Arts Council Announces Operating Grants to 30 Arts Nonprofits
MONTPELIER, VT—The Vermont Art Council announces the 30 recipients of its foundational Arts Partnership awards, providing three years of unrestricted, general operating funds for arts organizations across Vermont who keenly understand the needs of their communities and address those needs through the arts.
Awarded only once every three years, the Arts Partnership award represents the largest investment in organizations that are helping to support the Council’s mission to cultivate and advance the arts and creativity throughout Vermont.
“Arts Partners” must be Vermont-based 501(c)(3) arts organizations that offer year-round, high-quality arts programs and services. Through the three-year agreement, arts organizations receive an operating grant ranging from $3,000 to $8,000 each year.
For this grant year, the Council received 52 applications—almost double the amount from past grant cycles. Eligibility was expanded to allow organizations with one half-time paid staff member to apply.
A total of $165,600 was awarded to 30 organizations, 10 of which were first-time awardees.
Since 2012, the Arts Council has awarded more than $1.47 million in Arts Partnership grants to 49 organizations to support their operating and administrative costs.
A team of five external panelists reviewed the applications over a two-day period and evaluated the proposals based on the following criteria: high-quality arts programming or services (30%); response to community and audience (30%); sustainability and organizational capacity (30%); and evaluation and measurable outcomes (10%).
“It's critical for funders to make a long-term investment in the sustainability of our arts organizations, especially now, when the cultural sector is reeling from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic," noted executive director Karen Mittelman. "We are proud to recognize these 30 outstanding organizations in communities across Vermont.”
FY2021 Arts Partnership Recipients (*denotes first-time awardees):
Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Brattleboro, $7,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Brattleboro Music Center, Brattleboro, $5,600 to support operating and administrative costs
Burlington City Arts, Burlington, $8,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, West Rutland, $4,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury, $8,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, $6,300 to support operating and administrative costs
*Dorset Theatre Festival, Dorset, $6,300 to support operating and administrative costs
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, $8,000 to support operating and administrative costs
*Generator, Burlington, $7,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, $4,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Inclusive Arts Vermont, Essex Junction, $5,000 to support operating and administrative costs
In-Sight Photography Project, Brattleboro, $3,000 to support operating and administrative costs
*Kingdom County Productions, Barnet, $4,500 to support operating and administrative costs
*Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, Leicester, $3,000 to support operating and administrative costs
*Music-COMP, Duxbury, $3,000 to support operating and administrative costs
New England Center for Circus Arts, Brattleboro, $8,000 to support operating and administrative costs
*Next Stage Arts Project, Putney, $4,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Northern Stage, White River Junction, $8,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Paramount Center, Rutland, $7,200 to support operating and administrative costs
River Arts, Morrisville, $5,000 to support operating and administrative costs
*Scrag Mountain Music, Marshfield, $3,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester, $7,200 to support operating and administrative costs
*T.W. Wood Art Gallery, Montpelier, $3,000 to support operating and administrative costs
Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, $6,300 to support operating and administrative costs
Vermont Stage Company, Burlington, $4,000 to support operating and administrative costs
*Very Merry Theatre, Burlington, $4,500 to support operating and administrative costs
Weston Playhouse, Weston, $7,200 to support operating and administrative costs
WonderArts, Greensboro, $4,500 to support operating and administrative costs
Yellow Barn, Putney, $8,000 to support operating and administrative costs
*Young Writers Project, Burlington, $3,000 to support operating and administrative costs
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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
