School\u2019s out.<\/p>\n
An Oakland industrial arts school has abruptly closed its doors and canceled all classes<\/a> and public events, leaving artists, staff, faculty and students uncertain about the future of the organization.<\/p>\n The temporary shutdown of The Crucible<\/a> comes after years of financial difficulties at the nonprofit, which offers classes in blacksmithing, welding, glassblowing and ceramics along with youth programs<\/a>, according to San Francisco Chronicle<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Blacksmith Jason Krist, center, from Sonoma, demonstrates during a fundraising night for The Crucible in Oakland, Calif., Friday, July 16, 2010. The Crucible is a nonprofit that teaches blacksmithing, jewelry-making, woodworking and other industrial arts to teens and adults. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n The books told a rosier story. The Crucible\u2019s 2025 annual report listed $4.07 million in revenue against $3.85 million in expenses, along with the arrival of overdue federal tax-credit funds. <\/p>\n By January 2026, the nonprofit had topped $1 million in fundraising after meeting a $500,000 matching challenge from the Kelson Foundation, according to SFist<\/a>.<\/p>\n Michael Sturtz, The Crucible founder and executive director, lights and spins the fire wheel during rehearsal of the fire ballet \u201cDracul: Prince of Fire\u201d in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008. The production celebrates The Crucible\u2019s 10th anniversary. Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images<\/p>\n Kristina Canizares explains the differences in fuels to her Fire Eating Made Easy class at The Crucible in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005. Students attend the class twice a semester to learn how to safely eat fire. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n The nonprofit has operated a 56,000-square-foot facility at 1260 Seventh Street since moving to West Oakland in 2003.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those that paid for upcoming classes have been left without a refund.<\/p>\n Samantha Espinoza, who manages youth programs for The Crucible, told KTVU FOX 2<\/a> that being unable to contact those who paid for classes has made the closure difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something that we all feel really upset about, that this is the message being sent to our student community,\u201d Espinoza said. \u201cThey deserve more. They\u2019re makers and artists, but they\u2019re also paying customers, and we at the union feel very strongly about how (the messaging) makes The Crucible look to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle reporter Meredith May, left, and her best friend, Maile Smith, take part in Dance Dance Immolation at The Crucible\u2019s Fire Arts Festival in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, July 11, 2007. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n Employees also raised concerns about safety and leadership turnover.<\/p>\n \u201cAll suggestions by the union staff have to date been ignored, or rebuffed by management and the Board,\u201d according to a press release from American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 57. \u201cInstead, management has pressed for reductions in community engagement, services, and classes \u2014 offering no hourly or salary reductions to non-union, non-public-facing staff.\u201d<\/p>\n Brett Womack and Tina Kay Bohnstedt rehearse their roles in the new fire ballet \u201cDracul: Prince of Fire\u201d in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008. The production celebrates The Crucible\u2019s 10th anniversary. Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images<\/p>\n About 60 employees unionized as Crucible Workers United, also known as The Dedicated Cru, pushing for better pay, fair discipline, safer staffing levels and more say on the job, with backing from AFSCME Council 57 and Cultural Workers United.<\/p>\n A letter signed by more than 70 employees, faculty and staff said that budget cuts led to concerns about unsafe studio maintenance along with material shortages and inadequate training. They also accused top brass of intimidation, harassment, retaliation and unfair suspensions and firings, saying appeals to HR and the board got them nowhere.<\/p>\n Metalsmith Stephen Stark demonstrates during a fundraising night for The Crucible in Oakland, Calif., Friday, July 16, 2010. The Crucible is a nonprofit that teaches blacksmithing, jewelry-making, woodworking and other industrial arts to teens and adults. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n The Crucible says they are working on a plan to issue refunds for canceled classes and expect to pay staff as scheduled this week, according to a press release forwarded by interim executive director Douglas Yeiser.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is inspiring to see how much The Crucible means to this community and in the broader Bay Area. Please know the decision to close was not taken lightly, but financial circumstances left no choice,\u201d the press release stated. <\/p>\n Oakland industrial arts school The Crucible abruptly announced over the weekend that it would close its doors to faculty, staff, renters and paying students. ktvu<\/p>\n This is not the first time that financial woes have caused the Crucible to close its doors, according to The Crucible\u2019s development manager Olivia Hara.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ve been donating for years to save the crucible \u2014 that\u2019s always the narrative \u2014 you\u2019d get tired. It\u2019s like, \u2018how many more years do we have to keep saving the organization?\u2019\u201d Hara told KTVU FOX 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Crucible\u2019s shutdown is the latest blow to the Bay Area\u2019s arts scene<\/a>, following the closure of California College of the Arts\u2019 Oakland campus in 2022 and Clay By The Bay in 2026.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n