Vermont residents will see a range of public humanities programs this summer after Vermont Humanities distributed a total of $99,137 in Project Grants to 24 organizations across the state. The summer awards support performances, educational matinees, community workshops and other public-facing activities, with $16,387 of the total earmarked for projects connected to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
What the funding supports
The awards back initiatives that bring arts and humanities programming into communities, including music and storytelling projects, theater productions, and language and cultural programming. Among the grant recipients are community arts venues, university programs and local theater companies.
Examples of funded projects include:
- All the Rivers (Burlington) — $5,000 to support a music-driven storytelling initiative celebrating immigrant artists through live performances and interactive workshops statewide.
- Chandler Center for the Arts (Randolph) — $5,000 to present educational matinees for the play A Peasant of El Salvador, including performances in Randolph and Winooski.
- Norwich University, Department of Global Humanities (Chinese Program) (Northfield) — $5,000 for a public humanities project that brings Chinese and Chinese-speaking youth and families together to explore belonging and build community connections.
- Barre Opera House (Barre) — $3,150 for a student matinee with storyteller David Gonzalez focused on the creative process.
- Borderline Players Theatre Company (Newport) — $1,000 for a production of Murder on the Orient Express at the Haskell Opera House in Derby Line.
Funding tied to the 250th anniversary
Vermont Humanities said $16,387 of the awards went to four organizations specifically to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary. Those dollars were made available through the Vermont 250th Commission and private contributors, according to the grant announcement.
Next application round
Vermont Humanities plans to open applications for its Fall 2026 Project Grants in early August. The application deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. Organizations interested in applying should watch the Vermont Humanities website for application materials and guidance on eligibility and project types.
| Organization | Location | Award |
|---|---|---|
| All the Rivers | Burlington | $5,000 |
| Chandler Center for the Arts | Randolph | $5,000 |
| Norwich University (Chinese Program) | Northfield | $5,000 |
| Barre Opera House | Barre | $3,150 |
| Borderline Players Theatre Company | Newport | $1,000 |
The grants aim to make humanities programming accessible to broad audiences, with several awards explicitly supporting student matinees and community workshops. Local organizations and venues funded through these awards will stage events over the coming months; residents should check host organizations’ calendars for dates, locations and ticketing information.
Vermont Humanities administers Project Grants to help nonprofit organizations, municipalities, schools and other public-serving groups present humanities programs. The program seeks projects that engage the public in history, literature, storytelling, civic education, cultural heritage and related fields.
For details about funded projects or how to apply for Fall 2026 funding, visit the Vermont Humanities website or contact the organization directly for application materials and eligibility criteria.
