By Beck Natale 

It comes as no surprise to anyone who’s set foot in Burlington that this area of Vermont is a thriving hub of arts and cultural activity. Burlington is Vermont’s most populous city, and Chittenden County, part of the Greater Burlington region, is Vermont’s most populous county, home to more than a quarter of Vermonters. From the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival to the South End Art Hop to countless theater performances, public murals, drag shows, cultural celebrations, and more, creativity abounds in every corner of this county. 

Yet the creative spirit is not limited to Burlington—far from it. Explore creativity through a variety of workshops, view and purchase local artwork in gallery exhibitions, and participate in creative community events across the region.  

If you’re looking for an immersive arts experience, check out the Milton Artists Guild, a vibrant community hub and artist support network offering a number of workshops and creative events. Other interactive opportunities can be found in Richmond at Radiate Art Space, an all-ages community art studio that offers everything from public poetry readings to family art-making nights. 

Visit the Shelburne Craft School for hands-on education in a variety of artisanal crafts, including stained glass, life drawing, yarn spinning, and more. For longer-term arts education opportunities, Poker Hill Arts in Underhill offers after-school classes, summer camps, adult art classes, and more.

Interested in engaging with the arts, but don’t want to attend a workshop?  

In Essex Junction, explore the work of over 400 Vermont artists at the ArtHound Gallery. A variety of local products are on sale at the gallery, from fresh jam and maple syrup to textiles and pottery. In Winooski, at the Heritage Winooski Mill Museum, you’ll learn about this historic mill city through exhibits that tell the story of former workers of the Winooski Falls mill.  

At the Shelburne Museum, engage with history through special exhibitions, events, and educational programs. Explore the museum’s vast collections of objects, each with its own story to tell. While you’re in Shelburne, visit the Abenaki Totem at Shelburne Farms, carved by Missisquoi artist Richard Menard. The totem was gifted to the Shelburne Farms in 2015, when the farm hosted the Wabanaki Confederacy Conference of the Western Abenaki people.  

Creativity is abundant in the area, and these examples are just a sampling of arts and culture experiences in the region. To find more arts and culture events, workshops, and other activities nearby, visit the Vermont Arts Calendar.

This story is brought to you in partnership with the Vermont Arts Council, working for a creative state. Explore Vermont’s arts sector and discover opportunities to engage with the arts, including classes and workshops, through this series of spotlights. The Vermont Creative Network is working to advance Vermont’s creative sector in communities throughout the state.