Vermont Studio Center Inc

TO SUPPORT ARTISTS AND WRITERS BY PROVIDING STUDIO RESIDENCIES IN AN INCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, HONORING CREATIVE WORK AS THE COMMUNICATION OF SPIRIT THROUGH FORM.

IN 2021, THE VERMONT STUDIO CENTER (VSC) CONTINUED TO PAUSE ITS IN-PERSON RESIDENCY PROGRAM THAT WAS INTERRUPTED IN EARLY 2020; HOWEVER, THE PANDEMIC DID NOT STOP OUR PROGRAMMING. WE ENHANCED THE QUALITY OF OUR PROGRAMS, GREW OUR AUDIENCE REACH, AND NURTURED STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PAST COMMUNITIES OF RESIDENTS, VISITING WRITERS, AND VISITING ARTISTS. VSC SERVED OUR COMMUNITY BY OFFERING A WIDE ARRAY OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING WHICH INCLUDED ARTISTS TALKS, READINGS, GALLERY TALKS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON TOPICS OF INTEREST TO ARTISTS AND WRITERS. DURING COVID MULTIPLE OFFERINGS WERE AVAILABLE LIVE ON-LINE THROUGH ZOOM, AND RECORDINGS OF ARCHIVED TALKS AND READINGS WERE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE TO SUPPORT THE CREATIVE WORK. TO PROVIDE BROADER DIGITAL ACCESS TO OUR PROGRAMMING, WE UPGRADED THE VSC WEBSITE WITH MULTIFUNCTION ACCESSIBILITY SOFTWARE, ALLOWING SITE VISITORS MORE FLEXIBILITY IN VIEWING CONTENT.VIRTUAL VSC PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED: PRIDE ALUM ONLINE EXHIBITION; WRITER TO WRITER: CONVERSATIONS ON CRAFT; WRITERS ON THE RISE; ARTIST TO ARTISTS PANEL; RED MILL GALLERY SERIES; BOOK DISCUSSIONS; NATIONAL POETRY MONTH FEATURES (INCLUDING AN ALUMNI OPEN MIC NIGHT); OPEN STUDIOS; BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEATURES; AND ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH FEATURES.THROUGHOUT 2021 VSC HOSTED FIVE SESSIONS OF CREATIVE IMPERATIVE (CI), A VIRTUAL SPACE FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS DESIGNED TO FOSTER VITAL CONNECTIONS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL CREATIVE PRACTICES. EACH SESSION BROUGHT TOGETHER AS MANY AS 25 ARTISTS AND WRITERS FOR FOUR TO FIVE WEEKS TO SHARE THEIR VOICES WITH EACH OTHER AND ENGAGE THROUGH THEIR CREATIVE PRACTICE. CI WAS SUPPORTED IN PART BY GRANTS FROM ARTISTS RESOURCE TRUST, THE MAE PRIVATE FOUNDATION, AND INDIVIDUAL GIFTS. THIS FUNDING PROVIDED FINANCIAL AID FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, HONORARIUMS FOR ALL EIGHT SPEAKERS, AND SUPPORT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FACILITATIVE COSTS.2021 PROGRAMMING BY THE NUMBERS: 71 PROGRAMS/EVENTS; 14,000 VIDEO VIEWS; 3,147 SIGNUPS FOR PROGRAMS; 1,448 ATTENDEES; 94 PRESENTERS; 21 INDIVIDUALS WHO BENEFITTED FROM FUNDING ASSISTANCE; 70,000 UNIQUE WEBSITE VISITORS; AND A SOCIAL MEDIA REACH OF 523,398 FROM PROGRAM PROMOTIONS.IN 2021, ARTISTS AND WRITERS FROM 31 COUNTRIES ATTENDED VIRTUAL VSC PROGRAMS, JOINING US FROM ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BARBADOS, CANADA, CUBA, FRANCE, GERMANY, INDIA, INDONESIA, IRELAND, ISRAEL, ITALY, JAPAN, MEXICO, NEW ZEALAND, NIGERIA, NORWAY, PHILIPPINES, QATAR, ROMANIA, SENEGAL, SPAIN, SWEDEN, TAIWAN, THAILAND, TUNISIA, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES, VENEZUELA, AND VIETNAM.PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS BY AGE AND GENDER:35YO: 35.5%; 3549YO: 27.2%; 5065YO: 23.4%;65YO: 13.9%; MALE: 17.4%; FEMALE: 76.1%; AND OTHER/NON-BINARY: 6.5% VERMONT STUDIO CENTERS SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, LAUNCHED IN 1992 TO PROVIDE JOHNSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (JES) WITH A FULL-TIME SCHOOL ARTS COORDINATOR WHO IS THE PRIMARY ART INSTRUCTOR FOR 200+ STUDENTS PER YEAR. THE SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM WENT VIRTUAL THIS YEAR, ENRICHED BY FOUR EXTRAORDINARY ON-LINE MENTORS WHO OFFERED 4-WEEK PROGRAMS TO JES STUDENTS, AND COLLABORATED WITH INSTRUCTORS AT THE GREEN MOUNTAIN TECH CENTER AND LAMOILLE UNION HIGH SCHOOL TO TEACH CLASSES