FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE PUTS IT ALL TOGETHER

COUNCIL LAUNCHES NEW STATE-WIDE ARTS PROJECT

Click on the box below to download an interview of Vermont Arts Council executive Director, Alex Aldrich with VPR from April 16, 2008.

MORE THAN 60,000 TO PARTICIPATE

MONTPELIER – The Vermont Arts Council will launch their newest initiative, Art Fits Vermont: A Statewide Community Arts Project That’s Greater than the Sum of its Parts, on Wednesday at the Statehouse.

The project, which is expected to involve more than 60,000 Vermonters, will be kicked off during an 11:30 a.m. press conference in the Cedar Creek Room.

The announcement is part of the Annual Arts Achievement Day which showcases art and artists, and provides an opportunity for arts advocates to meet with legislators to discuss the important role the arts play in their communities.

In 2006, 40,000 Vermonters from 247 towns took part in Palettes of Vermont, a statewide art project involving wood and paper palettes. Participants represented more than 180 organizations and 145 schools. Between Memorial Day and Columbus Day 2006, there were more than 250 palette exhibitions and festivals spanning the state.

Art Fits Vermont will allow even more Vermonters to create and share art, according to Arts Council officials. At least 8,000 wood and 50,000 paper puzzle pieces will be distributed to individuals, community organizations and schools. Puzzle events will begin this spring and continue through January 2010.

Art Fits Vermont has been designated one of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration Partnership Projects. PuzzlePalooza, a statewide celebration involving all Art Fits Vermont participants, is scheduled for July 2009 in Burlington, as part of the Quad Celebration. In addition to distributing puzzle pieces to Vermonters, a number of pieces will be given to artists in New York State, Quebec and France. These pieces will be joined with Vermonters’ pieces to form a massive art display during the celebration.

Other Arts Achievement Day events include advocacy training and tips on effective citizen lobbying, lunch with Legislators, tour of the State House Art Collection, and a recitation by Caleb Smith-Hastings, Vermont’s Poetry Out Loud State Champion. At 2 PM, the Council on the Future of Vermont will host a session titled “A Conversation on the Future of Vermont”. This discussion is an opportunity for artists and cultural organizations to envision how the arts can impact Vermont for the next generation.

The day will conclude with a reception at 4 p.m. in the Cedar Creek Room. Arts Citation Awards will be presented to Sabrina Brown, Executive Director of Pentangle Arts Council in Woodstock, Paul Costello of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, and Mary Prior of Danville. Members of the Vermont Youth Orchestra will perform during the reception.

Arts Achievement Day events are free and open to the public. For a schedule of events or to learn more about Art Fits Vermont, visit the Vermont Arts Council’s website www.vermontartscouncil.org.

VT Arts COUNCIL AIMS TO SPOTLIGHT VALUE OF ART

THE KILLINGTON ARTS GUILD ANNOUNCES ART FITS VERMONT

Smell the Roses, Make/Paint A Puzzle, Your Mother in Laws Portrait, The Mona Lisa, Tic- Tac- Toe. Your Old Sox!

We have all been looking for some kind of unusual fun thing that our community could enjoy together.... The Killington Arts Guild (KAG) feels this is it!!! It's called "Art Fits Vermont!" Thanks to the Vermont Arts Council.

It's a perfect time for us all, while we are beginning to leam what Growing a Community really means. This is a found, genuine opportunity to get together, have some fun, stretch our minds and be a "fun" raiser for the KAG.  Make a puzzle any way you please, paint, out, paste, nail. KAG will help you in workshops. We will have fun events: A Sneak preview Show & Tell event, exhibit & sales, potluck food & music. It's certainly different, definitely fun while supporting our own community.

The Arts Council will support us in this project and allows sales moneys to remain with the puzzle makers and the local arts organization. Each puzzle maker may choose their way to help. 1) Keep 100% of sale price. 2) Give 50% to KAG. 3) Give 25% to KAG. 4) Give 100% to KAG. KAG will help you place fair price on your puzzle.

Puzzles are FREE - but they need to be ordered SOON! The Art's Guild gave 7,000 palettes in 2007 this year 8,000 puzzles will be given out. Go on line: www.vermontartscouncil.org — Go to Art Fits VT. Do it now and don't miss the fun.

