When Creativity Creates Community

In Vermont, creativity thrives in all its forms—classical musicians enchanting guests at the Clemmons Family Farm, students charming audiences with their spirited Cyrano de Bergerac at Very Merry Theatre, and 1,400 ticket holders taking to their feet as The Flynn ignites for the unforgettable Hug Your Farmer concert to name just a few.

The numbers tell part of the story. The arts generate $158.6 million annually and support more than 2,700 jobs in Vermont, according to the 2023 Arts and Economic Prosperity study.* But as Stacie Fagan, Vice President of Philanthropy at the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF), explains, their real impact is more profound: “The arts are a basic human need, and they are critical to addressing some of the urgent and pervasive challenges we see in our communities right now. Whether fostering belonging, promoting connection and mental wellbeing, or nurturing creativity, the act of creating art singularly or collectively builds stronger, resilient, and joyful communities.”

Community foundations bring donors together to support the causes and nonprofits that matter to them in a specific geographic area, like Vermont. They identify needs in the community and help donors focus their support where it matters most. The VCF does just that, working with more than 1,000 families, businesses, and individuals to bring their love of Vermont to life through their giving.

Anaïs Mitchell’s Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown is a testament to the power of connections—between people, ideas, and the support systems that make bold creativity possible. Community foundations, like the VCF, play a vital role in fostering these connections. The VCF awarded Mitchell an Artist Creation Grant in 2005, helping to bring Hadestown to life.

In 2006, Hadestown had its first performances in Barre and Vergennes, Vermont. Mitchell’s vision grew from a local experiment into an international sensation. “What feels so real about all of this is that Vermont is a place where weird and beautiful ideas are believed in,” she reflects. That belief—and the connections it creates—has made Vermont fertile ground for creativity.

This collaborative spirit is also evident in events like November’s Hug Your Farmer benefit concert at The Flynn. Rich Price (of The Sweet Remains) served as producer and emcee and Bob Wagner, the evening’s music director, led Grace Potter, Ryan Miller, Mike Gordon (of Phish), and an all-star lineup of Vermont musicians for a night of unforgettable music.

With financial support from Hug Your Farmer’s creators, Select Design, which covered the cost of the show to ensure all proceeds would go to Vermont farmers, and a challenge match from a VCF donor, the event raised over $200,000, benefiting the VCF’s Flood Response and Recovery Fund. Bob Wagner, highlighted music’s unique role in fostering connection: “Music brings people together in so many ways—it’s foundational.”

For Wagner and countless others, a life in the arts is about more than creating—it’s about purpose. “Choosing the arts as a life path is more of a calling than many people realize,” he shared from his studio. “It’s not an easy choice, but it gives purpose and allows artists to bring good into the world. When resources are scarce, organizations like the Vermont Community Foundation help make it possible.”

VCF’s fundholders and donors understand this need and are working together to create programs that foster connection and community and create opportunities for the arts to thrive. The VCF’s Arts & Social Cohesion program grew out of conversations with generous individuals who wanted their giving to make a difference. Through their donor-advised fund (also known as a giving account), they funded a new-to-the-world grant program with the VCF to foster connection and belonging through the arts.

“The fundholders see the arts as a conduit to social connection—something many Vermonters are craving post-pandemic,” said Fagan. “They asked us to think about how they could support that basic, urgent human need for connection through the arts.” Fagan also emphasized the universal benefits of creativity: “You don’t have to be an artist to benefit from making art. The very act of creating, in and of itself, can be cathartic.”

Since its inception in 2023, the Arts & Social Cohesion program has awarded $500,000 in grants to 57 organizations, fostering creativity and connection. Some highlights include launch funding for the Morristown Free University, ONE Arts’ inclusive family workshops, the Unheard Stories Project empowering New American teens, Chandler Center for the Arts’ Make Music Day in Randolph, and Marlboro Studio School’s community-led town map project.

The arts remind us that we can come together, create, and heal even in the most divisive times. They transform loneliness into connection, isolation into belonging, and challenges into beauty. Yet, as Bob Wagner reflects, “If artists aren’t funded to begin with, you have no idea what they’re capable of producing. And I know we have so many talented people here in Vermont.”

His words remind us that the arts need our support to flourish—not just for the beauty they bring, but for the community they inspire and the potential they unlock.

Supporting the arts isn’t just about preservation and beauty; it’s about investing in the creativity and purpose that strengthen Vermont’s communities. Together, we can keep Vermont’s spirit alive while paving the way for future generations to dream, create, and connect.

The arts give Vermont its soul—and through them, we find ours.

*Source: Americans for the Arts. (2023). Arts & Economic Prosperity 6: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts & Culture Organizations and Their Audiences. Available at: aep6.americansforthearts.org

Ready to get started?
Call us at 802-388-3355, opt. 5 and let’s put your generosity to work, creating connections and opportunities through the arts in Vermont.