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May 2025
Dear Friends of the Arts,
Summer in Vermont is a magical season. The hills come alive, the water warms, and the arts are everywhere! This summer, as we continue to navigate shifting federal funding circumstances for the creative sector, is the very time that we need more art and creativity in our lives and communities. We must continue to build and to create, because through our artistic work we are shaping the future of Vermont. Learn more here and find resources in response to this moment.
The Vermont Arts Council’s grant programs are funded by a combination of state, federal, and private funds. As it currently stands, the Vermont Arts Council continues to be funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and we are moving forward with our grant making schedule.
Public funding for the arts helps our artists, communities, and economy thrive. In 2023, the Vermont arts and culture sector was a more than $1.2 billion industry. Last year NEA funding enabled us to fund over 366 grants to artists, art organizations, and arts projects in all 14 counties in Vermont.
With the passage of next year’s state budget, the Vermont Legislature and our Governor have committed to supporting the arts and culture in our communities. Many thanks to the elected officials in Vermont who see the power of the arts to support our economy, strengthen our connections, and change lives.
At this critical time, it’s important to take stock of what’s happening in Vermont. In collaboration with Common Good Vermont and other trusted partners, we’re collecting vital information in this survey about how federal actions are impacting organizations and communities. Please take a moment to respond (preview questions here). The Vermont Arts Council stands ready to support our sector during this challenging time, and your input will guide our collective advocacy and response.
Vermont’s creative community will face these uncertain times with an unshakeable belief in the power of the arts and creativity - to mend, to unite, and to kindle the human spirit. Thank you for all that you do to support the human, creative spirit of Vermont.
Susan Evans McClure
Executive Director
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| Vermont Arts Council News | | Congresswoman Balint Hosts a Call to Action for the Creative Sector | | |
Vermont Rep. Becca Balint hosted "An Arts & Humanities Conversation and Call to Action" on May 9 at the Chandler Center for the Arts, along with Sen. Peter Welch. Vermont Arts Council Executive Director Susan Evans McClure moderated the community conversation with Vermont leaders in the arts and humanities, exploring the challenges our institutions are facing and how we are meeting this moment with courage. Spoken word poet Rajnii Eddins concluded the event with a powerful call-and-response poem.
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Our state needs the arts now more than ever, and the Vermont Arts Council is committed to leading the way to help support the arts, culture, and creative sector in this challenging moment. The creative sector contributes more than $1.2 billion to Vermont’s economy, and public funding for the arts helps our artists, communities, and economy thrive. Here are some of the ways we’ve been shining a light on the value of support for Vermont’s creative sector:
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Vermont Executive Director Susan Evans McClure was on Vermont Edition explaining the role of federal funding. Listen.
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Read stories from Seven Days and VTDigger about the resolve of Vermont’s arts and culture leaders in the face of federal cutbacks
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Watch NBC5’s coverage
| | Vermont Creative Network News | | June is the Month of Creative Action! | | |
Make a difference and support the creative sector with local choices that have a big impact. As federal funding changes and disruptions impact so many aspects of our lives and communities in Vermont, now is the time to act and support the creative sector. Each week in June, subscribers to our email list will receive a checklist of meaningful steps you can take to support Vermont’s creative sector. From buying season tickets to your local theater to volunteering at your local library to talking with your elected officials, and many more. This practical guide will help you know what you can do and how you can make a difference. We’ll use the power of the arts to do what we do best: bring people together and build a better future for everyone. Let’s take creative action!
| | Four Counties Full of Arts and Culture in Vermont | | |
We've partnered with the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing to publish six stories about Vermont arts regions on thinkvermont.com. Here's one about what's happening in East Central Vermont.
The corridor stretching from Grand Isle County through Franklin, Lamoille, and Washington counties includes picturesque landscapes and villages full of hidden arts gems. Explore historic and walkable downtowns like St. Albans, Waterbury, and Barre, and the cultural hub that is Vermont’s capital, Montpelier.
Read more on thinkvermont.com.
| | Council and Other Opportunities | |
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Assets for Artists Free June/July Workshops
Assets for Artists’ June/July 2025 workshop season is now live and registration is open for all workshops! This season's workshops are all online and include topics such as project management, quarterly taxes, website design, project porfolios, and more. Through a partnership with the Vermont Arts Council, workshops are free for Vermont artists.
Learn more and register.
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Accessible Practices Idea Exchange
The Accessible Practices Idea Exchange is a series of free, virtual, and in-person workshops through this spring for teaching artists interested in building accessibility into the foundation of their teaching practices. The last session will be held June 17.
Register to join the Idea Exchange series.
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Save the Date: UVM RISE Summit, June 17
This year’s theme is ‘Research as a Public Good’ and will feature an arts-based workshop and panel session exploring how we can use creativity and the arts to communicate complex research ideas effectively.
Register for the RISE Summit for free.
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May Resource Roundup
Each month, delivered right to your inbox, we highlight a selection of current funding, training, and professional development resources to help grow Vermont’s creative sector for all. Read the May roundup and be sure to subscribe. And remember there are plenty more resources in our Knowledge Center.
| | Film in VT is a new database for the film and media industry in Vermont. Add your profile or find local talent and resources for your production in this database of actors, filming locations, services, vendors, and more. | | Congratulations to the Grand Prize Winner of the Congressional Art Competition, Xinyi Cassy Pan of Lyndon Institute, and to all the County Winners and other award winners. Read more about the competition. | | Mapenzi Selemani of Winooski High School, winner of Vermont Poetry Out Loud, won honorable mention in her region at the national championships in D.C. Congrats, Mapenzi! Read her post-championship interview with Seven Days. | | Recent Classifieds & Jobs Board | | The Vermont Arts Council is the place to post or find your next creative sector job. Our classifieds also include calls to artists, art supplies, funding, classes, conferences and more. Listings are free. Once submitted, eligible listings are reviewed and published within two business days. | | |
Posted: April 9, 2025
Category: Job Postings
Ends on: May 31, 2025
Organization: Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Inc.
Location: Enosburg, VT
Compensation: $80K -95K depending on experience
Posted: April 25, 2025
Category: Calls for Artists/Calls for Submissions, Services/Space/Supplies Wanted or Available
Ends on: June 4, 2025
Organization: Friends of the Union Meeting Hall
Location: Ferrisburgh, Vermont
Posted: March 7, 2025
Category: Job Postings
Ends on: June 14, 2025
Organization: River Arts
Location: 74 Pleasant St, Morrisville, VT 05661
Compensation: Hourly rate starting from $30 per hour
| | The Vermont Arts Council is funded, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, which requires a 1:1 match from the Vermont State Legislature. Council grants, programs, and statewide arts promotion would not be possible without the critical funding provided by these government agencies. | | Connect with us on social media | |
Vermont Arts Council | 802.828.3291
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