IN ANIMATION AND KOREAN COLLAGE. THE VIRTUAL CURRICULUM INCLUDED STUDIO TOURS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ARTISTS, FURTHERING AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF ART AS BOTH A VIABLE VOCATION AND AN INTEGRAL ASPECT OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE.FEATURES OF THE SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM INCLUDED: WEEKLY, HOUR-LONG ARTS INSTRUCTION FOR EVERY STUDENT, WITH ALL INSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS COSTS COVERED BY VSC A CELEBRATION OF THE 18TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOHNSON ELEMENTARY MASK PARADE FOUR CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT/SCHOOL ARTS FELLOWSHIPS A SUMMER ART CAMP, HELD ON THE VSC CAMPUS, FOR CHILDREN AGED 614 AN ONLINE EXHIBITION FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF LAMOILLE NORTH SUPERVISORY UNION ART TEACHERS AND K12 STUDENTSTHE STUDIOS AT VSC WAS LAUNCHED IN 2021 TO PROVIDE VERMONT ARTISTS AND WRITERS WITH LONG-TERM STUDIO SPACE AT BELOW-MARKET RENT ON OUR CAMPUS ON THE BANKS OF THE GIHON RIVER IN JOHNSON, VT. BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE 24/7 ACCESS TO PRIVATE, LIGHT-FILLED STUDIOS, WITH ACCESS TO SHARED FACILITIES SUCH AS A SCULPTURE SHOP, KILN, LIBRARY, PRINTING PRESSES, AND COMMON SPACES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, VSC OFFERED TWO PUBLIC OPEN-STUDIO EVENTS FOR STUDIOS AT VSC PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF. THE STUDIOS AT VSC FEEDS THE CREATIVE ECONOMY OF VERMONT, UPLIFTS LOCAL ARTISTS, AND ENRICHES OUR ROLE AS AN INCUBATOR FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS. TO DATE, 12 LOCAL ARTISTS AND WRITERS HAVE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND NEW APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED ON A ROLLING BASIS.BENEFITS OF STUDIOS AT VSC INCLUDE: ACCESS TO GALLERY OPENINGS, READINGS, AND PRESENTATIONS BY VISITING ARTISTS AND WRITERS VENUES ONLINE AND IN-PERSON TO SHARE WORK THROUGH ARTIST TALKS, READINGS, AND OPEN STUDIOS OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER IN LOCAL SCHOOLS THROUGH OUR SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMTHE PANDEMIC-INDUCED BREAK FROM IN-PERSON RESIDENCIES PRESENTED US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT AND ADJUST OUR CAMPUS MASTER PLAN. WE ADDRESSED MAINTENANCE ISSUES, VENTILATION UPGRADES, AND FOCUSED ON RENOVATION PROJECTS ENHANCING HEALTH, SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND COMFORT. WE COMPLETED A GUT RENOVATION OF PEARL HOUSE (6480 SQ. FT.), TO PROVIDE COMFORTABLE, PRIVATE LIVING SPACE FOR VSC RESIDENTS: 13 BEDROOMS (6 ADA COMPLIANT); 10 BATHROOMS (ALL ADA COMPLIANT); SHARED MAIN-LEVEL ACCESSIBLE KITCHENETTE; AND TWO ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS, EACH WITH BATHROOM AND KITCHENETTE. THE HUB OF VSCS CAMPUS, THE HISTORIC RED MILL, SERVES AS A COMBINATION DINING ROOM, GATHERING SPOT, AND WORKSPACE FOR RESIDENTS AND STAFF. WE FULLY RENOVATED THE DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN, UPGRADED THE AIR QUALITY SYSTEM, AND MADE MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING TO FURTHER PROVIDE A SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY SPACE.OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE DEEPLY MISSED GATHERING IN PERSON WITH ARTISTS- AND WRITERS-IN-RESIDENCE, YET WE STAYED CONNECTED. WE ENGAGED OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY IN MULTIPLE ONLINE VENUES. WE TOOK HOLD OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE PROGRAMMING, TO RENOVATE BUILDINGS, AND TO GROW ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCY. WE GROUNDED OURSELVES IN THE SHARED DESIRE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO WRITERS AND ARTISTS AND TO ENSURE A FUTURE THAT HONORS CREATIVE WORK AS THE COMMUNICATION OF SPIRIT THROUGH FORM.

