Notes From Outside the Box
December 2018    
Greetings!
Senator Patrick Leahy (center of photo) at the 2017 Leahy Center Environmental Summit.
Clean Water and Art: Connecting Two Networks

The backbone organization for the Vermont Clean Water Network is ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Comprising more than 100 organizations, agencies, businesses, and individuals dedicated to creating a culture of clean water, the Network is led by Barry Lampke. He presented at both the 2017 and 2018 Creative Network Summits, sharing information about the Clean Water Network and the upcoming Leahy Center Environmental Summit: "The Alchemy of Art and Science - Building a Culture of Clean Water."

The Vermont Arts Council is collaborating on this statewide gathering to be held April 5, 2019 in Burlington. ECHO is reaching out to artists and creatives now who are passionate about clean water and interested in partnering with scientists and watershed organizations to communicate the importance of restoring and protecting this critical public asset.

Contact Barry by email if you'd like to learn more about this opportunity.  
Welcome Kimberly Gilbert!

The 3CVT Zone has a new zone agent. Regional Planner Kimberly Gilbert replaces Chris Damiaini, who moved on to become the planning and zoning administrator for Waitsfield (and will continue to be a part of the Network in the Four-County Zone). She comes from Oklahoma with an advanced degree in regional and city planning and has been at the Two Rivers-Ottaquechee Regional Commission since August 2017.

Kimberly,  excited to join the efforts in moving the sector forward, commented "When I arrived to Vermont last year, the vital role artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs have in the area was immediately obvious to me. When employment in the creative industries totals nearly 9% of the region's total employment, it's clear that these individuals and organizations should be supported and promoted as much as possible. I'm thankful for the opportunity to work alongside the other diligent 3CVT steering committee members in our efforts to boost the economic prosperity and interdisciplinary connections for the creative sector in east central Vermont."

3CVT plans to hold a region-wide event in March to celebrate their accomplishments to date. Stay informed by checking the Zone's website.
Last Call for Vermont Creative Community Workshops

The New England Foundation for the Arts' (NEFA) Creative Communities Exchange (CCX) is coming to Montpelier in June and the December 20 deadline for submitting workshop ideas is approaching. We want Vermont and its rich creative assets to have a great showing.

Workshops focus on the step-by-step process of a single example or initiative, not the work of an entire organization. Past presentations highlighted - among other ideas - pop-up creative businesses, cultural plans or districts, cultural policy and zoning, downtown events, impact research, and workforce development. Browse NEFA's community initiatives directory for examples.

Workshops have a specific format: 20 minutes of how-to, 20 minutes of Q&A, and 20 minutes of networking. Every 2019 CCX  session will be considered for the  2019 NEFA Creative Economy Award, which includes a cash prize.

A Sector Intersection

A body shop isn't the first place you'd search for a fun, artsy gift. But if you stopped by Matt Larock's garage, you might spot a giraffe made of car parts. Matt runs Mountain Boyz Automotive & Custom Art in South Burlington.

Matt advertises his shop as specializing in light mechanical, general auto body, custom builds and accessories, rust repair, and - wait for it - custom recycled metal art. He's carved out a market for his pieces, beginning at S.P.A.C.E. Gallery three years ago.

Matt sits in the sweet spot between creative and noncreative workers in creative and noncreative industries. You can read more about him and his metal creations in this article from Seven Days.
Vermont Creative Network
Vermont Arts Council


The Vermont Arts Council is funded, in part, 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.

null