The Vermont Arts Council this week announced more than $370,000 in grants to help improve cultural facilities – including libraries, theaters and city halls – and fund public art projects.
The grants are awarded annually through a program established by the state legislature. Many of the projects funded are designed to modernize facilities — adding heating or cooling, making energy-efficient upgrades or making much-needed repairs — and employ Vermont contractors.
“Investing in our state’s cultural infrastructure and incorporating art into the public places where Vermonters gather provides many cultural, social and economic benefits to a community,” said Susan Evans McClure, executive director of the Vermont Arts Council, in a press release. “We are proud to support these important projects that both demonstrate the power of art in humanizing our public places and affirm the richness of our cultural heritage.”
Some organizations, such as Okemo Valley TV, have received grants from the Vermont Arts Council in the past to help them reach their fundraising goals for projects.
Patrick Cody, general manager of Okemo Valley TV, says this year’s grant will be used to complete renovations to the multimedia facility.
“There will be acoustic measures to make the space more pleasant and functional for our current users, but also to enable an expansion of our services, particularly in the area of non-visual media, radio stations and podcasting studios,” said Cody.
The Ludlow-based broadcaster will use the upgraded facilities to provide audio and film training in addition to resources available to the public.
Investing in our state’s cultural infrastructure and integrating art into public spaces where Vermonters gather provides many cultural, social and economic benefits to a community.
Susan Evans McClure, Vermont Arts Council
Other recipients, such as the Barre Opera House, will use the grants to expand their facilities.
Dan Casey is the venue’s programming director and says they will use their grant to install LED architectural lighting on the outside of the building.
“The goal is to highlight the architectural features of the building and give us more visibility,” Casey said. “We’ve heard many times that we could have a sold-out show here and if you walk by on Main Street you won’t even notice it.”
Casey said the LED lights will also serve as a security feature and illuminate the entrance and walkway.
“This project has been a long time in the making and the Arts Council grant brings us to the finish line in terms of funding,” he said.
Some recipients of the public art grants, called Animating Infrastructure Grants, will also purchase lighting.
Montpelier Alive, an organization dedicated to promoting commerce and tourism in the downtown area, will use the money to colorfully illuminate the city’s bridges.
“We are really excited about the attention this giant bridge lighting will bring to downtown, and we think it could have a huge impact on bringing back the footfall that we really need during this precarious time for our downtown,” said Katie Trautz, the organization’s executive director.
We are really excited to see the attention this huge bridge lighting will bring to the city centre and we believe it could have a huge impact on bringing back the footfall that we really need at this precarious time for our city centre.
Katie Trautz, Montpelier Alive
Trautz says the grant from the Vermont Arts Council helped them reach their fundraising goals that would allow them to create this public installation.
“We’re so excited about their support, we thought it would be a really good fit for this particular grant,” she said. “We’re literally revitalizing the infrastructure of our city.”
Trautz says Montpelier Alive will install the lights in late August but wait until November to debut, when skies are darker and a dose of colorful lighting will be a treat.
The grants were awarded to over 20 organizations across the state, including the Bennington Museum, the Dorset Players and Braintree Elementary School.
The application period for the next scholarship series begins in winter 2025.
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