SVAC Historical Marker on kvabbottsartblog.blogspot.com

Located in Manchester, Vermont and nestled at the foot of the very majestic Mount Equinox, The Southern Vermont Arts Center is one of New England’s premier destinations for the arts.

Mount Equinox on the SVAC Campus Image by Brian Sylvester

Founded in the early 1920’s, the Center’s goal was to give local artists an opportunity to exhibit their works and served as a gathering point for community education and outreach, but quickly attracted attention and support beyond the immediate vicinity. What began as an idea among a few friends in 1922 has since flourished into a lasting institution.

View of the Yester House on svac.org

In the early days, up and coming artists such as Luigi Lucioni, Ogden Minton Pleissner, Dean Fausett, and Norman Rockwell all exhibited at the Center and later became world renowned. The great American artist, Grandma Moses, even held her 100th birthday celebration at SVAC in 1960, and at that time, Life Magazine commemorated the event.

SVAC Campus Map on svac.org

Today, the SVAC’s sprawling 100-acre campus is home to numerous galleries, education classrooms, a 400 seat performance hall, and a beautiful landscape featuring sculpture gardens, and hiking trails. The Center is open year round and offers plenty of activities for all ages, provides the setting for private events, and continues to expand its programs.

Outdoor Sculpture Garden at SVAC Image by Brian Sylvester

SVAC exhibits art from both its permanent collection and its ever-expanding pool of contributing Vermont artists, as well as from prominent artists all across the United States and the world, through its series of group and solo shows. The end result is a unique blend of exceptional work on view in what might at first seem like an unlikely location.

The Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum on svac.org

Manchester, Vermont is just a short 200 miles from Manhattan, New York, though it may seem worlds away, and has become best known as a popular vacation spot. Visiting art enthusiasts and collectors who return regularly to SVAC know there is much more to the area than its natural beauty.

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

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