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Statement on Inclusion
The Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Humanities Council stand together in stating:
We are deeply troubled by recent violence and expressions of hatred and bigotry that go against the fundamental ideals that define our country. We know that the arts and humanities have the power to create and nurture empathy, promote thoughtful reflection, heal, and advance understanding even among people whose lives are vastly different from our own. The staff and boards of the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Humanities Council re-dedicate themselves to the vital work of promoting inclusion, tolerance and understanding, and building creative, healthy, welcoming communities for all.
The Vermont Arts Council envisions a state where everyone has access to the arts and creativity in their life, education, and community. Through its programs and services, the Council strives to increase public awareness of the positive role artists and arts organizations play in communities and to maximize opportunities for everyone to experience the arts. Since 1965, the Council has been the state’s primary provider of funding, advocacy, and information for the arts in Vermont. www.vermontartscouncil.org.
The Vermont Humanities Council is a private nonprofit working to bring the power and the pleasure of the humanities to all Vermonters — of every background and in every community. The Council strives to make Vermont a state in which every individual reads, participates in public affairs, and continues to learn throughout life. Because Ideas Matter. www.vermonthumanities.org
— Image: “From the River, to the River,” a collaboration by Elizabeth Billings, Andrea Wasserman and Evie Lovett