While online classes have exceeded expectations for the Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network, having to close the building to the public due to COVID-19 has caused some financial hardships.

To combat that, BARN will be holding a virtual auction and fundraiser Creativity in Motion March 15-20, offering a diverse collection of items, many of which have been handmade and donated by members. Marketing manager Carolyn Goodwin said BARN hopes to raise close to $100,000 to “help us bridge the rather large gap that we’re looking at for last year.”

“We had to heat the building and maintain the building so the expenses have not changed very much but the revenue did,” she said.

Items and experiences up for bid include a custom-built chicken coop, private BARN class, beachfront weekend getaway, child-sized Adirondack chair, hand-woven rugs and more.

“There’s just some really different and fun things that will be offered; just a lot of things that can only be made or happen at BARN. Everybody’s been putting a lot of energy into making these things,” Goodwin said.

BARN has already begun its phased-in reopening approach. Members can go online and register for limited enrollment open studios. Each studio has a different set of COVID guidelines depending on the type of work being done. Starting in April, nonmembers will be allowed back for open studio use. Nonmembers will need to register and pay for their time.

“We’ve been getting ready for months and months,” Goodwin said. “We feel like we got really good guidelines in place to keep everybody safe. A lot of this equipment is things that people just can’t have at home. They’ve been really missing having that access. Everybody’s real excited to get back in.”

In terms of group offerings, Goodwin said BARN received a grant from the Suquamish Foundation to create outdoor classrooms with things like canopies and heaters. The first class will be a sewing exploration for ages 12-16 during spring break. BARN will also be offering a youth program that runs July through August using the outdoor classrooms. Until then, online classes will continue.

“It’s kind of like outdoor dining but these are outdoor crafting,” Goodwin said.

BARN’s facility was only used for coronavirus-related purposes during the shutdown. BARN volunteers sewed about 6,000 facemasks and have provided up to 7,000 meals to the community, Goodwin said.

Prior to the pandemic, BARN focused on in-person and hands-on learning, offering 10 studios, including woodshop, metalworking, printmaking and fiber.

Just like many local businesses and organizations, BARN turned to online classes during the shutdown.

“We had to get the equipment, and we had to learn how to do it,” Goodwin said. “I think people really wanted to have something to do while they were spending all their time at home. Now, we can get people from everywhere, and that’s been the best thing.”

Goodwin said bringing people back is creating an excitement that’s been missing this past year.

“BARN is such an amazing community to be a part of,” Goodwin said. “I’ve met more people through BARN in the past seven or eight years that I’ve been involved than I ever did in the previous 20. It’s kind of like your college community but nobody goes away, they don’t graduate … It’s going to be fun to see people starting to make things again.”

For details, visit bainbridge barn.org.

A handwoven rug by Caroline Cooley will be offered at BARN’s Creativity in Motion virtual auction March 15-20.

An electric guitar by Doug Salot will be offered at BARN’s virtual auction.

A child-sized Adirondack chair will be offered at BARN’s auction.