Grantees

Sandglass Theater seeks support with hosting residencies for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students attending three of Vermont’s rural elementary schools. Our school residency program includes six days onsite in classrooms with each school partner, totaling eighteen classrooms served throughout the project. Our three partnering schools have limited access to arts enrichment opportunities. During each residency, the Sandglass Youth Engagement Coordinator will present a live performance, facilitate a puppet building workshop, and engage students in interactive theater games focused on performance and communication skills. Sandglass will provide a study guide to classroom teachers, helping integrate the residencies into existing lesson plans.

Expand their creative arts program for children ages one through five called "Sprout About ART".

Start With The Arts instills a lifelong love of learning in Vermont’s youngest children by combining direct service arts-based literacy activities for children with professional development for childcare providers. In 2022-23, Start With The Arts will pilot Arts First, a new version of the program that focuses on supporting providers in meeting the emerging and increasing mental health and behavioral needs of children through arts-based social and emotional learning activities.

Chandler Center for the Arts is continuing to grow its Youth Musical Summer Program. In its heyday, the program served over 100 students from all over Central Vermont, and we are growing back each year. This summer, rec programs are being cut, and there is a scarcity of childcare options in the area. Chandler fills a need by offering a full-day camp for three weeks during the summer to elementary and high school students. Theater programs and summer camps offer social and emotional benefits, as well as aid in developing skills such as teamwork, creativity, commitment, and literary engagement. They foster mentorship with role models and a sense of community belonging.

Provide violin instruction, music and movement for early education student as part of supervisory union's family wellness initiative. The Family Wellness Program is designed to support families in making healthy choices for all members.

TAP is a theatre arts program that serves 40 youth and adults with cognitive, social and physical disabilities along with 4-5 non-disabled peers. Year-round theatre skill-based activities enhance communications, self-expression and self-esteem.

Very Merry Theatre is expanding programming and attracting new participants in the areas of costume design and set design. Historically, Very Merry Theatre programs have focused on the performance side of theatre where children meet weekly to learn story-telling and performance skills culminating in a theatrical production. We aim to expand our offerings to include programming in other creative arts associated with theatrical productions. Specifically we want to offer classes in costume design and set design which would enable interested participants to showcase their creative ideas and learn new skills in the technical arts related to a theatrical production. We also hope this may attract new participants.

Very Merry Theatre is establishing a teen youth council to engage in the following diversity and equity activities: a.) Gather feedback from youth in our community about new programming interests with an eye on multi-cultural offerings and organize and sponsor at least three new workshops or events in response to that feedback; b.) Facilitate conversations with youth in the community and community partners to explore ways that VMT can further our commitment to creating a safe space that is anti-racist, inclusive of youth with disabilities and honors gender identity and expression.