Notes From Outside the Box
January 2020      
Marketing Vermont's Creativity
Jody Fried, executive director of Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury and chair of the Network steering team, represents the creative sector on the Governor's Travel and Recreation Council.
Members of the tourism sector filled the State House on Wednesday to advocate for an increased focus on marketing the state.

Among stories shared that day was one from the creative sector. Whitney Ramage, artist and co-founder of 77ART, noted that "77ART brings as many as forty-five early-career artists per year to Rutland. These professionals are working at the cutting edge of culture production and now they have the chance to enjoy the beauty, hospitality, and resources that are unavailable to them in the urban centers they call home. I believe that art is the secret sauce when it comes to economic and cultural development and Rutland has given me the chance to put this notion to the test. "

Arts and cultural experiences drive tourism. Vermont's arts and culture industry leveraged $44 million in event-related spending in 2015 (that's not including the cost of admission; according to this data). When people attend a cultural event they also eat dinner in local restaurants, pay for parking, buy gifts and souvenirs, and stay overnight.

You can show support for increasing tourism promotion funding. Sign this online petition, contact your local legislators and the governor's office, or use the additional resources available in the toolkit on the campaign landing page.
Creating Places We Love
 
Community change agents are invited to a free daylong workshop April 9 in Middlebury with AARP VT, the Vermont Arts Council, and other partners. Take the day to explore creative placemaking at its finest and to garner tips and tools for implementing projects of this kind--from pop-up theaters to activity trails. 
 
Discover new recipes suitable for practical application in Vermont small towns from the recently completed  DIY Community Cookbook . Amanda O'Rourke from 8 80 Cities in Toronto will share her experiences in developing this type of work in the winter. Future grant funding is available through AARP, the Vermont Arts Council, and Yestermorrow.
 
Inside the Creative Economy
Image by Liza Voll Photography.
Vermont's creative sector just got a little bit stronger when eight Burlington-area business owners shored up their skills by way of professional development. Hat making, bladesmithing, sound production, and stained glass fabrication are the work of these makers.

The solopreneurs participated in JumpStart--a business training program co-organized by Burlington's Generator and LaunchVT and sponsored by the Arts Council. Mentoring, technical training, and free membership at Generator support new entrepreneurs in rolling out creative businesses.
 
The last ten-week session culminated in a shopping event dubbed
Holiday Humbug.

Experience 2020 Vision
2020 Vision. Seeing the world through technology. A project of the Vermont Curators Group.
2020 Vision: Seeing the World Through Technology is the theme of a statewide series of exhibitions launched this year by the Vermont Curators Group. With representation from every one of the Vermont Creative Zones, displays at thirty-six museums and galleries invite you to explore the ways technology is changing how we see the world.

The project encourages exploration of Vermont's creative sector by posing the question "What will you see with 2020 Vision?" Each month, Notes From Outside the Box will feature a few highlights; you can view the full calendar and learn more about a passport program (with prizes!) at VermontCuratorsGroup.com.
opening February 1
Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium
St. Johnsbury
opening January 16 (today)
Helen Day Art Center
Stowe
currently on view
Montshire Museum of Science
Norwich


The Vermont Creative Network is an initiative of the 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.