After 25 years of creating, teaching, mentoring, producing, and pouring so much love into Peekskill’s arts community, Scarlett Antonia now needs her community to rally around her.

As many of you know, Scarlett is facing the sudden and difficult process of transitioning out of her current studio space. Due to an issue related to the certificate of occupancy, she has been told she must vacate within 30 days. It is an unfortunate and painful reality, and it means she is now navigating an extremely overwhelming transition on a very short timeline.

This is not just a matter of moving boxes from one place to another. It is the disruption of a space that has held years of creativity, connection, memory, performance, community, and care.

Much of Scarlett’s work over the past 25 years has been tied to this space and the life built within it. It has been home to classes, showcases, workshops, rehearsals, gatherings, celebrations, and so many meaningful moments. It is a place where people created, found confidence, discovered their voice, built friendships, performed, and found belonging. Scarlett has given so much of herself, and so much of her own personal resources, to nurturing the arts here for more than two decades. We are hoping now that the community can come together and give back to her in this moment of urgent need.

This transition carries a very real emotional, physical, and financial toll. Scarlett is not only facing the loss of a space, but the overwhelming task of packing, moving, storing, and preserving years of theatrical and creative materials, including props, costumes, lights, sets, activity items, a piano, a puppet stage, and other pieces of a lifetime of work. She also needs support with transition costs, storage, last month’s rent, and the breathing room to recover from the shock and strain of having to move so suddenly.

We are currently working toward a $10,000 community support goal to help Scarlett through this transition.

We are also organizing volunteer pack-up days for those who would like to help in person:

Thursday, April 16 at 6:00 PM

Saturday, April 18 at 3:00 PM

Monday, April 20 at 4:00 PM

If you are able to come help, please bring boxes, tape, packing materials, or other moving supplies.

More than anything, we hope people will come together in a spirit of care and gratitude for all Scarlett has given this community over the years. Whether you can donate, volunteer, share this message, or help identify a possible new space for classes, showcases, workshops, rehearsals, gatherings, and future programming, every bit of support matters right now.

Note: This message is being shared by Chloe Wareham-Gordon on behalf of Scarlett Antonia, with support from a small group of community volunteers. Chloe is assisting as Scarlett’s friend, collaborator, fellow performer, and occasional social media support. Funds connected to this effort are intended to go directly to Scarlett personally.