Plainfield, Vt. – Goddard College is the recipient of a $30,000 Cultural Facilities Grant from the Vermont Arts Council. With this award, Goddard plans to increase the comfort, accessibility, safety, and functionality of the Haybarn Theatre, which is currently a venue for national and international performers, community members, and students.
Specifically, this grant money will renovate the Haybarn’s foyer bathrooms, making them ADA accessible, and add assistive listening devices for the hearing-impaired, energy-efficient LED theatre lighting, and a permanent sound system and acoustic treatment.
“We are overjoyed to have the opportunity to bring much needed improvements to this essential community and student venue,” said Goddard College Event Manager Meg Hammond.
“The Vermont Arts Council grant has initiated support and enthusiasm from our concert-goers and other community members, which clearly demonstrates the desire to keep the performing arts central to the Haybarn Theatre and surrounding communities,” she said.
Goddard staff were present at the Cultural Facilities Grant Awards Ceremony, held at the State House in Montpelier on February 21 (pictured above).
The Arts Council awarded Cultural Facilities grants to 19 organizations and towns in 10 of Vermont’s 14 counties. Click here for a complete list of grantees by county.
The Cultural Facilities grant program is administered by the Vermont Arts Council in conjunction with the Vermont Historical Society and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. These grants are intended to help Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities enhance, create, or expand the capacity of an existing building to provide cultural activities for the public.
Goddard College holds a matching grant fundraiser featuring Anaïs Mitchell and opener Kris Gruen on April 5th at the Haybarn Theatre in Plainfield. Advanced tickets are $35.
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About Vermont Arts Council
Since 1964, the Vermont Arts Council has been the state’s primary provider of funding, advocacy and information for the arts in Vermont. It strives to increase public awareness of the positive role artists and arts organizations play in communities and to increase opportunities for Vermonters to experience the arts in everyday life. The Council is the only designated State Arts Agency in the U.S. that is also an independent, not-for-profit, membership organization. For more information on the programs and services of the Vermont Arts Council, visit www.vermontartscouncil.org.
About Goddard College
Initially founded in 1863 as the Goddard Seminary in Barre, VT, Goddard College moved to its current Plainfield campus and was chartered in 1938 by founding President Royce “Tim” Pitkin. In 1963, Goddard became the first U.S. college to offer low-residency adult degree programs. Now offering accredited MA, MFA, BA and BFA degree programs from the main campus in Plainfield, Vermont and sites in Seattle and Port Townsend, Washington, Goddard’s low-residency education model offers the best of on-campus and distance education, with experienced faculty advisors, rigorous on-campus residencies, and the freedom to study from anywhere.
Contact
Meg Hammond, Events Manager, Goddard College
802.322.1685
meg.hammond@goddard.edu
Kira Bacon, Communications Manager, Vermont Arts Council
802.828.5422
kbacon@vermontartscouncil.org
