Vermont Business MagazineThe Vermont Arts Council has awarded grants to artists, arts organizations, and communities throughout Vermont. The projects funded through these grants are as vital and varied as the state's creative sector -- ranging from a Cultural Facilities Grant that helps fund the installation of an ADA-compliant elevator to a Creation Grant of $4,000 that will enable a poet to create new work. FY2019 grants were awarded in the categories ofArtist Development,Artists in Schools,Arts Impact,Arts Partnership,Creation,Cultural Facilities, andHead Start Arts Integration. The Council awarded 110 grants totaling $518,688.A full list of grantees is available on the Vermont Arts Councilwebsite.
“Through these grants we are working to bring rich arts experiences to Vermont children, enliven communities, increase access to the arts, and to support Vermont’s artists and our lively creative sector,” said Vermont Arts Council Executive Director Karen Mittelman. “Programs supported by these grants are reaching people in every corner of our state, particularly those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage in life-enriching creative experiences.”
Vermont Arts Council grants are funded 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.
Information on grantees in each category:
Artist Development16 grants to support activities that enhance an artist’s professional career.
Artists in Schools26 grants to impact student development through in-class artist residencies.
Arts Impact12 grants to support organizations, municipalities, and schools in their efforts to create a more vibrant quality of life by providing equal and abundant access to the arts.
Arts Partnership26 grants to support the annual operations of Vermont arts organizations through three-year grants.
Creation10 grants to support new work by Vermont artists. Creation Grants can fund time, materials, and space rental for artists and artist groups.
Cultural Facilities13 grants to help Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities enhance, create, or expand the capacity of an existing building to provide cultural activities for the public.
Head Start Arts Integration7 grants to support student learning through arts-integrated instruction.
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.www.vermontartscouncil.org.