— Free Press Staff Report

VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL TO BEGIN NEW INITIATIVE

A statewide arts initiative, organized by the Vermont Arts Council, is coming to Vermont beginning next summer.

Art Fits Vermont will involve puzzle pieces made of wood and paper handed out by the Arts Council. "Puzzle-related events" will begin next summer and continue through the summer of 2009, according to the council. The 400th anniversary celebration of Samuel de Champlain's exploration of Lake Champlain, in July 2009, will feature PuzzlePalooza.

"The puzzle pieces will form a massive visual display signifying the creativity, history and lake that unites Vermont and neighboring regions," according to a news release from the Vermont Arts Council.

For more information, visit www.vermontartscouncil.org.

VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES ART FITS VERMONT

It's been nearly two years since Palettes of Vermont took the state by storm with nearly 40,000 Vermonters creating art on wood or paper palettes. On Wednesday, February 20th the Vermont Arts Council will hold an informational meeting in North Hero at the Lake Champlain Islands Chamber office at 5:30 p.m. to discuss a new project "Art Fits Vermont - A Statewide Community Arts Project That's Greater than the Sum of its Parts".

The Arts Council will distribute nearly 60,000 wood and paper puzzle pieces to individuals, community organizations and schools across the state. Puzzle-related events will take place beginning in summer 2008 and continue through 2009. PuzzlePalooza, a statewide celebration of art and creativity is scheduled for July 2009 in Burlington, as part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.

The formal launch of Art Fits Vermont will take place on April 16 at the State House as part of Arts Achievement Day. In upcoming weeks, Council staff will visit communities to introduce the project and relay experiences from Palettes of Vermont. These meetings are an opportunity for local organizers to network and share ideas for economic and community development through the project. The meetings are primarily for organizations and schools interested in taking part in Art Fits Vermont but anyone is welcome to attend.

Art Fits Vermont is the second statewide community arts project created and produced by the Vermont Arts Council. In 2006, the Council distributed 7,000 wood and 30,000 paper palettes to 180 organizations and 145 schools. Residents from 247 of Vermont's 251 towns participated. More than 280 palette-related events took place and the sale of palette art raised more than $300,000 for Vermont communities. Beyond the level of participation or even the body of work that was created, Palettes of Vermont demonstrated a significant community and economic impact.

Art Fits Vermont will provide even more communities with the opportunity to raise funds and community awareness through the arts. Through a marketing partnership with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, Art Fits Vermont is expected to draw visitors from well beyond the state's borders. A number of puzzle pieces will also be given to artists in New York State, Quebec and possibly France. The completed art will join puzzle pieces created by Vermonters at PuzzlePalooza, an exhibit held in conjunction with the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration in July 2009. The puzzle pieces will form a massive visual display signifying the creativity, history and lake that unites Vermont and neighboring regions.

Art Fits Vermont is presented by the Vermont Arts Council in partnership with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, and sponsored by Chittenden Bank and the Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association. For more information on Art Fits Vermont, visit www.vermontartscouncil.org.

PALETTES OF VERMONT MEETING ON FEB. 12

It's been nearly two years since Palettes of Vermont took the state by storm with nearly 40,000 Vermonters creating art on wood or paper palettes.

On Feb. 12, the Vermont Arts Council will hold an informational meeting in Rutland at the Chaffee Center for the Visual Arts on South Main Street. The meeting is set for noon.

This year's project, "Art Fits Vermont: A Statewide Community Arts Project That's Greater than the Sum of its Parts," involves the arts council distributing nearly 60,000 wood and paper puzzle pieces to individuals, community organizations and schools across the state. Puzzle-related events will take place beginning in the summer of 2008 and continuing through 2009.

PuzzlePalooza, a statewide celebration of art and creativity, is scheduled for July 2009 in Burlington, as part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.

The community meetings, such as the one taking place next week in Rutland, is an opportunity for local organizers to network and share ideas for economic and community development through the project.

The meetings are primarily for organizations and schools interested in taking part in Art Fits Vermont but anyone is welcome to attend.

VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL "CONNECTS" WITH A NEW STATEWIDE PROJECT

By Pamela Polston

Last year the Vermont Arts Council ran a statewide arts campaign, called Palettes of Vermont, that engaged 118 organizations and 40,000 palette-painting participants in 247 of the state's 251 towns. (Aren't the other four gores or something?) Most of those towns hosted painting-party workshops and exhibits of their palettes, and collectively raised some $300,000. On the heels of that happy success, this year's project, dubbed Art Fits Vermont, is a puzzle.

Literally.

"Since we accomplished all our goals last year, we took the time to think about whether we wanted a theme, " says Diane Scolaro, communications and development director at the VAC. "The thing that was the most outstanding result was the connections between people " artists connecting with communities, communities with other communities, etc. " Bingo: Nothing says connection more than puzzle pieces, right?

Beginning in April, participants will be given an outsized puzzle piece to decorate as they see fit. It's approximately 14 by 14 inches, with "two innies and two outies,” as Scolaro puts it, "so it's universally connectable.” The Vermont Wood Manufacturers will provide about 8000 wood puzzle pieces, she explains. Another 50,000 paper versions will be made available to kids in school or summer camp programs. "So right there we're looking at almost 60,000 pieces,” Scolaro adds.

The scope of the puzzle project is more ambitious in other ways, too; for starters, it will last 18 months rather than just a year. "The Lake Champlain Quadricentennial is an opportunity to showcase to a much larger audience,” says Scolaro, who notes that on the weekend of July 4, 2009, "we'll put on 'Puzzlepalooza.' We'll line the lakeside with thousands of puzzle pieces. “

The VAC is partnering with the state's tourism department to make sure visitors find out about puzzle events, too. And that's not all. This year, the neighbors are invited. Because of the Lake Champlain celebration, Scolaro says, "We will give puzzle pieces to artists in Quebec and New York, as well as France.” France? Mais oui" the birthplace of explorer and lake namesake Samuel de Champlain, n'est-ce pas?

Though it may involve connecting puzzle pieces along the Burlington Bike Path, the grand finale of the project is still TBA. "Someone suggested getting puzzle pieces to cross the lake,” Scolaro confides. But first things must come first: Until March 26, VAC staffers will be hosting meetings in towns across the state to toss around ideas and network with community organizers. And then there's that all-important fundraising part. "In our endless quest for money, we're going to request $90,000 from the legislature,” says Scolaro. "We saw last time those communities that participated were able to leverage income from the Palettes project. If we can get the legislature to invest, we're pretty sure the return on the investment will be worthwhile. “

Either way, Art Fits Vermont will launch on April 16. To find out the meeting schedule or otherwise get involved in this project that's "bigger than the sum of its parts,” visit www.vermontartscouncil.org.

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IN WAKE OF POPULAR PALETTES ARTS COUNCIL HAS A FIT

It's been nearly two years since Palettes of Vermont took the state by storm with nearly 40,000 Vermonters creating art on wood and paper palettes. On April 16, the Vermont Arts Council will launch a new project - Art Fits Vermont: A Statewide Community Arts Project That's Greater than the Sum of its Parts.

The Council plans to distribute nearly 60,000 wood and paper puzzle pieces to individuals, community organizations and schools across the state. Puzzle-related events will take place beginning in summer 2008 and continue through 2009. PuzzlePalooza, a statewide celebration of art and creativity is scheduled for July 2009 in Burlington, as part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.

In upcoming weeks, Council staff will visit communities to introduce the project and relay "experiences from Palettes of Vermont These meetings are an opportunity for local organizers to network and share ideas for economic and community development through the project. The meetings are primarily for organizations and schools interested in taking part in Art Fits Vermont hut anyone is welcome to attend.

The upcoming Northeast Kingdom event will he taking place at the St. Johnsbury Academy on Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.

Art Fits Vermont is the second statewide community arts project created and produced by the Vermont Arts Council. In 2006, the Council distributed 7,000 wood and 30,000 paper palettes to 180 organizations and 145 schools. Residents from 247 of Vermont's 251 towns participated. More than 280 palette-related events took place and the sale of palette art raised more than $300,000 for Vermont communities.

Art Fits Vermont will provide even more communities with the opportunity to raise funds and community awareness through the arts. Through a marketing partnership with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing, Art Fits Vermont is expected to draw visitors from well beyond the state's borders.

