Public Art In Vermont

Granite sculpture by Andrea
Wasserman & Team, Newport

What is public art? Wikipedia defines it as "works of art in any media that have been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the public domain, usually outside and accessible to all". We belive public art invigorates a location with a sense of place, beauty and aesthetic purpose, and can provide visitors with unique interactive experiences in civic spaces.

Why invest in public art? Places where obvious care has been given to aesthetics and design are more likely to be perceived and protected by communities for the public assets they truly are. A bridge with art on it, for example, or a park with art in it, will engender a greater sense of ownership by the people who experience them.

This "public value" is a crucial measurement of the health of a community. Every time art is installed in a public location, it is an investment in a community that says "this is a place worthy of living in and preserving".

Where to find the art:

This section of our website outlines the Vermont Arts Council's work in commissioning publicly viewable art throughout Vermont. It is organized in the following areas:

• Public Art Trails - Here we present interactive maps which document the publicly viewable art in Vermont. Currently we feature two trails: the Art in State Buildings trail and the Vermont Marble Trail. We'll be adding new resources often so check back for updates.
  
   
• Art of Vermont: The State Collection is a traveling exhibit featuring approximately 50 of the 1,000 pieces the State of Vermont has collected over the past 170 years.
  
   
• Vermont Arts Council Sculpture Garden is a public/private collaboration featuring contemporary sculpture by Vermont artists.
  
   
• Vermont Arts Council Spotlight Gallery is located in the Arts Council's office in Montpelier and hosts a rotating exhibit of some of the finest work by Vermont artists.