IN 2021, THE VERMONT STUDIO CENTER (VSC) CONTINUED TO PAUSE ITS IN-PERSON RESIDENCY PROGRAM THAT WAS INTERRUPTED IN EARLY 2020; HOWEVER, THE PANDEMIC DID NOT STOP OUR PROGRAMMING. WE ENHANCED THE QUALITY OF OUR PROGRAMS, GREW OUR AUDIENCE REACH, AND NURTURED STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PAST COMMUNITIES OF RESIDENTS, VISITING WRITERS, AND VISITING ARTISTS. VSC SERVED OUR COMMUNITY BY OFFERING A WIDE ARRAY OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING WHICH INCLUDED ARTISTS TALKS, READINGS, GALLERY TALKS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON TOPICS OF INTEREST TO ARTISTS AND WRITERS. DURING COVID MULTIPLE OFFERINGS WERE AVAILABLE LIVE ON-LINE THROUGH ZOOM, AND RECORDINGS OF ARCHIVED TALKS AND READINGS WERE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE TO SUPPORT THE CREATIVE WORK. TO PROVIDE BROADER DIGITAL ACCESS TO OUR PROGRAMMING, WE UPGRADED THE VSC WEBSITE WITH MULTIFUNCTION ACCESSIBILITY SOFTWARE, ALLOWING SITE VISITORS MORE FLEXIBILITY IN VIEWING CONTENT.VIRTUAL VSC PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED: PRIDE ALUM ONLINE EXHIBITION; WRITER TO WRITER: CONVERSATIONS ON CRAFT; WRITERS ON THE RISE; ARTIST TO ARTISTS PANEL; RED MILL GALLERY SERIES; BOOK DISCUSSIONS; NATIONAL POETRY MONTH FEATURES (INCLUDING AN ALUMNI OPEN MIC NIGHT); OPEN STUDIOS; BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEATURES; AND ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH FEATURES.THROUGHOUT 2021 VSC HOSTED FIVE SESSIONS OF CREATIVE IMPERATIVE (CI), A VIRTUAL SPACE FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS DESIGNED TO FOSTER VITAL CONNECTIONS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL CREATIVE PRACTICES. EACH SESSION BROUGHT TOGETHER AS MANY AS 25 ARTISTS AND WRITERS FOR FOUR TO FIVE WEEKS TO SHARE THEIR VOICES WITH EACH OTHER AND ENGAGE THROUGH THEIR CREATIVE PRACTICE. CI WAS SUPPORTED IN PART BY GRANTS FROM ARTISTS RESOURCE TRUST, THE MAE PRIVATE FOUNDATION, AND INDIVIDUAL GIFTS. THIS FUNDING PROVIDED FINANCIAL AID FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, HONORARIUMS FOR ALL EIGHT SPEAKERS, AND SUPPORT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FACILITATIVE COSTS.2021 PROGRAMMING BY THE NUMBERS: 71 PROGRAMS/EVENTS; 14,000 VIDEO VIEWS; 3,147 SIGNUPS FOR PROGRAMS; 1,448 ATTENDEES; 94 PRESENTERS; 21 INDIVIDUALS WHO BENEFITTED FROM FUNDING ASSISTANCE; 70,000 UNIQUE WEBSITE VISITORS; AND A SOCIAL MEDIA REACH OF 523,398 FROM PROGRAM PROMOTIONS.IN 2021, ARTISTS AND WRITERS FROM 31 COUNTRIES ATTENDED VIRTUAL VSC PROGRAMS, JOINING US FROM ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BARBADOS, CANADA, CUBA, FRANCE, GERMANY, INDIA, INDONESIA, IRELAND, ISRAEL, ITALY, JAPAN, MEXICO, NEW ZEALAND, NIGERIA, NORWAY, PHILIPPINES, QATAR, ROMANIA, SENEGAL, SPAIN, SWEDEN, TAIWAN, THAILAND, TUNISIA, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES, VENEZUELA, AND VIETNAM.PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS BY AGE AND GENDER:35YO: 35.5%; 3549YO: 27.2%; 5065YO: 23.4%;65YO: 13.9%; MALE: 17.4%; FEMALE: 76.1%; AND OTHER/NON-BINARY: 6.5% VERMONT STUDIO CENTERS SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, LAUNCHED IN 1992 TO PROVIDE JOHNSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (JES) WITH A FULL-TIME SCHOOL ARTS COORDINATOR WHO IS THE PRIMARY ART INSTRUCTOR FOR 200+ STUDENTS PER YEAR. THE SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM WENT VIRTUAL THIS YEAR, ENRICHED BY FOUR EXTRAORDINARY ON-LINE MENTORS WHO OFFERED 4-WEEK PROGRAMS TO JES STUDENTS, AND COLLABORATED WITH INSTRUCTORS AT THE GREEN MOUNTAIN TECH CENTER AND LAMOILLE UNION HIGH SCHOOL TO TEACH CLASSES IN ANIMATION AND KOREAN COLLAGE. THE VIRTUAL CURRICULUM INCLUDED STUDIO TOURS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ARTISTS, FURTHERING AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF ART AS BOTH A VIABLE VOCATION AND AN INTEGRAL ASPECT OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE.FEATURES OF THE SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM INCLUDED: WEEKLY, HOUR-LONG ARTS INSTRUCTION FOR EVERY STUDENT, WITH ALL INSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS COSTS COVERED BY VSC A CELEBRATION OF THE 18TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOHNSON ELEMENTARY MASK PARADE FOUR CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT/SCHOOL ARTS FELLOWSHIPS A SUMMER ART CAMP, HELD ON THE VSC CAMPUS, FOR CHILDREN AGED 614 AN ONLINE EXHIBITION FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF LAMOILLE NORTH SUPERVISORY UNION ART TEACHERS AND K12 STUDENTSTHE STUDIOS AT VSC WAS LAUNCHED IN 2021 TO PROVIDE VERMONT ARTISTS AND WRITERS WITH LONG-TERM STUDIO SPACE AT BELOW-MARKET RENT ON OUR CAMPUS ON THE BANKS OF THE GIHON RIVER IN JOHNSON, VT. BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE 24/7 ACCESS TO PRIVATE, LIGHT-FILLED STUDIOS, WITH ACCESS TO SHARED FACILITIES SUCH AS A SCULPTURE SHOP, KILN, LIBRARY, PRINTING PRESSES, AND COMMON SPACES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, VSC OFFERED TWO PUBLIC OPEN-STUDIO EVENTS FOR STUDIOS AT VSC PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF. THE STUDIOS AT VSC FEEDS THE CREATIVE ECONOMY OF VERMONT, UPLIFTS LOCAL ARTISTS, AND ENRICHES OUR ROLE AS AN INCUBATOR FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS. TO DATE, 12 LOCAL ARTISTS AND WRITERS HAVE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND NEW APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED ON A ROLLING BASIS.BENEFITS OF STUDIOS AT VSC INCLUDE: ACCESS TO GALLERY OPENINGS, READINGS, AND PRESENTATIONS BY VISITING ARTISTS AND WRITERS VENUES ONLINE AND IN-PERSON TO SHARE WORK THROUGH ARTIST TALKS, READINGS, AND OPEN STUDIOS OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER IN LOCAL SCHOOLS THROUGH OUR SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAMTHE PANDEMIC-INDUCED BREAK FROM IN-PERSON RESIDENCIES PRESENTED US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT AND ADJUST OUR CAMPUS MASTER PLAN. WE ADDRESSED MAINTENANCE ISSUES, VENTILATION UPGRADES, AND FOCUSED ON RENOVATION PROJECTS ENHANCING HEALTH, SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND COMFORT. WE COMPLETED A GUT RENOVATION OF PEARL HOUSE (6480 SQ. FT.), TO PROVIDE COMFORTABLE, PRIVATE LIVING SPACE FOR VSC RESIDENTS: 13 BEDROOMS (6 ADA COMPLIANT); 10 BATHROOMS (ALL ADA COMPLIANT); SHARED MAIN-LEVEL ACCESSIBLE KITCHENETTE; AND TWO ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS, EACH WITH BATHROOM AND KITCHENETTE. THE HUB OF VSCS CAMPUS, THE HISTORIC RED MILL, SERVES AS A COMBINATION DINING ROOM, GATHERING SPOT, AND WORKSPACE FOR RESIDENTS AND STAFF. WE FULLY RENOVATED THE DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN, UPGRADED THE AIR QUALITY SYSTEM, AND MADE MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING TO FURTHER PROVIDE A SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY SPACE.OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE DEEPLY MISSED GATHERING IN PERSON WITH ARTISTS- AND WRITERS-IN-RESIDENCE, YET WE STAYED CONNECTED. WE ENGAGED OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY IN MULTIPLE ONLINE VENUES. WE TOOK HOLD OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE PROGRAMMING, TO RENOVATE BUILDINGS, AND TO GROW ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCY. WE GROUNDED OURSELVES IN THE SHARED DESIRE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO WRITERS AND ARTISTS AND TO ENSURE A FUTURE THAT HONORS CREATIVE WORK AS THE COMMUNICATION OF SPIRIT THROUGH FORM.