COVID-19 Resources

For Organizations

For Artists

Reopening and Recovery Guide

*The infographics represent relief grants awarded from April to November 2020.

The grant relief map represents the following programs from 2020: Rapid Response Artist Relief Grants, COVID-19 Cultural Relief Grants, Vermont Economic Recovery Grants through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and Special Program Grants.

Full list of COVID-19 grantees.

The CARES Act Report to the Community

In March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit Vermont, the Vermont Arts Council and Vermont Humanities developed a joint response to deliver urgently needed economic aid to struggling cultural organizations.⁠

From weekly Zoom strategy sessions for cultural leaders to appeals to state and federal political leaders, we advocated for resources and support for museums, galleries, historical societies, performance venues, libraries, theater and dance companies, cultural centers, and more. And we continue this daily work as the pandemic continues.⁠

Together, we have produced a final report, our “Cares Act Report to the Community,” which tells the story about this joint program that brought $781,000 in a matter of weeks to 123 cultural organizations across Vermont in all 14 counties.⁠

Read the CARES Act Report to the Community.

Federal Resources

• CDC Covid-19 guidelines for events and gatherings

• The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes a new $15 billion grant program called Save Our Stages ("SOS Grants") through which the U.S. Small Business Administration will provide aid to struggling live venue operators and related businesses.

State of Vermont Resources

• Vermont's most current information at healthvermont.gov/coronavirus

• The State of Vermont's Vermont Forward Plan, released April 6, 2021

• The Vermont Arts & Culture Disaster and Resilience Network (VACDaRN)

Vermont Arts Council Resources

Resources for Organizations
Funding, guidance, webinars, and more information specific to arts and cultural organizations.

Resources for Artists
A variety of relief funds and emergency grant opportunities for artists of all disciplines.

Virtual Arts Experiences
Online concerts, live readings, and more socially distant events held by Vermont artists and organizations during the pandemic.

The Creative Sector Response and Recovery
Resources and statewide events organized by the Vermont Creative Network to help the creative sector's economic recovery.

Grants
Changes and additions to our grant and program schedules, including new relief funds. 

Give
Donate to support relief efforts for Vermont artists and organizations impacted by the pandemic.

Other Resources

• New England Foundation for the Arts COVID-19 resources

• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies coronavirus resources

• "Arts and Culture Sector Can Prepare for the Coronavirus in the United States" in Americans for the Arts (AFTA) ArtsBlog

• “From Coughing Fits to Closings, Cultural World Girds for Coronavirus” in The New York Times

• Americans for the Arts' Coronavirus Resource and Response Center

• The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies' Arts and Economic Recovery report

Resources for Going Remote

• "3 Smart (and Easy!) Ways to Improve Your 'On Camera From Home' Presence" from Burlington's Convey Communications

• How to Plan a Virtual Event on Vimeo: Vimeo’s live production team offers advice on how schools, event coordinators, marketers, and more are evolving their event strategies to optimize engaging live streaming experiences.

• How to Host a Watch Party on Facebook: With Facebook’s Watch Party feature, you can watch tons of videos and shows with members of groups you’re in on Facebook. This could be helpful for filmmakers or other artists whose screenings had to be cancelled.

• "Resources to Help Ensure Accessibility of Your Virtual Events for People with Disabilities" from the National Endowment for the Humanities

In the Press: Covid-19 and Vermont's Creative Sector​

2021

• For the creative economy, dual tracks of recovery and resilience | The Commons, Feb. 17, 2021

• Vermont Arts Council is helping artists and arts organizations survive Covid | VTDigger, Feb. 14, 2021

2020

• What has the COVID-19 pandemic cost Vermont's creative sector? We've got the numbers. | Burlington Free Press | November 25

• 'Art Excursions in the Time of COVID': Regional tours to enjoy the arts of Vermont | Times Argus, October 31

