FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 2, 2020
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Nine Vermont Cultural Organizations Receive National Grants
MONTPELIER, VT—The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced nine Vermont arts and cultural organizations will receive $629,154 in highly competitive direct grants through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to mitigate the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The NEA reviewed more than 3,110 eligible CARES Act applications from across the US, requesting approximately $157 million and were able to support 855 projects, with funds for direct grants totaling approximately $44.5 million.
The NEH received more than 2,300 eligible applications from cultural organizations requesting more than $370 million and were able to support 317 projects, with funds for direct grants totaling approximately $40.3 million.
The NEA Vermont grantees are:
- Kingdom County Productions, Barnet, $50,000
- Dorset Theatre Festival, Dorset, $50,000
- Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, $50,000
- Community Engagement Lab, Montpelier, $50,000
- Yellow Barn, Putney, $50,000
- Weston Playhouse Theatre, Weston, $50,000
The NEH Vermont grantees are:
- Vermont Historical Society, Barre, $133,512 for “Preserving and Expanding Access to Vermont’s History
- Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, $97,017 for “Listening in Place: COVID-19 Archival Outreach Project”
- University of Vermont, Burlington, $69,263 for “Virtual Visitor Engagement at the Fleming Museum of Art”
- Sheldon Art Museum Archaeological and Historical Society, Middlebury, $29,362 for “Archives Alive: Building Primary Source Collections During COVID-19
"We know the competition for federal funds is always stiff, but especially now when the arts and culture sector is struggling," said Vermont Arts Council Executive Director Karen Mittelman. "These grants to ten Vermont organizations recognize the incredible value of creativity and artistic practice in the midst of the pandemic, and the vitality that arts organizations bring to our communities. We're proud to work in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts to support Vermont's cultural landscape, and to ensure access to the arts for everyone across our state."
“We’re pleased that in giving these awards, the NEH highlighted the importance of museums, historical societies, and other humanities organizations to the cultural fabric of Vermont,” said Tess Taylor, Director of Programs at Vermont Humanities. “The projects of these four organizations will not only preserve our history, but help us make sense of our present moment.”
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The Vermont Arts Council
envisions a Vermont where all people have access to the arts and creativity in their lives, education, and communities. Engagement with the arts transforms individuals, connects us more deeply to each other, energizes the economy, and sustains the vibrant cultural landscape that makes Vermont a great place to live. Since 1965, the Council has been the state's primary provider of funding, advocacy, and information for the arts in Vermont. Learn more at
vermontartscouncil.org
About Vermont Humanities
A statewide nonprofit organization founded in 1974, Vermont Humanities seeks to engage all Vermonters in the world of ideas, foster a culture of thoughtfulness, and inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning. Learn more at
www.vermonthumanities.org
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