Greetings!
It's been awhile since we've visited your inbox. Here's hoping this newsletter finds you well and thriving.
We've upda ted the newsletter's look and feel just a bit. Your Southern Vermont Team has met monthly to seek still further opportunities to amplify the remarkable creative sector riches in our region and to expand awareness of the creative sector and its power to contribute resilience and strength to the communities of Southern Vermont.
It's been a long haul, this COVID pandemic. Here's some news: Hoping beyond hope, we plan to get back together, in a series of networking meet-ups around the region! Using the tried-and-true model from Bellows Falls, we hope to launch quarterly gatherings, the first scheduled in Brattleboro for Thursday, April 28. Details are still underway, so watch for upcoming E-blasts.
We're launching a Facebook page! We want to shine a light on the astounding new and long-standing contributions that so many are making to their communities via the creative sector. Called Creative Sector Spotlights, business and individual features will roll out the new Facebook page with some regularity. And we will post some those in upcoming newsletters. Like our page!
A transition note: Team member Sarah Lang is stepping away from the Team to focus on her new position with the Northern Borders Regional Commission. Sorry to see Sarah fly away, we are pretty sure we will see her influence in Vermont for a long time. Thanks, Sarah.
Regularly inspired by the wisdom and energy of the Southern Vermont Team, please join me in offering a spirited Hats off!
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Maria Basescu, Putney
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Sara Coffey, Guilford
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Anna Drozdowski, Wilmington
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Susanna Gellert, Weston
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Robert McBride, Bellows Falls
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Matthew Perry, Bennington
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Jon Potter, Brattleboro
Yours,
Zon Eastes, Southern Vermont zone agent
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Update: Vermont Creative Futures Act
"No matter which way the Vermont Creative Futures Act goes in the end, it as been completely heartening to hear our representatives, across the board, speak about the strengths and value of the creative economy." These were the sentiments recently offered by Arts Council Executive Director Karen Mittelman. "Every member of the Ho use Commerce Committee spoke with passion about the importance of investing in the creative economy in their community."
The $17.5M bill has passed out of the House. The Senate version of the bill will almost certainly look and feel substantively different, meaning that the bill will pass into Conference Committee toward the end of the legislative session, and it is there that a compromise bill will most likely be developed.
"The work that you all have done over the years, and the energy you bring to this effort right now, it's all finally paying off," continued Mittelman.
The Vermont Arts Council maintains a constantly updated webpage on both bills. You can also check in on the status of each version of the bill on the Vermont legislative website. House bill: H. 624. Senate bill: S. 202.
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Grants Available
The Vermont Arts Council currently has three grant opportunities open, ready for your application.
Creation Grants due April 4.
Creation Grants support artists in creating new work. Grant funds may be used to compensate the artists for time spent creating new work, to purchase materials, or to rent equipment or space for the process.
Digital Capacity due April 20.
Many arts and culture organizations increased their digital capacity and expanded online programming in response to the challenges of the pandemic.
Cultural Facilities due May 2.
Cultural Facilities Grants help Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities enhance, create, or expand the capacity of an existing building to provide cultural activities for the public.
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Creative Sector Spotlights
Vermont's Creative Sector (yes, it's definitely a thing) accounts for just under 10% of the jobs economy in Southern Vermont. Over 5,000 jobs in this zone. By any standard, the Creative Sector is a huge contribibutor to the region's general economy.
And when we say Creative Sector, that includes the regulars: performing and visual arts, but it also includes design, specialty foods, and more. Check out each of the sector's segments at the Arts Council website.
With this edition of the newsletter, we begin a new, ongoing series of spotlights on individuals and businesses that are active in the Creative Sector. Follow us on Facebook for regular Spotlights.
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Bennington: Village Garage Distillery
The idea of Village Garage Distillery began with two friends having a drink together.
“It harkens back to Christmas Eve drinks a little over three years ago,” explains co-founder Matt Cushman. “(Co-founder Glen Sauer) and I were just chatting, and Glen mentioned that he’d always had a fantasy about owning and operating a distillery, and I said ‘I’ve always this fantasy about owning an operating a distillery, too.’”
