The historic Art of Action project closed with a Farewell Reception and Absolute Auction on Saturday, July 17th. 

More than 100 guests attended the gala at host sponsor Main Street Landing’s Union Station.  Congratulations and thanks to the highest bidders.  Proceeds from the online and live auctions will benefit a future commissioning project for Vermont artists.

Twenty-seven pieces from the Art of Action collection are being donated to community and cultural organizations so that Vermonters will have access to them for generations to come. 

The recipients were honored at Main Street Landing's Union Station on July 2nd during Burlington's First Fridays Art Walk.  The beneficiaries were chosen because they have been exemplary partners in the Art of Action project or have been instrumental in its development and implementation.  The State of Vermont will also receive five pieces for their permanent art collection.

Click here for a slide show of images from the event, or here for a list of recipients and images of the donated artwork.

Governor Douglas recently signed into law H.783, an act relating to Miscellaneous Tax Provisions.  This law will require not-for-profit arts presenters that had $50,000 or more in ticket sales in 2010 to collect and remit a 6% sales tax on tickets for performances on or after April 1, 2011.

The Arts Council is working to get clarification on a number of related  issues and will keep you posted as we learn more.  These include:

• What are the guidelines for benefit events?
• When are events at museums and educational facilities subject to sales tax?
• Will performances for or by students subject to sales tax?
• Will fees on tickets (i.e. credit card fees, box office fees, parking fees) be subject to sales tax?

Do you have an event you want to publicize? Now is the time to get it listed in the Vermont Arts Calendar!  To get the broadest exposure for your event you should list no later than six weeks before the event. 

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.  Click below for more information about the Arts Calendar, or to enter your event.