Vermont Arts Council

Public Art

The Brattleboro Transportation Center's "Ask the River" kinetic sculpture. Photo: Evie Lovett.

Play the Strengthening Vermont Communities with Public Art videoPublic art or “placemaking” influences the way people see and connect with a place. Murals, sculpture, memorials, functional or landscaped architectural elements, community art projects, digital media, performances, and festivals all add value, providing opportunities for people to experience art—even for those have never set foot in a gallery, museum, or theater. Public art enhances the built environment, creates social connections, sparks economic investment, builds a distinctive sense of place, and supports cultural tourism. It can be a key attribute in making communities healthier and more vibrant.

The Arts Council is committed to placemaking through the Art in State Buildings and Animating Infrastructure Grant programs. Artists interested in being considered for commissions should visit the links to the corresponding programs above to learn more.

View the Vermont Public Art MapVermont Public Art Map

Learn more about Council-supported public art projects around Vermont and plan your next trip to them with our interactive map. Find public installations of sculpture, visual art, kinetic art, and more across Vermont and get directions to them with a click.

Vermont Public Art Map

Latest News

Public Art Graces Walls of Windsor Superior Courthouse | Arts Council Press Release, April 13, 2026

The Animating Infrastructure Grant In Action: Lighting Up Montpelier | Arts Council Feature, Feb. 24, 2026

New Public Art Commissions Awarded, Completed in Vermont | Arts Council Press Release, April 22, 2025

Stuck in Vermont: Hundreds March in Montpelier to Celebrate the Illumination of Seven Bridges | Seven Days, Nov. 28, 2024

Stuck in Vermont: Metal Sculptor Kat Clear Creates Public Art Flowers in Downtown Vergennes With Help From Welding Students at Northlands Job Corps | Seven Days, June 27, 2024

A Year in Reconnecting Communities Through Public Art | Arts Council Feature, Dec. 6, 2023

Vermont Arts Council Announces Grants for Public Art Projects Across the State | Arts Council Press Release, Dec. 4, 2023


For more information, please contact Michele Bailey.

admin-place August 1, 2017