ALL ARTS COUNCIL OF FRANKLIN COUNTY

PROGRAMMING PLANS

AAC fine artists need a major annual exhibit with a large audience more than any other single program.

Create new programming

• Vermont Arts Festival, a new county-wide performance and fine arts weekend show
• Hold regular, small, indoor art shows and exhibits in a central Franklin County location
• Travel those small, indoor art shows and exhibits to remote Franklin County locations
• Produce a CD of Franklin County musicians and artists

Create an outdoor performing and fine arts center for larger programs

Finish the Artist Register with artist and data editor, web page, calendar, and advertising

Continue current programming

• Art and Garden show
• Franklin County Crafts and Fine Arts Tour
• Got Milk Summer Sounds concerts
• Monthly CoffeeHouse/networking meetings
• Provide publicity and technical assistance to other arts groups such as area theater companies, the Green Mountain Wind Ensemble, the Opera House at Enosburg Falls, St Albans CAN!,
• Rotating exhibit in the Highgate Springs Welcome Center
• Travelling Storyteller.
• Vermont Dairy Festival concerts
• Vermont Maple Festival exhibit and concerts
• Vermont Symphony Orchestra concert
• Vermont Youth Orchestra concert

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

The "homeless" arts council really, really needs a home. We are taking a two-step approach to finding one:

Temporary home (funding required)

• Office space and small gallery workshop space
• We need rental funds (or a gift of space) and a small grant for administrative costs and space expense

Permanent home (major funding and/or endowment required)

• Office space
• Small Gallery/Theater/Workshop space
• We need acquisition funds (or a gift of space) and an endowment for administrative costs and space expense

Our discussion of exhibit and office space has focussed on the important location question. Do we choose A centrally located barn A new building at the coming Performing Arts center in Highgate A Main Street storefront A retail location in or near the developing shopping areas A side street storefront or building The Waugh Opera House Another choice Click Here to tell us what you think

Stabilize income for operating expenses (major funding and/or endowment required)

• Increase membership to 200 paid members
• Enroll 15 Franklin County towns for per capita funding
• Create an endowment
• We need Federal (or foundation) grants to seed new programs such as space acquisition and startup costs for the Arts Festival

Develop better organization (low/no cost)

• Need student intern/E.D. for volunteer, office, and program coordination
• Need rainmaker for current operations plus a significant endowment.
• Need membership coordination

Develop a permanent, outdoor performing and fine arts space (potentially no cost)

• Highgate is negotiating with Vermont to assume ownership of the current Field Days site at Franklin County airport.

Acquire simple equipment for traveling shows (moderate cost)

• Utility trailer
• Free standing, folding displays and canopies for outdoor events

Improve arts promotion (funding required)

• Advertising budget for "unfunded" programs
• Continue newspaper columns, newsletter, telephone calling chain, web site
• Expand library links
• Town bulletin boards?

Strengthen "no-cost" partnerships (low/no cost)

• Work with regional non-profits such as Chambers of Commerce, churches, municipalities, PTAs, etc.
• Coordinate with Northern LAAs/presenters: Catamount, Cambridge Arts Council, Island Arts, Opera House at Enosburg Falls, St Albans CAN!

All Arts Council of Franklin County

Dick Harper, Chair
P.O. Box 1
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
email us