The Crucible, one of the largest non-profit industrial art schools in the county, closed its doors at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, more than 20,000 people who annually learn skills like glass blowing, foundry, and even fire-eating found a void in their creative expression. “What we heard from everybody is that they wanted to send their kids to The Crucible because their kids really needed that experience of making art”, Executive Director Susan Mernit shares.