Rural Arts Collaborative Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE LIFELONG LEARNING AND EXPLORATION TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS, AND ECONOMY THROUGH CREATIVITY, CONVERSATION, AND COLLABORATION.

WONDERARTS: THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS ACCESSIBLE AND YEAR-ROUND CREATIVE AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH THROUGHOUT NORTHEASTERN VERMONT. WONDERARTS FACILITATES AFTER-SCHOOL AND IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT 11 SCHOOLS, SERVING 35% OF AREA CHILDREN, AGES 0-18, WITH ENRICHING PROGRAMMING. SCHOOL PROGRAMS COVER A VAREITY OF AGE-APPROPRIATE TOPICS RANGING FROM INTERPRETIVE MOVEMENT, FIBER ARTS, AND SONGWRITING FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS, TO ENTRREPRENEURSHIP, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEENS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT 5 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AT 4 PRE-SCHOOLS AS WELL AS AT CRAFTSBURY ACADEMY AND HAZEN UNION HIGH SCHOOL. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERED 6 WEEKS OF FULL-DAY CAMPS CENTERED AROUND ART, TECHNOLOGY, AND NATURE-BASED THEMESE PAIRED WITH OTHER OUTDOOR RECREATION AND IMMERSION. YOUTH PROGRAMMING PROVIDED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO AREA PROFESSIONALS, EMPLOYING INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS TO LEAD CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND CAMPS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES, 18 - 100+, THROUGH ENRICHING SOCIAL, CREATIVE, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED COMMUNITY MEALS AND GATHERINGS, FILM SCREENINGS AND DISCUSSIONS, CREATIVE CLASSES AND SKILL-SHARES, ART EXHIBITIONS AND CONCERTS, AS WELL AS SNOWSHOE HIKES. DURING OUR 8TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY MARKET, THE ORGANIZATION SHOWCASED LOCAL VENDORS, ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHOP LOCALLY FOR THEIR HOLIDAY GIFTS. DURING AN EVENING OF FUN AND GAMES AT OUR ANNUAL SUMMER CELEBRATION AND FUNDRAISER, WHICH WELCOMED 130+ ADULTS AND CHILDREN, THE ORGANIZATION FEATURED LOCAL MUSICIANS, FOOD, AND WORKS OF ART IN RECOGNITION OF THE CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATIONS FOSTERED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO OUR MONTHLY AND ANNUAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OWNS AND MAINTAINS A COMMUNITY GREENSPACE THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR RECREATIONAL USE. THE PROPERTY FEATURES NATURE TRAILS, A PERFORMANCE STAGE, AND A WILDLIFE OBSERVATION PLATFORM AND IS USED AS A HANDS-ON RESOURCE FOR LOCAL STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND RECREATION-SEEKERS TO ENGAGE WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

SPARK: SPARK SUPPORTS THE VITALITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS WITH THE EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SERVICES THEY NEED AND SERVING AS A HUB FOR COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES ACCESS TO A SHARED WORKSPACE, CLASSROOM AND MEETING AREAS, HIGH-SPEED INTERNET, AND PROFESSIONAL-GRADE TECHNOLOGY. THIS INCLUDES MAC AND PC WORKSTATIONS, BUSINESS, DESIGN, AND 3D MODELING SOFTWARE, LARGE-FORMAT ARCHIVAL QUALITY PRINTERS, VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERAS, LIGHTS, AND MICROPHONES, 3D PRINTERS, AS WELL AS VINYL AND LASER CUTTERS. A ROTATION OF WORKING-MEMBERS MAINTAINED THE SPACE, HOSTED REGULAR OPEN HOURS, AND PROVIDED EQUIPMENT TUTORIALS TO MAKE SPARK RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SPARK MEMBERS AND LOCAL PROFESSIONALS. SPARK OFFERED CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, COVERING A RANGE OF TOPICS FROM BUSINESS FORMATION, STRATEGY, AND MARKETING, TO TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAININGS AND I.T. SERVICES.

G.R.A.C.E: GRASS ROOTS ART AND COMMUNITY EFFORT IS FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE ART EXPERIENCES, WHICH LEAD TO CREATIVE GROWTH AND SELF-DISCOVERY. AT THE CORE OF G.R.A.C.E. IS A COMMITMENT TO UNITE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ART MAKING AND EXHIBITIONS.