The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center and the Elliot Street Cafe are teaming up to provide artists with micro-grants and would-be philanthropists with the opportunity to make a difference for just $10.

With a new program called Brattleboro Essential Arts Network (BEAN) Micro-grant Dinners, the museum and restaurant aim to enhance the vitality of art in thecommunity by encouraging dialogue and collaborative decision-making between artists and the general public.

Read more Reformer_BMAC Artists Funding.

The Arts Council of Windham County’s 35th Anniversary Celebration, held on Saturday, June 5, successfully showcased the arts in Windham County to close to 200 individuals.

We would like to thank The Richards Group and C&S Wholesalers for their financial support; Boys and Girls Club for helping with the set-up/clean-up, Brattleboro School of Dance, Brenda Siegal, Luminz Dance Studio, Cyndal Ellis, Anthony Manuel, Meg Van Dyke, Jahnavi Newson, Lauren Reedy, Brooke Paige. Brattleboro Music Center, Derrik Jordan, Lisa Ferrigno, Michelle Liechti, Peggy Spencer, Sabine Rhyne, Derrik Jordan, Julian Gerstin, Robin Matathias, Stephanie Petkanas, Phyllis Isaacson, George Adair, Vermont Jazz Center, Steve Sonntag / Dave Shapiro Jazz Quintet, Steve Sonntag, Paul Lieberman, Paul Arsianian, Dave Shapiro, Mirro Sprague, and food artisans Pepper Water and Cai’s Dim Sum Teahouse.  And, a big thank you to Orly Munzing and her wonderful staff at Strolling of the Heifers.

Public art is alive and well in Windham County.

At its meeting last week, the Brattleboro Selectmen issued a proclamation to acknowledge the Art Council of Windham County’s 35th anniversary on Saturday, June 5.

Town with a big art

Brattleboro ranks in national community poll
Reformer Staff / Reformer Staff
Thursday May 13, 2010

BRATTLEBORO — The town was among two Vermont cities recently listed among the Top Arts Destinations in American Style magazine’s annual readers’ poll.

Brattleboro was ranked No. 20 in the annual poll’s 25 Small Cities category (populations of up to 100,000); Burlington was placed at No. 12 on the list which featured Santa Fe, N.M., in the top spot, and which also included Boulder, Colo., Chapel Hill, N.C., Key West, Fla., and Carmel, Calif.

The 12th annual poll showcases the nation’s small, medium and large cities favored by art tourists and cultural travelers. Readers take into account such features as unique performance venues, premier galleries and year-round festivals.

“I’m delighted for both Burlington and Brattleboro and not at all surprised at their selection,” said Alex Aldrich, the executive director of the Vermont Arts Council. “Frankly, I am surprised that only two Vermont cities were named. My hope is that people visiting as a result of this article will discover that they have to return again and again to experience all the art and culture that Vermont has to offer.”

Wendy Rose, American Style publisher, credited the nation’s arts communities with paying a vital role in pulling the country out of the recession, with artists moving in to “dying Main Streets, shuttered factories and warehouse districts, and converted them into galleries and art scenes.

“Their murals, outdoor sculpture and other public art

enchanted tourists and helped spark new investment,” Rose said. “Artists led the way then, and they are leading the way now.”

The full list can be viewed online atwww.americanstyle.com.

http://www.reformer.com/ci_15074439?source=most_emailed

The Vermont Legislature issued a resolution congratulating the Arts Council of Windham County on its 35th Anniversary.

Visual and performing artists, as well as food artisans, will be on hand to mark the 35th anniversary of the Arts Council of Windham County.  See celebration poster.

The celebration will take place on June 5, 2010 at the River Garden in Brattleboro from 6-10PM.  FREE to the public but donations will always be accepted.

SCHEDULE

6-10PM: Visual artists’ works connecting art with agriculture will be on display.

6-10PM: Food artisans will be offering their talents

6:00-6:50PM: Luminz Dance presents a group of choreographers and dancers who collaborate with musicians to create new performance work.  An eclectic mix of pieces ranging from 20’s flappers to classic modern dance to capoeira/modern fusion.  Choreographers: Meg Vandyck, Joan Sanchez, Cyndal Ellis, Anthony Manuel, and Aurora Corsano

6:50-7:00PM: Brattleboro School of Dance: Under the direction of Kathleen Keller. Piece TBA

7-7:30PM: The Brattleboro Music Center presents: A world fusion piece by Derrik Jordan: “Welcome Santo” in three movements for kalimba, shekere, and string quartet and  ”The Jet Whistle” by Heitor Villa-Lobos for flute and cello. Featuring: Lisa Ferrigno, violin; Michelle Liechti, violin; Peggy Spencer, viola; Sabine Rhyne, cello; Derrik Jordan, kalimba; Julian Gerstin, shekere; Robin Matathias, flute

7:30-8PM: Stephanie Petkanas (voice), Phyllis Isaacson (piano) and George Adair (bass)

8-10PM: Steve Sonntag/Dave Shapiro Jazz Quintet, in collaboration with the Vermont Jazz Center.  The band started in 1993 as a trio and has gone through many configurations over the years. The current quintet consists of Steve Sonntag, tpt/flug; Paul Lieberman, sax/flute/piccolo; Paul Arslanian, piano; Dave Shapiro, bass; and Peter Moutis on drums. The musicians in the quintet have performed with a wide variety of artists including Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, The AJO, Chet Baker, Woody Herman and The Temptations, to name just a few. The band plays many jazz styles and will present original jazz compositions as well as some tasty jazz classics.

Food artisans include Cai’s Dim Sum Tea House.

Some funding has been received by The Richards Group and C&S Wholesalers.

COME HELP CELEBRATE OUR 35 WONDERFUL YEARS OF INSPIRING CREATIVITY!

For more information, please visit Strolling of the Heifers.