The Vermont Arts Council is offering a funding opportunity to communities poised to integrate public art into community infrastructure.
Donor Name: Vermont Arts Council
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/01/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Council invites project pitches that provide opportunities for artists to engage with the community in the design and/or fabrication of permanent or temporary public art for an interior or exterior site that is accessible and open to the public and that helps address community goals.
The Animating Infrastructure program is designed to foster partnerships between communities and artists. The intent is to enhance a sense of community pride and identity, foster social connections, and improve the livability and vibrancy of Vermont communities, downtowns, villages, and neighborhoods. 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 will 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.
Funding Period
September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026
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.
- Public Art Implementation ($15,000 maximum): Grant funds may be used to support an artist in the fabrication and installation of public art for an already designed or planned project.
- All eligible project proposals are welcome. The Council is especially interested in:
- projects where art is integrated into functional components of the infrastructure.
- projects that foster connections among people with diverse financial, educational, health, employment, or social resources; people with diverse abilities, or from diverse races, cultures, genders, and/or ages.
- projects that use funds to integrate an artist in residence in the community to address a specific place-based community goal or challenge.
- projects from towns or communities who have not received funding from this program.
Eligibility Criteria
Vermont 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and municipalities are eligible to apply. Community groups 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.