• $76M available in third-round of small business grants | WCAX, October 20

• Can Rural Arts Orgs Weather The Pandemic | Vermont Public Radio, August 19

• The South End Art Hop Is On—Just Differently | Seven Days, August 5

• Weston, Dorset win $50K each in arts relief funds | Bennington Banner, July 19

• Hit hard by pandemic, Vermont Youth Orchestra receives grant | Saint Albans Messenger, July 16

• Vermont arts and cultural groups get boost from feds, state | Seven Days, July 8

• Weston Playhouse Theatre Company Awarded Grant From the National Endowment for the Arts | Broadway World, July 8

• Arts and Culture Nonprofits to Receive $5 Million in State Relief Grants | Seven Days, July 7

• Vermont Arts and Culture Organizations Awarded $600,000 in Relief Funding | Seven Days, July 3

• New Vt. Venue Allows for Live Concerts Again—Drive-in Style | NECN, June 11

• The Lowe Down: Where are our arts? | Times Argus, June 6

• The state allowed museums to reopen June 1. But how many are welcoming visitors? | Burlington Free Press, June 4

• Our opinion: Saving the arts a worthy use of federal funds | Brattleboro Reformer, June 3

• Arts Organizations Grapple With Funding Issues | Caledonian Record, May 28

• Rapid relief reaches artists in communities across Vermont | Vermont Business Magazine, May 27

• The art of family quarantine: Mom, dad, kids reenact paintings at home | Brattleboro Reformer, May 27

• Museums and Historical Societies Await Reopening Guidelines | Seven Days, May 27

• Vermont Arts Organizations Face Economic Fallout in the Pandemic | Seven Days, May 20

• Camp Conundrum: COVID-19 Complicates a Rite of Summer | Seven Days, May 20

• First to close, last to open: Performing arts venues face dire conditions | Seven Days, May 13

• What will the post-pandemic arts scene look like? | Bennington Banner, May 9

• Virtual Ventures 3: Shelburne Museum, Wildflowers and Artist Relief | Seven Days, May 6

• Molly S. Burke and Sara Coffey: The importance of the creative economy in Vermont's recovery | Brattleboro Reformer, May 6

• Disaster Preparedness Network Helps Vermont Arts Sector | Seven Days, May 6

• Dance Studios, Students and Artists Improvise and Keep Moving | Seven Days, April 29

• Vermont Humanities and Vermont Arts Council to aid organizations with COVID-19 relief | Vermont Business Magazine, April 26

• Local Musicians Unite For Vermont Foodbank Compilation | Seven Days, May 4

• Yellow Barn Brings Music On The Road To Ease COVID Stress | Vermont Public Radio, May 4

• Music is essential: Vermont musicians bring solace to their communities | Times Argus, May 2

• Vermont Arts Council: The arts are struggling, but hardly giving up | Rutland Herald, April 25

• In a Pandemic, Vermont Radio Programs Keep Us Tuned In | Seven Days, April 22

• Emergency Relief Grants Help Artists in Time of Isolation | Seven Days, April 22

• Arts organizations close their doors, cancel events amid pandemic | VTDigger, April 22

• A Roundup of Virtual Ventures from Vermont's Creative Sector | Seven Days, April 22

• Nonprofits feeling the pinch after economic uncertainty | WCAX, April 17

• Stuck in Vermont: Communities Come Together During the Pandemic (Video) | Seven Days, April 9

• Major Jackson and Other Vermont Poets Bring Verse to the Socially Distant | Seven Days, April 8

• Arts, culture organizations make adjustments | Bennington Banner, April 3

• More Artists Invent Creative Ways to Reach Viewers Online | Seven Days, April 1

• Vermont Art Online Brings Exhibits to Stuck-at-Home Viewers | Seven Days, March 25

• Major venues optimistic they can survive shutdown | Times Argus, March 21

• The Flynn Has Laid Off or Furloughed 12 Employees | Seven Days, March 20

• When there's no audience... Coping with rapid change organizations do their best | Brattleboro Reformer, March 20

• How Local Performing Arts Venues Are Reacting to COVID-19 | Seven Days, March 18