The Council will award $438,408 to support organizations and artists through Arts Impact, Arts Partnership, Creation, and Cultural Facilities Grants in FY2018. Panelists selected 71 grant recipients from 177 applications representing 12 counties across the state.

Funded projects are as varied as the state's creative sector. The Sandglass Center for Puppetry and Cultural Research in Putney will receive support for the Tenth Annual Puppets in the Green Mountains International Puppet Festival. Christal Brown of Middlebury will receive financial assistance in the creation of a dance collaboration around "What We Ask of Flesh." A new physically accessible ramp for the entrance of College Hall at the Vermont College of Fine Arts will be made possible through a Cultural Facilities Grant.

We congratulate all grantees and recognize the important work they do to strengthen arts and creativity in Vermont. Read more about FY2018 grant awards.

Additional funding through Arts Education Grants will be announced later in the year.

Reprinted from Notes from Outside the Box, a monthly e-publication of the Vermont Creative Network.

The Vermont Creative Network had a remarkable first year. Since being established by the Vermont state legislature in May 2016, the Network has framed a working structure, convened for networking and training, and commissioned research meaningful to the creative sector. The Network's First Report looks back at past creative economy efforts, recaps the run-up to the current Network, revisits the year's activities, and looks ahead to the next term.

Consider the report required reading for the upcoming Vermont Creative Summit - November 8 and 9 in Montpelier. We'll explore key policy issues for Vermont's creative sector. Watch for details.

You can view the report online. If you'd like a hard copy (or a few to distribute), send us your mailing address.

If you would like to receive Notes From Outside The Box on a monthly basis, sign up here.

Vermont Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman has joined a nationwide initiative to increase visibility, understanding, and support for the care of persons across the military continuum and the role the arts can play in their health and wellness. The program serves active duty and reserve service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers. Developed by the National Lieutenant Governors Association and Americans for the Arts, the program will make available a range of information resources, education programs, and visibility/engagement opportunities to assist Vermont in building arts programs and awareness of opportunities for military service members.

"The Vermont Arts Council fully supports this important collaboration," said Interim Executive Director Teri Bordenave. "It's simple: The arts improve lives. As we continue our work to ensure that everyone in Vermont has access to the arts, we applaud this like-minded effort of the National Lieutenant Governors Association and Americans for the Arts."

Learn more about the State Military and Veterans Arts Initiative.

According to Vermont Public Radio, anyone in the arts community can become an Art Hound - no obedience training required. This popular weekly program, hosted by VPR's Mary Williams and underwritten by the Vermont Arts Council, invites listeners to create their own mini promotions for upcoming arts events. Art Hounds "strives to be a collection of unique voices, passionate about the arts in their own communities." Just write your script and call it in!

Become an Art Hound.