November 2012

Hello Vermont Craftspeople and Visual Artists,

For 23 years, the Vermont Crafts Council has represented the entire Vermont visual arts community - individual makers as well as events, galleries, and educational organizations throughout the state. We provide information about the Vermont visual arts community to three important groups: the general public, artists and craftspeople, and divisions of state government that promote Vermont's products and tourism.

We invite you to become a member of the Vermont Crafts Council and join our network of information and support. There are many benefits to becoming a member:

Individual Member Page on Vermontcrafts.com

Each member has a member page in their media category, on our searchable website, vermontcrafts.com. Our website enjoys a high number of page views (about 6000 a month) and appears on the first page of a Google search of Vermont and crafts. If you teach (workshops, private lessons etc), you will also be listed in the Education section of the VCC website.

Open Studio Weekend - A Members Only Event

Open Studio Weekend has become a beloved annual event across Vermont with visitors returning year after year to tour Vermont. As a member, you are eligible to participate in our Open Studio Weekends.

We support those who participate in Open Studio Weekend with a training seminar, a special map section on our website, and targeted emails that provide support as you prepare for the event.

Our primary promotional tool for Open Studio is the Vermont Studio Tour Guide. This 32-page booklet has become a valued resource that provides locations, directions, websites and other contact information for those participating in an Open Studio Weekend. Twenty thousand copies of the guide are distributed through galleries, inns and all sites in the Vermont Information Center network, and they bring business to you before and after Open Studio Weekend.

Open Studio Weekend and a dynamic Vermont Crafts Council website may be the most visible parts of the work we do but we also offer even more.

Spring Marketing Conference

As a member, your fee will be discounted for our day long Spring Marketing Conference held in April. Topics at the conference include specific workshops about current topics in marketing by speakers including Bruce Baker, Elissa Campbell, Meta Strick, and Ruby Leslie. Recent topics have included Promoting With Pinterest, Database Management for Artists, Booth Design, and How to get a Teaching Gig. Our annual meeting is also held as part of this event.

Advocacy

We work closely with staff at the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing to ensure that arts businesses are included in Vermont tourism promotion.

NEW - Beginning in 2012, two of our board members serve on the Standards Group of the Vermont State Craft Center Overview Commission and work to raise the visibility of all high quality Vermont craft galleries.

NEW - in early 2013 we will launch a monthly e-newsletter with opportunities and news.

Put our resources to work for you and help us continue to work for the Vermont crafts and visual arts community. To learn more, please read Your Choices at this link. Thanks!!

Martha Fitch, Executive Director

Mission: We are dedicated to the advancement of Vermont crafts and visual arts within Vermont and nationally, through education and advocacy.
Founded: 1990
Annual membership fee: $60 for 12 months from when you pay your fee.
Membership Guidelines: Vermont residency.
Member Profile: Three main groups:
Visual artists and craftspeople including novices and professionals working with clay, wood, metal, fiber, glass, painting, drawing, printmaking, and paper.
Craft and visual arts organizations.
Galleries and shops, crafts events organizers.

2013 Important Dates
January 4 - Spring Open Studio Registrations Due
April 10 - Open Studio Seminar and Materials Distribution Day
April TBA - Spring Marketing Conference, Annual Meeting and 2nd Open Studio Materials Distribution Day
June 15 - Fall Open Studio Registrations Due
May 25 & 26 Spring Open Studio
September TBA - Fall Open Studio Seminar and Materials Distribution Day
October TBA Fall Open Studio Weekend