Art in the Loft is restructuring after facing financial challenges that board members say threaten the future of the Alpena arts nonprofit. All previous staff members have resigned, and leaders are working to determine how the organization will move forward.
The developments followed the organization’s monthly board meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. Kendra Neumann, Art in the Loft’s previous executive director, told attendees that the nonprofit is facing a possible threat of closing its doors because of grant cuts and dwindling funding.
Nonprofit faces immediate funding needs
Neumann said Art in the Loft needs $11,000 to catch up on bills and another $40,000 to carry the organization through the end of the year. She said the organization will need to raise $100,000 to move forward, although its yearly expenses have historically been $220,000.
“To feel comfortable moving forward in a sustainable way ... and be able to grow and develop the programs we have,” Neumann said. “That’s where we are at.”
Neumann also said Art in the Loft recently received a Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant for new equipment and programming support. The source material did not specify the grant amount or identify which programs and equipment will be funded.
Paige Fisher, an Art in the Loft board member, said the nonprofit is dealing with financial hardships. Fisher said she could speak only to her time on the board, which began in July, and described the board as committed to addressing the organization’s problems.
“I have a limited scope ... from my experience, everyone has been doing everything to the best of their ability,” Fisher said.
Board plans “next chapter” for Art in the Loft
Fisher said she was encouraged by community members who attended the Wednesday meeting and expressed optimism about the organization’s future.
“The community really came together and showed up for Art in the Loft,” she said. “The board is doing a deep dive into everything. We will restructure the Loft for whatever the next chapter looks like.”
Neumann and Fisher said attendance at Art in the Loft events has declined in recent months, which they connected to economic hardships affecting the broader community. Board members remain dedicated to preserving the organization’s legacy and working through the current challenges.
The organization is still deciding how it will communicate its restructuring. Fisher said the board is trying to determine what that messaging will be while emphasizing Art in the Loft’s importance to the community.
Neumann said concerns about the nonprofit losing visibility have added to its financial difficulties. She said some feedback indicated that people had not seen the changes Art in the Loft had made. Neumann and Mitchel Dipzinski, the previous outreach and development director, also cited difficulties maintaining consistent communication with members.
“I want to do a monthly newsletter for our members, at this time, with everything we’re trying to accomplish, and being a small staff of four, I opted this year to just do a quarterly newsletter,” Neumann said. “Those should have been sent to all members’ emails. It’s really the best that I could do this year.”
Neumann and Dipzinski are no longer employed by Art in the Loft. Board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.