Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fleisher has worked to remain as agile as possible to respond to all recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and local health officials. The health and safety of our creative community have remained our top priority. During this challenging year, we have watched our staff, students, and faculty work together to ensure everyone’s safety, and those efforts have made our phased return to learning in Fleisher’s studio a success.

Like many of you, we are grateful to see the easing of social distancing and masking mandates as cases continue to decline across Pennsylvania while vaccination numbers steadily increase. Yesterday, the CDC and the state department of health announced that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks in outdoor and most indoor settings. However, Fleisher also relies on the Philadelphia Department of Public Health which has yet to update local guidelines.

Until further notice, masks will remain mandatory in all of Fleisher’s spaces despite vaccination status. This includes all common spaces, such as the lobby and hallways, and all studios. We ask that you also continue to use masks during outdoor classes when interacting with fellow students and faculty.

While we are eager to return to normalcy and greet one another with smiles, Fleisher does welcome teens as a City Access Center during the week, which will continue through the summer. Your continued use of masks will express solidarity and help protect Fleisher’s youth as they eagerly await their chance to be protected through vaccination, too.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to share that a caring team of 14 faculty, monitors, students, parents, staff, and board have formed a Recovery Taskforce and are meeting regularly to advise on policies, communications, and decisions. We’re grateful to welcome the perspectives of so many stakeholders to the table as we welcome back our creative community.

We thank you for your continued support and consideration. If you would like to review our current COVID-19 policies and protocols, they are always available here.