WHAT IS ART FITS VERMONT?

Art Fits Vermont is a statewide community arts project open to all Vermonters. It is modeled on the success of the 2006 Palettes of Vermont project.  The Vermont Arts Council is distributing 11,000 wooden and 50,000 paper puzzle pieces free of charge to individuals, schools and community groups interested in participating.  The goal of the project is to encourage Vermonters to create, connect and celebrate the arts.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Individuals, schools and organizations can order wood or paper puzzle pieces.  Participants can use this opportunity any way they choose: pieces can be displayed as a group, sold or auctioned, incorporated into a local program or school curriculum, or any number of other creative uses.  Organizations are encouraged to solicit broad participation in their community or among their constituents. 

The Arts Council’s role is to provide the pieces, lend project support and promote activities and exhibits featuring puzzle art. Art Fits Vermont will begin in spring 2008 and continue through 2010.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN ART FITS VERMONT?

EVERYONE!  Art Fits Vermont is an inclusive community based arts project open to individuals, schools, cultural organizations, libraries, civic and community groups, social service organizations, and businesses.   All Vermonters, regardless of age, skill or past experience are invited to express and share their creativity.

WHEN CAN I GET A PUZZLE PIECE?

Puzzle pieces are now available.  The Arts Council will dristribute 11,000 wood and 50,000 paper pieces free of charge, while supplies last.  If you have not already registered for a puzzle piece, please do so now, and we will be notifying you shortly of when & where you can pick up your puzzle piece.

WHERE CAN I GET A PUZZLE PIECE?

INDIVIDUALS can:

• Order a wood or paper puzzle piece (link to form) or
• Receive one through a participating local organization (list of community groups COMING SOON!)
• Pick one up at a branch of the Chittenden Bank.
• If you have ALREADY pre-registered we will be sending you an email to let you know when and where in your community you will be able to pick up your puzzle piece.

NOTE: The Arts Council will not ship individual pieces, but will make them available for pick up at our office in Montpelier and at designated pick-up points around the state (locations to be determined).  

Schools can:

• Each teacher can order up to 250 paper pieces for their school(link to form).  In addition, they will receive one wood puzzle piece.
  
• If you have ALREADY pre-registered we will be sending you an email to let you know when and where in your community you will be able to pick up your puzzle piece.

Organizations can:

• Order up to 50 wood puzzle pieces and up to 250 paper puzzle pieces (link to form).
  
• If you have ALREADY pre-registered we will be sending you an email to let you know when and where in your community you will be able to pick up your puzzle piece.

Note: The Arts Council’s supply is limited to 8,000 wood and 50,000 paper pieces.  (If demand exceeds the supply, additional pieces may be available for purchase.) 

HOW MANY PUZZLE PIECES CAN I HAVE?

In order to involve as many Vermonters as possible, the Arts Council is limiting the number of free wooden puzzle pieces individuals and groups can register to receive.  Since the supply is limited, please request only what you need.  Additional pieces may be available for purchase.

• Individuals:  may receive one wood puzzle piece
• Schools:  may receive up to 250 paper puzzle pieces and one wood puzzle piece per teacher
• Organizations:  may receive up to 50 puzzle pieces and 250 paper puzzle pieces

ARE THERE RULES FOR USING THE PUZZLE PIECE?

There are no rules--create it any way you want!  You can use it as a canvas for paint, fabric, ceramics, glass, metal, ink, edibles, or paper.  You can use it as the basis for a dance or performance.  You can use it as inspiration for a poem.  You can collaborate with others to create a 3 dimensional sculpture.  The puzzle piece is a blank slate to let your creativity take form.

WHAT DO I DO AFTER MY PUZZLE PIECE IS FINISHED?

