COVID-19 has claimed many local businesses in the education sector; the latest pillar in the Beijing education community is Atelier Art School.
First opened by two French artists back in 2012, Atelier quickly became an institution: a special creative space dedicated to the study of the visual, literary, and performing arts. For years the Beijing family community has sent their kids to Atelier to get inspired, learn, and grow, so it’s truly heartbreaking news that one of our beloved places has closed, and that now there’s one less place in Beijing for quality after-school art programs for the kids.
With multiple physical locations in Beijing, Atelier was a space designed for creativity and offered high-quality, professional-led courses for children, adolescents, and adults. As well as a wide range of courses including drawing, painting, sculpture, sewing, writing, and theater, the school also offered courses specifically designed to help students who were preparing for a Bachelor of Arts or admission to an art school.
Like with every business affected by COVID-19, in late January Atelier receive notice that the school needed to temporarily close down due to the virus with no reopening date (or even month) given. They were not alone: even today, as students in Beijing have begun to return to campus, there’s still no news as to when after-school programs can reopen.
Quick to react to the bad news, founder Marianne Daquet introduced new online classes for Atelier students – including an innovative coding program for kids – and thus was able to keep teachers on the payroll while providing online classes to the best of their ability. But despite these measures, with the loss in revenue due to class cancellations, no financial support from outside sources, and a landlord who was unwilling to negotiate on rent, Daquet had to make the hard decision to finally call it quits. Although the closure is final, Atelier will continue to provide its online classes for the time being, until all its teachers have found new employment elsewhere.
For the moment, Daquet will return to France for a few months with hopes that if there’s a possibility to collaborate with a school or education company, she will return to Beijing to run Atelier once more.
“I am very sad but I still hope that we will find fundings or opportunities to reopen later to be able to bring back our creative touch to the community. I have put so much love into Atelier and it’s heartbreaking to see it come to an end. Beijing has been my home for the past 14 years. I’m going to miss the spirit of this city and all the amazing friends, colleagues, and students that I’ve met along the way.” says Daquet.
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Photos: Atelier Art School
