Building a Vermont where artists thrive and everyone has access to creativity in their lives, education, and communities.
Vermont Council on the Arts Inc funds Vermont arts organizations with large general-purpose awards that support core operations rather than narrow project lines. In the recent grants list, Burlington City Arts received $219,400, and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and Northern Stage Company each received $214,400. Those awards sit alongside similar support for theaters, museums, music organizations, and arts centers across the state. The council’s giving reaches across multiple art forms: performing arts, visual arts, cultural facilities, creative placemaking, and arts education. Recipients include the Vermont Studio Center, Shelburne Museum Inc, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and the Center for Cartoon Studies. Several grants are labeled general purpose, which aligns with the council’s stated philosophy tags of general operating support, unrestricted or responsive funding, and multi-purpose grants. Its program list shows a mix of operating support and program grants. The organization supports artist residencies in K–12 schools, arts operating grants for organizations, arts impact grants, creation grants, creative aging grants, and cultural facilities grants. The pattern is a statewide arts intermediary that funds both the institutions that produce art and the settings where Vermonters encounter it.
Arts education is one of the clearest program areas in the council’s grantmaking. The Artists in Schools Grants and Artists in Schools organization-supported grants fund artist residencies and teaching artist engagements in K–12 schools and community educational settings, and both accept unsolicited applications. The council also lists Creative Aging Grants, which support arts programming for older Vermonters. Organizational support is another major strand. Arts Operating Grants, formerly Arts Partners, and the Creative Futures opportunity provide operating support for arts organizations. The recent grants list reinforces that pattern with general-purpose awards to groups such as Vermont Studio Center and Vermont Symphony Orchestra. The council also funds physical and public-facing arts infrastructure. Cultural Facilities Grants support accessibility and capital improvements, while Animating Infrastructure backs creative interventions in public infrastructure. Its focus areas also include creative placemaking, visual arts, performing arts, and accessibility in the arts.
$893K
$2M
$3.2M
$3M
Most grants fall between $8K and $34K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$34K
SUSAN MCCLURE
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Typical grant sizes cluster around a mid-five-figure level, with a p25 of $8,000, a median of $15,000, and a p75 of $34,176. The recent grants table also shows that the council makes much larger general-purpose awards to established Vermont arts organizations, including several six-figure grants. The organization’s grantmaking appears recurring rather than one-off: Catamount Film and Arts Center and Town Hall Theater Inc each appear more than once across recent years, and several other recipients recur within the list. The council is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals. Multiple program pages note that some opportunities accept unsolicited applications, including Artists in Schools and Arts Impact.
Grantmaking is concentrated in Vermont, with 100% of grants in the HQ state and a local geographic scope. Recent recipients are spread across the state, including Burlington, White River Junction, Weston, Johnson, Norwich, Manchester, Middlebury, St. Johnsbury, Rutland, Vergennes, Brattleboro, Hartland, and Greensboro. Burlington appears repeatedly among larger awards, alongside other arts hubs such as Middlebury and St. Johnsbury.
It funds Vermont arts organizations, nonprofit arts presenters, schools, and community partners. The program list includes arts operating support, arts education grants, creative aging, cultural facilities, creation grants, and projects that animate public infrastructure.
No. The foundation’s profile says funds individuals is false, and the program structure centers on organizations, schools, and nonprofit partners rather than individual recipients.
Typical awards are in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $8,000, median grant size is $15,000, and p75 is $34,176. The recent grants list also includes several six-figure general-purpose awards to established arts organizations.
Yes. The Artists in Schools Grants, Artists in Schools organization-supported grants, and Arts Impact programs are listed as accepting unsolicited applications. The grants page also shows a June 30, 2025 application deadline for Arts Impact and Grants for Nonprofits.
Its giving is entirely in Vermont. The geographic scope is local, the top state by grant count is VT, and the recipient country distribution shows all grants going to US recipients.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Vermont Council on the Arts that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations seeking support for an arts project in Vermont; specific guidelines are on the program page.
Deadline: Deadlines vary by cycle; homepage mentions July-August Assets for Artists Workshops and general grant program resources, but no specific project grant deadline was visible in the scraped content.
Who can apply: Organizations or schools working with older adults; applicants referenced in site content as organizations who may apply (see program page for full guidelines).
Who can apply: Vermont-based nonprofit arts organizations (see full program guidelines in application materials).
