It's back!  The Council’s "Breaking into Business" program premiered earlier this year to wide acclaim.  The two-day workshop offers business and marketing planning specifically tailored to the needs of artists.   It is open to Vermont artists of all disciplines and facilitated by Maren Brown and Dee Boyle Clapp from the Arts Extension Service at UMass Amherst.

Support for this year's workshops has been generously provided by Ernst & Young and Main Street Landing. 

Upcoming workshops:

• October 19-20: Main Street Landing, Burlington
• February 12-13:  Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Jct.

Applications are now being accepted for the October workshops in Burlington.  Application deadline: September 17th. 

Click here to learn more.

The Cultural Facilities Grant Program helps improve, revive or refurbish historic Vermont buildings as community and cultural gathering places.  Awards range from $750 to $20,000.  Online applications will be available Friday, August 20th and the submission deadline is Thursday, October 7th.

Two grantseeker workshops are planned for those interested in learning more about the program:

• Tuesday, September 7: Cabot Town Hall, 3:00-5:00 PM
• Thursday, September 9:  Union Hall in Newfane, 3:00-5:00 PM

The Art in State Buildings program supports Vermont artists and enhances working environments by improving the character and quality of State-owned buildings and public spaces.  The Arts Council, in partnership with the Department of Buildings & General Services, is currently seeking Requests for Qualifications from Vermont artists or artist teams to design, create, and install aesthetic enhancements to the Forensics Lab and the Department of Public Safety Facility in Waterbury, VT. 

Deadline for submissions is September 17, 2010.

Cultural Routes is a new initiative to help underwrite the cost of transporting students to arts and cultural events. The program addresses a growing need for arts-related field trips as many in-school arts programs are being reduced or eliminated as the result of dwindling budgets. Schools can apply for a $200 grant to help transport students to museums, historic sites, performances, or other cultural activities.
 
The program gives priority to underserved populations and rural schools with little access to arts and cultural programs. These "Priority I" schools can apply now for funding.  All other schools can submit applications beginning September 1.

Click here for more information or to apply.

"Shelter:Dwelling:House:Home” is a mixed media exhibit currently on display in the Arts Council’s Spotlight Gallery.  Artists Denis Versweyveld and Judith Rey of Vergennes say, “We believe that in addition to the functional use and need for physical shelter there is a deep psychological and spiritual component that is served by the place we call Home.  The pieces in this exhibit represent our effort to give a visual presence to this belief.” 

The exhibit will be on display through October 29th with a reception on October 15th as part of Montpelier's Art Walk.  The Spotlight Gallery is open Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-4:30 PM at 136 State Street, Montpelier.