Vermont Arts Council Public Art Commissions
Vermont Arts Council administers public art installations at state buildings. Opportunities open to Vermont artists, with periodic New England regional calls.
The Vermont Arts Council launched a program in 1988 to recognize the character and quality of buildings around Vermont by installing artwork that adds cultural value and creates workplaces of enjoyment and pride. While the majority of commissions are reserved for Vermont artists, the council periodically opens opportunities to New England artists with the purpose of building community connections, particularly at state colleges with students from surrounding regions.
The selection process is rigorous and competitive. When opportunities are announced, the council establishes a committee including representatives from various departments to outline transformational goals for the artwork. The process typically involves interviewing multiple artists, with the pool being condensed through several rounds of selection before a final artist is chosen.
Recent example: When Castleton State University planned an addition to the Stafford Academic Center, the Vermont Arts Council conducted a comprehensive selection process. A committee from the math, education, nursing, and media departments interviewed 80 New England artists, narrowing the pool to 12, then 2, before selecting Maine artist Randy Fein. The resulting public art installation, 'Millennium Transformation,' took three years to complete and now prominently features in the building's hallway.
Selected artists are expected to engage deeply with the community, conducting informational sessions and gathering input from local stakeholders to ensure the artwork reflects and serves the community it inhabits. This commitment to community engagement is a key criterion in the selection process.