Dear Friend of the Arts,
As I write to you, hundreds of theaters, museums, galleries, and community art centers across Vermont remain shuttered or operating at limited capacity to protect public health.
The arts are the economic anchor and the heartbeat of our communities. And they are one of the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
When the pandemic struck, the Vermont Arts Council went into action, releasing grant funds immediately to those whose livelihoods had disappeared overnight. We marshaled our own resources and launched new collaborations to deliver critical economic relief to the field.
- In partnership with Vermont Humanities, we’ve awarded grants totaling more than $780,000 to 123 arts and culture organizations.
- Emergency grants helped 425 artists who lost all their income due to cancelled gigs.
- We prioritized aid to historically marginalized groups, because fostering an equitable and diverse arts landscape strengthens us all.
- Thanks to our advocacy, the state legislature allocated $5 million in COVID aid for cultural nonprofits.
I am inspired by the ways artists and arts organizations are navigating this challenging time, offering drive-in concerts, online workshops and performances, and re-inventing their business models.
Despite these creative efforts, the arts are still struggling. More economic aid is urgently needed now, particularly since the winter months will be extremely difficult for theaters and performing arts venues.
Your gift to the Vermont Arts Council will enable us to continue the vital work of supporting the arts sector during and after the pandemic.
Let’s ensure that our arts organizations and artists are still here when the worst is behind us – to help our communities to recover and thrive again.
Thank you!
