An ode to Chicago, a lament of war and the praise of woman’s beauty earned Burlington High School senior Claude Mumbere a second-place finish Tuesday night in the national Poetry Out Loud recitation competition in Washington, D.C.  After competing last year, Mumbere said, all he wanted to do this year was improve on that performance. He left that goal in the dust. A powerful performance of “She Walks in Beauty” landed him the second-place honor, behind Kristen Dupard of Mississippi and ahead of MarKaye Hassan of Utah. He also took home a medal and a $10,000 prize.  Read the rest of the article here.

We've got a new exhibit in the Spotlight Gallery.  The images displayed were created from participants of In-Sight Photography Project during the last year, many of them being new to photography. 

The In-Sight Photography Project, Inc. offers students a creative voice and outlet, an opportunity to experience success, tools for self-awareness and self-worth, and encourages them to become actively engaged in their communities.  Read more.

This exhibit will be on display through the end of June, with a reception on June 8th as part of Montpelier's Art Walk.  The Spotlight Gallery is open Monday - Friday from 8am to 4:30pm.

This year's Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony will be taking place on Tuesday, June 5th at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.  We will be honoring Arnie Malina and Altoon Sultan with the Walter Cerf Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, along with a grantee showcase featuring dancer and choreographer Lida Winfield.  Read more.

The Vermont Arts Council has teamed up with our friends at Vermont Life to bring you an amazing advertising opportunity.  Did you know that Vermont Life Magazine has the furthest reach of any Vermont publication, being read by 40,000 Vermonters and 80,000 out-of-state readers?  We've been offered advertising at a super-low rate of $350 per ad as part of a special two-page arts spread in the Fall 2012 issue.  But that's not all!  We're sweetening the deal by offering OUR friends and even deeper discount of just $250 per ad!  All you have to do is contact Dave at Vermont Life, and tell him the Arts Council sent you.  Find out more here.