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERMONT FOLKLIFE CENTER | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $43,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATAMOUNT FILM AND ARTS CENTER | ST JOHNSBURY, VT | $28,549 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BARRE OPERA HOUSE | BARRE, VT | $28,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MAQUAM BAY OF MISSISQUOI | SWANTON, VT | $28,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SHELBURNE CRAFT SCHOOL | SHELBURNE, VT | $26,098 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OLDCASTLE PRODUCTIONS INC | BENNINGTON, VT | $24,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OKEMO VALLEY TV | LUDLOW, VT | $24,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM INC | HUNTINGTON, VT | $23,750 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| STANDREW'S CHURCH | ST JOHNSBURY, VT | $21,404 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RUTLAND AREA ARTS ASSOCIATION | RUTLAND, VT | $20,800 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BENNINGTON MUSEUM | BENNINGTON, VT | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DORSET PLAYERS | DORSET, VT | $17,779 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BRATTLEBORO MUSEUM AND ART CENTER | BRATTLEBORO, VT | $17,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FLYNN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | BURLINGTON, VT | $16,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CLEMMONS FAMILY FARM | CHARLOTTE, VT | $16,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WESTMINSTER WEST PUBLIC LIBRARY | PUTNEY, VT | $15,200 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MONTPELIER ALIVE | MONTPELIER, VT | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| REBHS CORP | VERGENNES, VT | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RETREAT FARM | BRATTLEBORO, VT | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NORTHEAST KINGDOM ARTS COUNCIL | HARDWICK, VT | $14,625 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ISLAND ARTS | NORTH HERO, VT | $14,155 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BRAINTREE ELEMENTARY | BRAINTREE, VT | $13,550 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CAPSTONE COMMUNITY ACTION INC | BARRE, VT | $12,750 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PARK-MCCULLOUGH ASSOCIATION | NORTH BENNINGTON, VT | $12,276 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TOWN HALL THEATER INC | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ARTS BUS INC | RANDOLPH, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL | WINOOSKI, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GENERATOR INC | BURLINGTON, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| KINDGOM COUNTY PRODUCTIONS INC | BARNET, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GOVENOR'S INSTITUTES OF VERMONT | WINOOSKI, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SPRUCE PEAK ARTS FOUNDATION | STOWE, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | BURLINGTON, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WESTON PLAYHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY | WESTON, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WATERBURY AREA MAKERSPHERE COOPERATIVE INC | WATERBURY, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE HATCH INC | BRATTLEBORO, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SAFEART | CHELSEA, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SCRAG MOUNTAIN MUSIC INC | MARSHFIELD, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NORTHERN STAGE COMPANY | WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MIDDLEBURY STUDIO SCHOOL | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| VERMONT YOUTH ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION | COLCHESTER, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| YELLOW BARN INC | PUTNEY, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BURLINGTON CITY ARTS | BURLINGTON, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS INC | RANDOLPH, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE CURRENT ART CENTER (FKA HELEN DAY ART CENTER INC) | STOWE, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MAD RIVER VALLEY ARTS | WAITSFIELD, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RIVER ARTS OF MORRISVILLE INC | MORRISVILLE, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BRATTLEBORO MUSIC CENTER | BRATTLEBORO, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SANDGLASS CENTER FOR PUPPETRY & THEATER RESEARCH LTD | PUTNEY, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RURAL ARTS COLLABORATIVE | GREENSBORO, VT | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SOUTHERN VERMONT ARTS CENTER | MANCHESTER, VT | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
CATAMOUNT FILM AND ARTS CENTER
$28,549GENERAL PURPOSE
BARRE OPERA HOUSE
$28,500GENERAL PURPOSE
MAQUAM BAY OF MISSISQUOI
$28,500GENERAL PURPOSE
SHELBURNE CRAFT SCHOOL
$26,098GENERAL PURPOSE
OLDCASTLE PRODUCTIONS INC
$24,000GENERAL PURPOSE
OKEMO VALLEY TV
$24,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BIRDS OF VERMONT MUSEUM INC
$23,750GENERAL PURPOSE
STANDREW'S CHURCH
$21,404GENERAL PURPOSE
RUTLAND AREA ARTS ASSOCIATION
$20,800GENERAL PURPOSE
BENNINGTON MUSEUM
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
DORSET PLAYERS
$17,779GENERAL PURPOSE
BRATTLEBORO MUSEUM AND ART CENTER
$17,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WESTMINSTER WEST PUBLIC LIBRARY
$15,200GENERAL PURPOSE
MONTPELIER ALIVE
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
REBHS CORP
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NORTHEAST KINGDOM ARTS COUNCIL
$14,625GENERAL PURPOSE
ISLAND ARTS
$14,155GENERAL PURPOSE
BRAINTREE ELEMENTARY
$13,550GENERAL PURPOSE
PARK-MCCULLOUGH ASSOCIATION
$12,276GENERAL PURPOSE
TOWN HALL THEATER INC
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ARTS BUS INC
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
LAKE CHAMPLAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
KINDGOM COUNTY PRODUCTIONS INC
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GOVENOR'S INSTITUTES OF VERMONT
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SPRUCE PEAK ARTS FOUNDATION
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WATERBURY AREA MAKERSPHERE COOPERATIVE INC
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE HATCH INC
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SAFEART
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SCRAG MOUNTAIN MUSIC INC
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MIDDLEBURY STUDIO SCHOOL
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
VERMONT YOUTH ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
YELLOW BARN INC
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS INC
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE CURRENT ART CENTER (FKA HELEN DAY ART CENTER INC)
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MAD RIVER VALLEY ARTS
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
RIVER ARTS OF MORRISVILLE INC
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BRATTLEBORO MUSIC CENTER
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SANDGLASS CENTER FOR PUPPETRY & THEATER RESEARCH LTD
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
RURAL ARTS COLLABORATIVE
$11,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SOUTHERN VERMONT ARTS CENTER
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
