Don’t call it a comeback.

Bainbridge Arts and Crafts has announced that five members of its former leadership have resumed their posts in an effort to right the ship of the 76-year-old nonprofit art gallery.

And not a moment too soon. In September, the nonprofit announced that it would have to close its doors Jan 1, due to lack of income and dwindling savings. The nonprofit’s financial troubles are not over, but its renewed leadership is ready to take on the challenge.

Director Susan Jackson, president Ellin Spenser, treasurer Susanne Lindsley and staff members Janice Shaw and Kathleen Thorne have assumed their previous roles. They will be joined by new board members Scott Allen and Elaine von Rosensteil. Lindsley, Shaw and Thorne are new officers.

“We couldn’t just stand by and let BAC die. It means a lot to us and to so many members of the community. They’ve filled their homes with BAC Art, they’ve taken classes, their kids discovered the artist in themselves by participating in our annual student exhibitions,” Spenser said.

Jackson added: “Ever since we announced that we’re going to try to get BAC back on its feet, I can’t tell you the people who have come up and congratulated me, given me high fives and given me hugs. Yesterday, I couldn’t get any work done — I had thirty people come in and tell me how terrific it was. And I had hoped for that, because if the community doesn’t care, then we will close it, because what’s the point? But we believe they care, and we care.”

Jackson retired from BAC in 2015 after 13 years at the post. During her tenure, the organization was financially solvent with a $1 million endowment. In the time since she left, the organization “roared through” its savings while renovating the gallery and undergoing a name change, she said.

But Jackson knows that it’s salvageable — which is why she came out of retirement to step back into the director role, which she’s doing for free. “I think BAC needs to make some changes. One of the things that we’re aware of is that there’s a lot of younger people now on the island, and we have to find ways in which to interest them in the organization and provide services for them. I think we’ll find new ways of doing art education. Eventually, we’ll be able to, I hope, hire some more people so we have plenty of staff.”

BAC was one of the first nonprofits on BI, formed in the 1940s as a way of uniting the residents of the sleepy farming community. People wanted a way to show each other the crafts they were working on, share knowledge and learn new skills — so BAC was born. Today, the organization offers a variety of public programs: classes for school-age students and seniors, exhibitions from local artists in both the gallery and medical facilities, and an active art-rental program and scholarships.

The organization’s history is a strength, Spenser said. “We’ve undertaken this challenge with a lot of history and experience but artists, contributors, volunteers and shoppers are what we really need to get BAC back on its feet. If we succeed, it will be because of this terrific community.”

BAC is located at 151 Winslow Way E and is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will host a festive First Friday from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 6.