The faculty and staff of Viable Paradise and the Martha’s Vineyard Science Fiction Association board members have been following the news and developments of the COVID-19 outbreak closely over the last few months. We’ve had long discussions about the workshop this October, in which the safety and security of the students, faculty, and staff of Viable Paradise has been our paramount concern.
As we watch the COVID-19 outbreak continue to unfold and consider the logistics of travel and operating the workshop each fall, we’ve come to the conclusion that the only possible decision is to cancel the workshop for the fall of 2020.
We know this is a disappointment; it’s a bitter pill for us to swallow as well. VP is not just a writing workshop, but an annual expansion of an amazing writing community. Each year brings a diverse and amazing new class of writers together; the buzz that comes with the co-mingling of the students, faculty, and staff in a shared creative experience that is both intense and intimate is one that we look forward to all year long. VP is our community as well. Making the decision to cancel this year has challenged our own desire to prove “the show must go on,” but it is, in fact, that intimacy of the VP experience that led us to the only decision possible.
We also recognize that money is tight for many individuals right now, and wanted to make this decision early enough that no prospective student laid out unnecessary money for application fees, travel, or lodging expenses given the uncertainty of the situation in October. We will work with candidates that have already applied for this year, ensuring that they can either re-apply again for next year at no cost or receive a full refund of their application fees. Furthermore, any unredeemed gift certificates purchased for this year will be extended through next year as well, and gift certificate purchasers will be given the opportunity to request a refund.
We deeply appreciate that applicants want to join the VP community, to find connections with others around the art we all care about. If you have applied or were planning to apply, we hope that you will stay safe and continue to engage with writing, science fiction, fantasy, and horror in whatever ways work best for you amidst the myriad challenges of these times.
We look forward to your application to attend Viable Paradise 2021, and eagerly await the day when we can welcome you to the VP family.
Please stay safe!
The faculty and staff of Viable Paradise