hoped it would be possible for our students to continue their education without any further disruptions. As promising as several conversations have been, there are critical factors (accreditation, financial aid, cost of tuition, etc.) that have to be in place for us to be confident about a future home for the School. Meeting a tight timeline for the fall could mean a host of unforeseen complications that would prevent us from fully honoring our commitment to our students. Ultimately, we did not want to move ahead with any more uncertainty.

We are working toward re-starting the program in January 2025 with a new institutional partner, welcoming a robust incoming class and welcoming back our second and third year students for an invigorating spring semester. In the meantime, we are programming a new slate of workshops for this fall, with free and discounted spaces held for current students, to keep our community engaged. And we hope to make our spaces available for rentals—for performances, classes, rehearsals, and more—to keep our studios active (and generate some much needed income).

The other unfortunate news we have to share is that UArts has still not repaid the $300,000 we are owed. We are incredibly grateful to have secured pro bono counsel at Duane Morris, who will advocate strongly for us as we consider our legal options. The sobering reality, however, is that there are a limited set of outcomes if the University files for bankruptcy. We have resigned ourselves to the fact that this enormous sum may take several years to recover, and will likely not be recovered in full.

We know this major interruption is difficult to swallow. The Dares and Vanishing Acts performances in May were so strong, and we were all excited to carry on that momentum after this summer. For now, we will work toward as seamless a transition as possible, supporting our students, faculty, and staff while the program is paused. We will share updates as we have them, particularly as a new partnership takes shape.

The outpouring of support for Pig Iron during this crisis has been moving and inspiring. So many people have come forward to donate to our Emergency Bridge Fund. We will share an update on the campaign next week.

We are a School of possibility, built for those who crave kindred spirits with whom to share their deepest questions and most outrageous ideas. As we navigate these possibilities, your help will be vital at every step—from charting a path through this current storm to one day finding new students to join this ship of fools. Thank you to everyone who has supported us. As always, when little in the world makes logical sense, we turn to artists to help us thrive amid the chaos and find community.

All best,

Quinn and everyone at Pig Iron