Vermont Arts Council

Creative Sector Response and Recovery

Artist and Vermont Arts Exchange Executive Director Matthew Perry’s drawing of a recent VCN Creative Zone meeting.

The creative sector, which provides 9.3% of Vermont’s jobs, is essential for Vermont’s economic recovery. The Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Creative Network are committed to helping the creative sector get connected to the right resources for a safe and responsible re-opening and to having its voices be heard at the state level and with policymakers.

The Creative Sector Recovery Team was convened by the Vermont Creative Network in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. The team provided guidance to state officials and Governor’s Economic Mitigation and Recovery Task Force to ensure that the needs and assets of the creative sector were considered and included in the initial strategies for the reopening and recovery of Vermont’s economy. The Council thanks the following members for their contributions:

  • Jennifer Carlo, director, Circus Smirkus
  • Thomas Deneberg, director, Shelburne Museum
  • Mark Foley, Rutland Economic Development Corp.
  • Jody Fried, director, Catamount Arts; chair, Vermont Creative Network
  • Jarvis Green, artistic director, JAG Productions
  • Meg Hammond, director, Generator Makerspace
  • Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup, director, Vermont Humanities
  • Doreen Kraft, director, Burlington City Arts
  • Karen Mittelman, director, Vermont Arts Council
  • Stephen Perkins, director, Vermont Historical Society
  • Vera Longtoe Sheehan, Elnu Abenaki Tribe; director, Vermont Abenaki Artists Association
  • Greg Worden, owner, Vermont Artisan Designs

Past Events

  • Vermont’s Creative Future Advocacy Sessions, Nov. 8, 15, and 30, 2021 | From federal tax policy to state grant programs to local public art commissions, public policies and government investments play a critical role in the wellbeing of Vermont’s artists, makers, creative businesses, and cultural institutions. We presented three free webinars to empower and inform Vermont’s creative sector advocates at the local, state, and federal levels. View recordings of the webinars.
  • Stages in the Sun, summer 2021 | To encourage the safe celebration of the arts after a year of isolation, we sponsored and promoted outdoor arts programs across the state during summer 2021. Stages in the Sun was a partnership between the Council, the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing, and the Vermont Recreation & Parks Assocation. See highlights from Stages in the Sun.
  • Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Informational Webinars: July 1 and August 12, 2021 | The Vermont Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant Program is a partnership between Vermont Humanities and the Vermont Arts Council to provide funding to arts and humanities organizations facing financial hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Two informational webinars were held to assist applicants:
  • NEA ARP Grants Webinar for Vermont Organizations: July 14, 2021 at 3-4 p.m. | In this special webinar, an NEA representative provided information on the American Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations specifically for Vermont organizations. Thank you to Sen. Patrick Leahy for arranging this Vermont-specific webinar. Also in this webinar, Vermont Arts Council staff provided information on our Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grants for organizations. A recording of the webinar is available on our YouTube page.
  • NEA ARP Grants to Organizations Webinar: June 30, 2021 at 4-5 p.m. | In this webinar, NEA staff provided an overview of the American Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations. A recording of the webinar is available at the NEA ARP Applicant Resources page.
  • FEMA Workshop, Monday June 14, 2021, 4-5 p.m. | Healthy Buildings: Strategies to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19. Watch a recording. Passcode: 27a6#OAa
  • CreateVT Action Plan Launch, Monday May 3, 2021 | Vermont Creative Network hosted a virtual launch party to celebrate Vermont’s new creative sector action plan.
  • SVOG Webinar, Tuesday March 30, 2021 | The SBA hosted a national informational webinar about the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG).
  • Safe Outdoor Venues: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 | “Planning events & connecting communities & artists during the pandemic” was the topic of the Vermont Recreation & Park Association’s quarterly meeting on March 10 via Zoom.
  • Safe Outdoor Venues: Thursday, Jan. 21 | The Vermont Recreation & Parks Association (VRPA) and the Vermont Arts Council held a Zoom meeting on January 21st to discuss the ongoing challenges the Covid-19 pandemic has created, as well as to discuss safe outdoor venues for the summer 2021 season. View the recording.
  • The Council hosted an online info session about the new Save Our Stages grants (now called Shuttered Venue Operators Grants) on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. See the SBA website for current information on this program.
  • The US Small Business Administration held a webinar on the new Save Our Stages grants on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021.
  • The Chittenden County zone of the Vermont Creative Network held a virtual social event for creatives on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020.
  • The Vermont Arts Council held virtual office hours on July 6-7, to help creative sector businesses and organizations with the Vermont Emergency Economic Recovery Grants.
  • Teaching Artists Convening: Engaging Students and School Communities in the time of COVID-19, June 15, 2020.
  • Creative Sector Response and Recovery Forum, May 11, 2020.
  • Covid-19 Q&A for the Arts and Culture Sector with State Epidemiologist Patsy Kelso, Parts I and II.
admin-place May 4, 2020