• Individuals: Connect with a participating organization to share your art in your community.  Also, plan to attend a statewide Art Fits Vermont exhibit in July 2009 as part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.
• Schools: Participating schools can decide how best to integrate their projects into their curriculum and/or community.  Consider planning an exhibit to showcase your Art Fits project.  Sharing your students creativity with your community can not only increase school pride but will raise awareness of the value of art in our lives and communities.  Also, plan to attend a statewide Art Fits Vermont exhibit in July 2009 as part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.
• Organizations:  Each community and its participating artists will determine the best use for their puzzle art: whether auctioned to benefit a specific need unique to that community, sold in galleries to support local artists, or transformed into giant murals on community walls to revitalize village centers.  Also, plan to attend a statewide Art Fits Vermont exhibit in July 2009 as part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.
• Enter your events in the Vermont Arts Calendar.
• Sign up for ArtMail and find out where projects & events are happening around the state.

HOW CAN I FIND OTHER ART FITS VERMONT PARTICIPANTS?

The Arts Council is maintaining a list of groups participating in the project.  This can be a resource for connecting with individuals and organizations in their area.  You can also subscribe to Artmail, the Arts Council’s free, biweekly newsletter which has the most current news and information on the project, and where the Council will feature Art Fits groups and events throughout course of the entire project.

HOW CAN I PUBLICIZE MY ART FITS VERMONT EVENT?

Be sure to list your Art Fits Vermont event on the Vermont Arts Calendar.   The Vermont Arts Calendar is a free, comprehensive database of arts and cultural events in the state.  Events listed in the Vermont Arts Calendar are share with the VT State Department of Tourism and Marketing’s Travel planner, which is accessed by 50,000-80,000 visitors each month. Listings are distributed broadly via email by system administrators to newspaper, periodical and other online calendars across the region. If you are involved in events promotion in Vermont, it's wise to get your events listed in this database.

A special "Art Fits Vermont" category has been added to the Vermont Arts Calendar to highlight puzzle-related events.  Use the calendar to promote meetings, calls to artists, exhibits, auctions and other activities by selecting the "Art Fits Vermont" category.  If you're new to the Vermont Arts Calendar, here's how to enter your events.

If you would like the Arts Council to consider attending your community event with our ArtMobile, display of puzzle pieces and craft tables, you must be listed in the Arts Calendar.  Note: The Council will not be able to attend every Art Fits Vermont event listed, but will visit as many communities as possible throughout the duration of the project.

ARE THE PUZZLES FOR SALE? WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM AFTER THE PROJECT IS OVER?

The beauty of Arts Fits Vermont is that the creative control of each project lies in the hands of the artists and community that created it.  Each community and its participating artists will determine the best use for their puzzle art: whether auctioned to benefit a specific need unique to that community, sold in galleries to support local artists, or transformed into giant murals on community walls to revitalize village centers.

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECT?

• April 16, 2008: Official Art Fits Vermont Launch Event at State House.
• May-December 2008: Distribution of puzzle pieces, tool kits and marketing materials.  Events take place in communities across the state.  Arts Council will visit community events with displays of selected puzzle art.
• January-December 2009: Puzzle exhibit in Council’s Spotlight Gallery.  PuzzlePalooza in July in conjunction with Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.
• January 2010: Art Fits Finale at the Vermont State House

WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR ART FITS VERMONT COME FROM?

In 2006 the Vermont Arts Council organized Palettes of Vermont.  Nearly 40,000 Vermonters (6% of the state’s population) took part.  Participants represented more than 150 organizations and 145 schools from every corner of the state.  Between Memorial Day and Columbus Day 2006, there were more than 250 palette exhibitions and festivals spanning Vermont’s 9,615 square miles.

One of the greatest successes of Palettes of Vermont was the connections that participants were able to make with one another, with their communities, and with the creative community in the state.  What better way to build on that success than to offer a project that will quite literally connect Vermonters, piece by puzzle piece.

WHY DID THE ARTS COUNCIL DECIDE TO DO ART FITS VERMONT?

The Vermont Arts Council’s mission is to advance and preserve the arts at the center of Vermont communities and Art Fits Vermont is an excellent means of fulfilling that mission.  This project provides all Vermonters with the opportunity to come together to create and celebrate the arts in all their forms.

HOW CAN I STAY INFORMED ABOUT ART FITS VERMONT?

Subscribe to Artmail, the Vermont Arts Council’s bi-weekly e-newsletter that is received by over 4,000 readers around the region.  Also, check our website frequently for project information, updates and events.