That started the two friends on a path that included purchasing and restoring the former town highway garage in downtown Bennington; releasing their first products - Village Bourbon and Village Vodka; and opening a tasting room four weeks ago.
Born and raised in Bennington, both come from families who settled down to farm in Vermont prior to 1800. And both see the parallels to what they’re doing now and the work of their ancestors.
“I’m a craftsman, through-and-through,” said Sauer. “We still do things with our hands, and we’re proud of what we do.”
They have high hopes for Village Distillery. “We think Vermont is a great location for producing spirits, and we’d love for Vermont to be in the vanguard of the spirits industry,” said Cushman.
Whiskey, it turns out, is just as Vermonty as, well, apple pie. Village Garage works with Vermont farmers to source the corn and rye that mix with fresh Vermont water to produce their products. And Vermont’s long winters and varying temperatures are good for aging spirits in wooden barrels.
Cushman and Sauer look forward to collaborating with other Vermont creatives on programs and events in the tasting room. “Not only are we focused on a beautiful tasting room, but we see an opportunity to be a host to local artists and musicians,” said Cushman. “This is an opportunity to help revitalize downtown Bennington.”
For details on Village Garage products or tasting room offerings, visit villagegarage.com.
--Jon Potter, Executive Director, Latchis Hotel and Theatre
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Brattleboro: Will Alderfer, jeweler
Metalsmith and jeweler Will Alderfer arrived in the Brattleboro area about seven years ago. Originally from outside Philadelphia, he studied fine art metalsmithing at Earlham College in Indiana, where he met his life partner Rosie. The lawyer in the family, Rosie’s longstanding family connections brought them to southern Vermont.
Living now in Guilford, Will tells the story, “When we first got here, I thought I’d get a job, you know, to support our growing family. But I kept finding myself too busy with jewelry making to actually take a job.” He set up his first local studio in his basement, and he admits to struggling with that age-old issue—developing a balance between creation and economics. He and Rosie collaborated to start up an e-commerce business, and things begin to roll.
Now located in Brattleboro, Will says, “I was originally attracted to the maker space model at the Cotton Mill. I found the opportunities for interchange intriguing.”
Churning steadily toward sustainability, Will’s shop employs five people in five states. Looking back over the past couple of years, Will acknowledges that, while COVID brought loss of work or clientele for some of his college friends, that loss—coupled with the upturn in Will’s business—turned into employment opportunities in a thriving jewelry making business. Check out Will’s website.
Will sees his work sitting solidly in the creative sector. Not only is Will a creator, but he is an influencer leveraging practices for social change. “I’ve been excited to learn about potential leveraging opportunities in my field. So much so that I can actually get distracted from ring design. In a good way.” Because jewelry and metalsmithing are associated with a history of harm--extraction and exploitation, Will seeks to educate his clients about friendlier, more positive sourcing options. Additionally, Will is involved nationally and internationally in an industry that is moving toward viable sustainability, toward recycling and scientific creation of precious gems.
“I’m eager to get still more involved here in Vermont. It’s been my experience that the arts can certainly lead to job creation and economic stability.”
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Introducing: Johanna de Graffenreid
 The Vermont Creative Network has recently expanded its capacity and voice! Johanna de Graffenreid now serves as the Vermont Creative Network (VCN) Outreach Organizer. Advancing the goals of the VCN Action Plan and building the capacity of the Network, Johanna . coordinates the VCN steering team and supports all six creative zone agents in organizing and network activities across Vermont.
Johanna has worked as a community organizer, advocate, lobbyist, campaign director, and popular education trainer for almost 20 years. Her passion is championing rural communities as places of powerful change and opportunity for all.
Welcome, Johanna!
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Sign up for Creative Ground, a powerful data resource for New England's creative sector. We encourage every Vermont creative to learn about Creative Ground. Search the database by county. Try entering Bennington and Windham counties. Over 500 entries!
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