Animating Infrastructure Grants support projects that integrate public art into community infrastructure.
Donor Name: Vermont Arts Council
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/09/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Council seeks to fund projects where an artist or artist team engages with the community in the planning, design, and/or fabrication of permanent, temporary, or experiential public art. The public art produced may be for an interior or exterior site and must be accessible, open, and free to the public.
The intent of this program is to enhance a sense of community pride and identity, foster social connections, and improve the livability and vibrancy of Vermont communities. Through the development and installation of site-specific works of public art, Vermont communities can reflect their vision, values, and creative spirit.
Funding Information
Grants range from $1,000 to $15,000. Up to $5,000 will be awarded for design grants and up to $15,000 will be awarded for implementation grants.
Grant Period
September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027
Eligible Activities
Animating Infrastructure provides communities with funds to engage and work with an artist. Funds will be awarded for:
- Public Art Design ($5,000 maximum): Grant funds may be used to conduct a process to select an artist(s) or to work with an already identified artist for your public art project. The grant should support the artist(s) fees to design and plan the artwork and to engage the community in the process. At the end of the grant period, the grantee will submit a final report that includes a final design with a budget, drawings or models, and details about specific materials or activities. It should also include a timeline and information on fundraising, fabrication, installation, site preparations, and maintenance requirements for the proposed artwork. Final designs or plans may then be used by the community to raise the necessary funds to compensate the artist(s) for fabrication and installation or implementation of the designed/planned artwork. This could include future Animating Infrastructure Implementation Grants, crowdfunding opportunities, and/or other funding sources. (Successful completion of a final design grant does not guarantee that the project will be funded through a future Animating Infrastructure Grant.)
- Public Art Implementation ($15,000 maximum): Grant funds may be used to support an artist in the fabrication and installation/implementation of public art for an already designed or planned project. Applicants to this category will be asked to submit the design concept and project plan and provide a specific timeline for the fabrication, installation, and completion of the art project. If invited to submit a full proposal, the applicant should include information about the durability and safety of the proposed artwork, its resistance to theft and vandalism, and how it will respond to exposure to weather, etc. The timelines should include information about when and where the work will be fabricated, when it will be installed or implemented, and when the project will be completed.
Eligibility Criteria
Vermont 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and municipalities are eligible to apply. Community groups (generally 3 or more people who have been working together on a community-based project) without tax-exempt status may apply using a fiscal agent. A fiscal agent must be a charitable nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Vermont. All applicants (or the fiscal agent) must have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) from the federal government. Proposals from underrepresented communities or groups are encouraged. Applicants should have strong, supportive community leadership in place to give the project high potential for being completed successfully.
For more information, visit Vermont Arts Council.