A number of puzzle pieces will also be given to artists in New York State, Quebec

and possibly France. The completed art will join puzzle pieces created by Vermonters at PuzzlePalooza, an exhibit held in conjunction with the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration in July 2009. The puzzle pieces will form a massive visual display signifying the creativity, history and lake that unites Vermont and neighboring regions.

For more information on Art Fits Vermont, visit www.vernontartscouncil.org.

STATEWIDE ARTS PROJECT

WCAX – Jack Thurston

Montpelier, Vermont - Colorful images, beautiful designs. But this is just the start of a puzzle that needs the input of thousands. The Vermont Arts Council is launching Art Fits Vermont-- a statewide arts project.

"You don't have to explain to people what art is and why it's important once you've given them that experience. They know it," explains Alex Aldrich of the Vt. Arts Council.

The group will distribute thousands of wooden puzzle pieces for artists, and paper pieces for schoolchildren to decorate so they can hang the work in their communities.

"Our goal at the moment is to be much better prepared for the onslaught of people who want to participate in this project than we were last time," says Aldrich.

Last time, was the 2006 Palettes of Vermont project. More than 7,000 artists and 30,000 schoolchildren took part. The goal then-- as it is now-- was to make art accessible to a wide audience while promoting cultural tourism.

"There were artists in 247 of Vermont's 251 towns involved in Palettes, which I think is astonishing," says Aldrich.

State tourism officials say the effect on commerce could be equally as astonishing. Commissioner Bruce Hyde expects the puzzle pieces to draw attention from out-of-state media, luring visitors to Vermont's smallest towns and largest cities. He also thinks it's a good kickoff for another large regional celebration: the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's arrival in Lake Champlain.

"As chair of the quadricentennial commission, I'm hopeful we'll get New York, Quebec, and even France to participate in this project. And we'll put together a whole new puzzle full of history, culture, and friendship," says Hyde.

Next week, the Vermont Arts Council will start meeting with artists and community groups to drum up interest in the project. The first puzzle pieces should go on display in the late spring or early summer.

ARTS COUNCIL PIECES TOGETHER A NEW PROJECT

By Sarah Hinckley Herald Staff

Two years ago, the state of art in Vermont was taken over by palettes — this year the Vermont Arts Council will be distributing wooden and paper puzzle pieces on which artists can leave their mark.

Art Fits Vermont: A Statewide Community Arts Project That's Greater than the Sum of its Parts is scheduled to be launched April 16. Beginning in February, the Arts Council will be visiting 16 communities to introduce the project and share experiences from the first project, Palettes of Vermont.

Nearly 40,000 Vermonters created an original design on wooden and paper palettes in the project that lasted for six months in 2006. All but four towns in the state had someone participate and 145 schools — approximately half of those in the state — were involved.

"The palettes project was just unbelievably wonderful," said Diane Scolaro, communications and development director for the Vermont Arts Council. "As soon as it was over, everybody started asking what was next."

The announcement for the puzzle pieces was released Monday and the council's phone had been ringing off the hook throughout the day, Scolaro said. Delivery of the 14-square-inch puzzle pieces, distributed free through the Arts Council, is set for the beginning of April.

"We just give them out to the communities," Scolaro said, noting it is up to the recipients to make the most of the experience. "I think this project is going to be huge."

It is set to go for 20 months and be presented at PuzzlePalooza, which is part of the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration in Burlington in July 2009. The puzzle pieces are designed as middle pieces, with "two innies and two outies," according to Scolaro.

"I don't expect that all 60,000 pieces will fit together, but they're being made so we could," she said. "I have this vision that they will just line the bike path — miles and miles of puzzle pieces."

Palettes of Vermont resulted in 280 palette-related events and the sale of palette art among participating communities raised $300,000. During that project the Arts Council took notes, interviewed participating individuals and organizations, did surveys and evaluated the outcomes.

The Vermont Arts Council is 43 years old and one of the leading advocates and endorsers of the arts in the state. The objective behind the palette and puzzle projects is to give communities a way to engage people, raise money and bring visitors into the region.

"I don't know that we'll do this again, so we want to make sure we get as many people as we can," said Scolaro. "This is a model we're hoping will be conducted on the community level."