As the 2013 legislative session continues, here are some figures about the Vermont Arts Council:

• The legislative appropriation for FY2013 (that’s the current year): $507,607
• The Governor’s proposed appropriation for FY2014: $717,607 (The Arts Council advocates support of this figure)
• The House Appropriations Committee’s proposed appropriation for FY2014: $607,607 ($110,000 shy of the Governor’s request)
• The Senate Appropriations Committee's proposed appropriation for FY2014: $641,607 ($76,000 shy of the Governor's request)

Now is the time! We seek supporters across the state willing to connect with their lawmakers to advocate for support of the Governor’s recommended budget. Will you help? If you haven't yet, and you have 15 minutes, please lend a bit of energy to the ongoing advocacy effort for passage of the Governor's recommendation for the Arts Council. CLICK HERE for some simple, effective advocacy steps we recommend.

We know that these measures can be effective. We know that legislators are hearing form their constituents about the arts, so your words will make a difference in the decision that now heads to the Conference Committee. Thank you for your efforts, and thank you for your support of the Council’s work across the state.

P.S. - For a quick, fun, artistic explanation of our budget, CLICK HERE to watch the video we made with the help of our friends at ORCA Media.

The Vermont Arts Council in association with the Vermont Department of Buildings & General Services is currently searching for someone with a unique vision for the next Art in State Buildings project. This Vermont artist or artist team will oversee the design, fabrication, and installation of aesthetic artistic enhancements to the Agency of Human Services facility at the State Office Complex in Waterbury, Vt. Once chosen, the "Lead Artist" will be awarded a $5,000 planning and design contract and $80,000 will be available for fabrication and installation of the artwork(s). Applications are due by May 30, 2013. Are you interested? CLICK HERE to learn more.

Your eye will be drawn in and your brain will go into overdrive when you view the work of Mark Goodwin, now on display in our Spotlight Gallery. Goodwin's work is an investigation of drawing that hovers between painting and sculpture. Through a series of folds, scores, and mark making, he creates enigmatic work. The Spotlight Gallery is open to the public Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and is located in the corridor and conference room of our offices at 136 State Street in Montpelier. CLICK HERE to read more about the exhibit.

We're excited to announce that the Vermont Arts Council will be co-sponsoring Art+Soul 2013 and we need you to get creative! Each year Art+Soul benefits a different nonprofit and features artwork by local artists that is inspired by the nonprofit's mission. All artwork is sold and proceeds from sales are split 50-50 between the artist and the nonprofit.

This year's beneficiary is the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center! The Art+Soul 2013 event will take place on June 6, 2013 from 6:30 - 9 p.m. at the law firm of Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Raubvogel & Hand.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Art+Soul. It's time to get some new artwork for a good cause!

Join the Vermont Public Radio project, "Art Hounds!"
Art Hounds creates the opportunity for you to rave about each others' work on the radio and shine a light on the arts scene in your community. All you have to do is click here and let VPR know about a concert, performance, exhibit or event that you want to rave about and recommend. No event is too small or too large to be considered. It can be happening this week, this month or all season - in Vermont, the Upper Valley, New York or Quebec.

The only stipulation is that it can't be your own work or work you're professionally, financially or personally associated with in any way. Use this form to tell VPR who you are and post your recommendation. It can be an art exhibit, a local theater production, a dance performance, CD release or a festival. And you can call the VPR Art Hounds hotline at (802) 778-9585 to record your suggestions, too! Each week, VPR will select nominations to be recorded for air.

Hear Art Hounds on Thursday afternoon at 4:50 as part of VPR's weekly arts segment and again on Friday mornings at 7:55, during "Morning Edition." You can also find the episode information each week at VPR.net.
 

Publicize your events by listing them in the Vermont Arts Calendar. The Vermont Arts Calendar is not only a FREE way of reaching thousands of people, but it also gets your events distributed to dozens of publications in the Northeast and throughout the country. To get the broadest exposure for your event you should list no later than six weeks before the event. Click here for more information about the Arts Calendar, or to enter your event.

Have you checked out our online classifieds recently?  We like to think of it as a sort of a "craigslist" for the arts in Vermont.  You can both search and list information on jobs, calls to artists and workshops.  There's a section for materials available or wanted, and another for studio space.  The listings are always changing so check it out today.