05/03/2020
Many string camp folks have heard by now the sad news below--but please stay tuned for some exciting announcements about our 'No-ssipee 2020' non-event, which will have some very special offerings (and merch!!) from our faculty for those campers who are able to roll over or donate a portion of their tickets to the string camp fund. We will be getting in touch with each camper via email in the coming week or two regarding their ticket, and folks will of course have the option to receive a full refund, and as some have already pointed out, an opportunity to practice for another year, so we area expecting y'all to really BRING IT next year. See you in 2021!
Dear Ossipee Family,
While we have seen this announcement coming, it is no easier to make than when we first contemplated it.
A re-opening plan has been announced for Maine, and events over 50 people will not be allowed through the summer. As crushing as this is to hear— as an event of well over 100x that size, Ossipee was in the process of making an announcement of our own regardless of the plan's criteria: The festival and string camp have officially been postponed until 2021. We want to get this right, and as hard as it is, that involves taking a year to reflect, and to help those who are vulnerable, especially groups who are economically devastated, such as musicians, survive and rise again.
We created this festival because we believe in the potency of such gatherings—they are the spark in the night, an opportunity for magic. Over 22 years, people have fallen in love, celebrated their 100th birthday, and made lasting friendships built on coming together here once a year.
Children have grown up at the festival, and musicians have grown up here too. Musical doorways have been opened, and we are here to tell you—those doors cannot be closed— we know this is the good stuff, and it is worth protecting.
This is why, while we are sad to announce the cancellation of Ossipee, we are proud to announce a new non-event for 2020: “NO-ssipee”, starting with a brand new ’safe’ logo! While the logistics are still being worked out, NOssipee will involve no physical interaction whatsoever, but will include as much artist and team member support as we can accomplish. We will offer our community whatever we can in terms of virtual (video/audio) and physical (merch!!) artifacts from this special year.
If you have already purchased a ticket to Ossipee,
Please do NOT call or email unless you have a very specific question— We will email YOU (check your spam!) You will have the opportunity to:
A. Receive a full refund
B. Receive a full refund minus a 5% handling fee that we have already paid to our processors (roughly $6 of a $115/ticket)
C. Roll over your ticket to 2021 (and receive NO-ssipee swag!) —your roll over money will go to ongoing expenses for the organization including artist deposits for 2021
D. Make your ticket money a tax deductible donation to our organization. It will go to the 'NO-ssipee 2020 fund' to help those artists & team members currently unemployed (and receive NOssipee swag + more TBD!) Those who donate their string camp ticket will receive even more special gifts, TBA!
Please stay tuned for more announcements, stay healthy and happy in your home,
If you are in need of assistance in any way, whether you need some food, or help applying to a program, or just need someone to chat with, please feel free to reach out—we have a robust community of volunteers who know how to organize, and put you in touch with someone who can help.
We will get through this together.
Love,
Team NO-ssipee &
The OVMF Board of Directors
