The Power of Public Art
Funding Opportunities
Public art can fire the imagination and transform communities, giving people a sense of hope, even in the darkest days. Read on for two current funding opportunities for reimagining and rebuilding our public spaces and visit our Public Art web page to read about how the Vermont Arts Council supports these efforts.
Better Places "Placemaking" Grants
The State of Vermont's Agency of Commerce and Community Development has launched the Better Places pilot program to provide “placemaking” grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 that improve the vitality of state designated downtowns, village centers, new town centers, or neighborhood development areas.

Eligible activities include projects that stimulate the creative economy and/or support public art. The project location (not necessarily the applicant) needs to be located in a state designated downtown, village center, new town center, or neighborhood. Applicants can be the municipality or nonprofit organizations, like arts/cultural organizations or downtown organizations. Also, community groups can use a fiscal sponsor if they don’t have nonprofit status. 

Applications are due January 22, 2021.

For more information and to apply,
Animating Infrastructure Grants
The deadline for submitting a letter of interest for the Animating Infrastructure funding opportunity is this Friday. The program seeks proposals for projects that provide opportunities for artists to engage with community in the design and/or fabrication of permanent or temporary public art for an interior or exterior site that is accessible to the public. Grants of up to $15,000 are available.

The Council’s definition of infrastructure is broad and includes community facilities and services such as buildings, trails, water or sewer systems, roads, power systems, parks, and more. Functional components of infrastructure—such as sidewalks, railings, benches, walls, signs, stairs, and tree grates in the built and/or natural environment—have the potential for artistic enhancement that creates unique places where people want to live, work, visit, and play.

A small number of selected applicants who submit a letter of interest will be invited to develop a full proposal in January 2021.

Letter of Interest due December 18, 2020

To learn more about this grant,
Please forward this email to those in your network who might be interested.