The Statement

“Last month, the FBI reported that hate crimes in Vermont increased for the second year in a row, and are now at their highest level since 1995. The evidence of escalating hatred and bigotry is right here in Vermont. There are dozens of examples from Burlington to Brattleboro, St. Johnsbury to Bennington. As cultural leaders, we stand against hate and violence and we will take action.

“We have come together to commit our cultural organizations to the vital work of promoting inclusion, respect and change in Vermont communities. We know that the arts and humanities have the power to create and nurture empathy, promote critical thinking and thoughtful reflection, offer healing strategies and advance understanding across differences such as race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability and age. In 2019, each of our organizations will undertake programming that advances dialogue and healing in our communities. We invite other cultural organizations across the state to join us to reject bigotry, work for a kinder and more thoughtful Vermont, and build creative, healthy, welcoming communities for all.” Join the effort at the Vermont Humanities Council’s Website.

Signing Organizations
Although other organizations are expected and encouraged to join the effort, the following table lists the organizations that have signed the statement as of December 5, 2018:

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Bennington Museum
Big Heavy World
Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
Brattleboro Music Center
Burlington City Arts
Cabot Arts
Catamount Arts
CERF+ – the Artists Safety-net
Circus Smirkus
Clemmons Family Farm
Community Engagement Lab
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Grass Roots Art & Community Effort (GRACE)
Helen Day Art Center
In-Sight Photography Project
INSPIRIT, a dance company Inc.
JAG Productions
Jeh Kulu
Judi Emanuel Family and Friends
Kingdom County Productions
Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Latchis Arts
Lost Nation Theater
Lyric Theatre Company
Main Street Arts
Music For Sprouts
New England Youth Theatre
Old Stone House Museum
RETN
River Arts Center
Rockingham Arts and Museum Project
Rokeby Museum
Say It Forward Productions
Shelburne Museum
Sundog Poetry Center
The Carving Studio and Sculpture Center
The Paramount Theater
University of Vermont Lane Series
Vermont Arts Council
Vermont Arts Exchange
Vermont Center for Independent Living
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Vermont Community Foundation
Vermont Folklife Center
Vermont Historical Society
Vermont Humanities Council
Vermont International Film Festival (VTIFF)
Vermont Performance Lab
Vermont Stage
Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Vermont Youth Orchestra Association
Vermont’s Cartoonist Laureate
Vermont’s Poet Laureate
VSA Vermont
WonderArts Vermont
Young Writers Project

Organizations who have signed the statement will be invited to nominate representatives to join a planning committee for a meeting in early 2019. We anticipate that this meeting will be one of a series of coalition-building meetings across the state by Vermont’s arts and culture leaders who represent a diverse and broad-based community. Please contact us if you would like to participate in this work.

For more information about the statement and the participating organizations:
Lydia Clemmons, Clemmons Family Farm, (802) 310-0097
Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup, Vermont Humanities Council, (802) 262-1351
Karen Mittelman, Vermont Arts Council, (802) 828-5420