Vermont Business Magazine Burlington City Arts (BCA) has announced the recipients of the 2024 BCA Community Fund. The fund is awarding nearly $60,000 to Burlington artists.
Established in 2016, the BCA Community Fund is designed to foster a robust, healthy, creative community, encourage social innovation through the arts, and support artists and organizations that contribute to the public good through art.
In 2024, an award from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and support from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has allowed BCA to continue providing an increased granting ability of the Community Fund. Thanks to Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the expanded capacity provides greater resources and opportunities for artists and organizations to realize their artistic visions and make a lasting impact.
“Art is not just a reflection of our culture; it is a catalyst for change, connection, and community. The BCA Community Fund embodies this spirit by nurturing the creative heartbeat of Burlington. Through its support, we see artists and arts organizations flourish, stories come to life, and a collective identity that celebrates diversity and innovation.” says Doreen Kraft, Executive Director of BCA. “This fund is more than just financial support; it is an investment in the vibrant, artistic soul of our community, ensuring that creativity and culture thrive in our region.”
The 2024 Community Fund is supporting 10 single artists and artist groups as well as nine arts organizations grants.
The 2024 Community Fund recipients include:
Alissa Faber ($4,735)
Alissa Faber's Restoration at the Old North End Community Center invites community interaction with a tactile public art quilted cyanotype mural made from reused materials.
The Arts Collective ($5,000)
The Arts Collective supports artists with mental health and substance use challenges by providing a safe space, regular art activities, public exhibitions, and field trips to enhance wellness and self-esteem.
Ryan Boera ($2,500)
The Head Stretchers Society collaborates with Kenyan singer-songwriter Kerubo to produce a music video for her empowering anthem You Are Enough, promoting self-acceptance and challenging colonial beauty standards.
Marie Davis ($5,000)
The Hive on Pine Residency offers four local artists a year-long collaborative studio space, providing support, materials, and exhibition opportunities to foster artistic growth and community engagement.
Hannah Satterlee ($4,000)
The INSTINCT Experimental Dance Festival, produced by ANIMAL Dance, will unite experimental practitioners for a week of workshops and performances at Burlington's Main Street Landing Black Box Theater in January 2025.
Jennifer McCandless ($5,000)
Jennifer McCandless's clay program at King Street Community Center offers hands-on instruction in pottery, drawing on her extensive teaching experience to mentor students in hand-building and wheel throwing techniques.
Jess Miles Snyder ($1,500)
Jesse Miles Snyder's monthly art workshops empower artists of all levels to embrace creativity without constraints, fostering a supportive environment for experimentation and artistic growth.
Migmar Tsering ($2,500)
Migmar Tsering teaches young Tibetan Americans to play the traditional Dranyen instrument in his Rolyang Lobling class, aiming to reconnect them with their cultural heritage through music education.
Brian Perkins ($3,830)
The Old North End Neighborhood Band (ONE Band), led by Brian Perkins, engages teen musicians with traditional social music through workshops, concerts, and community events.
Off Center for the Dramatic Arts ($2,500)
Off Center for the Dramatic Arts offers an affordable theater space for artists and audiences, supporting experimentation, education, and engagement with diverse and inclusive programming.
The ONE Arts: All Abilities Creative Workshops ($5,000)
ONE Arts facilitates significant art experiences and fosters a larger creative community with creative resource spaces, after-school programs, and early learning centers.
The Ramble ($2,500)
The Ramble celebrates Burlington’s Old North End (O.N.E.) through a vibrant arts and culture festival, showcasing local talent and businesses, and fostering community connection each July.
Growing Sambatucada ($2,000)
Sambatucada, founded in 1995, brings the vibrant energy of Afro-Brazilian street music and dance to Vermont communities, performing at various events and festivals throughout northern Vermont.
SEABA and South End Art Hop ($2,500)
SEABA (South End Arts + Business Association) enhances the economic vitality of Burlington's South End Arts District by promoting art-business interdependence and hosting the South End Art Hop, Vermont's largest arts festival.
Kristina Warren ($750)
Sonic Explorations by Kristina Warren is a musical showcase highlighting New England's diverse styles through a collaborative concert blending classical, folk, country, and ambient genres.
The Tibet Association of Vermont ($2,500)
The Tibetan Association of Vermont (TAV), established in 1993, preserves Tibetan culture, religion, and language through various initiatives and events, fostering Tibetan identity among younger generations.
Sam Kann & Third Space: A Community Opera ($3,138)
"Third Space: A Community Opera" by Sam Kann, Nina Szenasi, Josie Bunnell, and C Green celebrates unity and individuality with non-professional dancers and musicians.
Vermont International Film Foundation ($2,500)
The Vermont International Film Foundation (VTIFF) enriches the community with global cinema through film festivals and screenings, fostering an appreciation of cinema and promoting diverse, inclusive films.
Young Writers Project ($2,500)
Young Writers Project (YWP) inspires, mentors, publishes, and promotes young writers and artists through its online community for teens, offering free, high-quality programming funded by grants and donations.
About Burlington City Arts
Burlington City Arts is dedicated to connecting community to the arts through creation, experimentation, and education in all forms of contemporary art. BCA offers exhibitions, special events, classes, workshops, and many other activities in Burlington.
About Tito's Handmade Vodka
Tito’s Handmade Vodka was founded by sixth-generation Texan, Bert “Tito” Beveridge. In the mid-nineties, on a plot of land in rural Austin, he built a 998 square foot shack, rigged a pot still with spare parts, and created Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Tito’s corn-based vodka is certified gluten free. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is distilled and bottled by Fifth Generation, Inc. in Austin, Texas, and is available in Liter, 1.75L, 750ml, 375ml, 200ml, and 50ml sizes. For more information, visit www.titosvodka.com.
Source: Burlington, VT—Burlington City Arts (BCA) 7.15.2024.
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