The School of Creative Arts in Vineyard Haven, is announcing its discontinuation on Martha’s Vineyard after eight years on its present site. The school, owned and directed by Kathleen Hinni, will move to a new location at the conclusion of its summer course in late August.

In a statement composed for Miss Hinni by a member of her staff, the reasons for the move are set forth as follows:

“It has been expressed that the school is a business whose purpose is that of selling. It is difficult to define a school in these terms when, in reality, the school is an educational institution which predominately buys. Tax assessors, evaluating the school property annually, have raised the taxes $1,000 over the eight-year period, bringing the annual tax t a staggering amount of more than $2,800 in 1964.

“Foreseeing more pressing financial challenges in future years and wishing to insure the security and operation of the school, Miss Hinni has, thus, made the decision to relocate the school....

“Bearing creative gifts undeveloped until adulthood because there had been no childhood providing a home nor creative education, Kathleen Hinni abandoned her original purpose of one day giving to children the opportunities denied her. Studying, dancing with outstanding companies in New York and abroad, and teaching in Manhattan and peripheral communities, she achieved the realization of her purpose. Thus, the School of Creative Arts was born.

“Contrary to general opinion, the school does not enroll children of above-average financial means; now eighteen years old, the school has seen more than half its annual enrollment, some of whom have been Island children, come to the school on scholarship. Therefore, the school is not equipped to hurdle the financial obstacles placed before it by all financial circumstances encountered in operating such a school on the Island.

“In early years, Miss Hinni adhered to the philosophy that in working and living on the Island, her use of the Island’s professional and business sources should, therefore, belong to the Island exclusively. However, gradually, the school has found it imperative to seek part of its business necessities from off-Island sources. It seems a natural reaction that the school need follow, move, its support in order to achieve a balanced exchange.

$30,000 Spent Annually

“In maintaining the twenty-two room main house, cabins, and two studios, in improving all facilities, in employing a professional staff of twelve, three of whom have credits toward doctorates, a counselor staff of fifteen, a maintenance staff of five, four whom are Island residents, in providing $9,000 of food annually, in buying newspaper advertisements, school supplies, and equipment, in use of Island transportation, commercial and personal, in drawing professional guests and hundreds of parents annually, the School of Creative Arts has given the Island an opportunity to reap the benefits in the amount of tens of thousands of dollars. Today, Kathleen Hinni works fifteen hours daily, year round, to meet the expenses of operating an eight week summer session at the expense of $30,000 annually.

“The school regrets that in its moving, a boy’s camp, directed by John McCauley, will also be affected. The school has permitted Mr. McCauley to use a portion of the school grounds for a group of young boys at no profit to the school....

“The school greatly regrets leaving the Island residents who have been particularly loyal and helpful, among whom are Mary Dias, Gloria DeBettencourt, Dr. Ralph J. Mitchell, Paul Bangs, Mrs. Miles Carpenter, George Yates, Mrs. Harwood, Mr. Hermeneau, Stanley Leaming and Mrs. Tessie Tower...”