By Desmond Peeples
The corridor stretching from Grand Isle County through Franklin, Lamoille, and Washington counties includes picturesque landscapes and villages full of hidden arts gems. Explore historic and walkable downtowns like St. Albans, Waterbury, and Barre, and the cultural hub that is Vermont’s capital, Montpelier.
Grand Isle and Franklin Counties
Vermont’s northwestern most corner is one of its least populous, but the islands and peninsulas that make up Grand Isle County are still humming with creativity. The Island Arts Center based out of North Hero organizes community events regularly, including the Grand Island County Music Festival, and operates an art gallery at the Community Bank in South Hero.
Across the water from the islands on the mainland is Franklin County, the seat of which is beautiful St. Albans, where every April the Vermont Maple Festival celebrates quintessential Vermont food and culture. Whatever the season, visitors to St. Albans can enjoy the St. Albans Museum’s special and permanent exhibits on Vermont history and culture. Permanent exhibits include displays on railroad history, farming history and science, Abenaki heritage, the history of medicine, women’s rights, and more.
Lamoille County
Lamoille County may be best known for the skiers paradise that is Stowe, a scenic town brimming with restaurants, shops, and entertainment. High up adjacent to Mount Mansfield, which looms over the town, is Spruce Peak Arts, a performance venue with world-class programming year-round. Stowe is also home to The Current, an arts exhibition and education center with regular artist talks open to the public. About 25 minutes northwest of Stowe in Johnson is another Lamoille County arts hub, the Vermont Studio Center. This international residency program hosts artists and writers throughout the year, offers public readings and talks by renowned visiting artists, and operates a public gallery out of their main building.
Washington County
Coming from Stowe, your first stop in Washington County might be the neighboring town of Waterbury, where downtown art installations enliven strolls between the shops and restaurants.
Just 15 minutes down Interstate 89 from Waterbury is the capital region, where the twin cities of Montpelier and Barre form a cultural hub along the Winooski River. In Montpelier, visitors can enjoy the arts even under the golden dome of the state house building. The state house and its art galleries are always open to the public even during the legislative session. The Farmers Night Concert Series welcomes crowds to enjoy performances by an array of Vermont artists in the House Chamber. The grounds around the state house are often abuzz with creative activity, from the Saturday Farmers Market to song and dance-filled celebrations like All Species Day each May. In the summer, the first Friday of every month is Art Walk in downtown Montpelier, when galleries, shops, and venues stay open for special events, and the streets bustle with activity into the night.
Down the river in Barre, the town’s history as a granite capital is reflected in the local art, with granite sculptures dotting the town and making an unusual tourist destination out of the Hope Cemetery, where many of the headstones are carved into unique and personal works of art. In downtown Barre, art lovers will enjoy Studio Place Arts‘ three floors of rotating exhibits featuring local and regional artists. The historic Barre Opera House hosts 70-100 performing arts events each year, from internationally renowned acts to local stars. Beyond the urban centers of Washington County are hidden gems like the Kent Museum in Calais, where contemporary art exhibitions are presented in a mid-19th-cenury historic hamlet setting.
Beyond the urban centers of Washington County are hidden gems like the Kent Museum in Calais, where contemporary art exhibitions are presented in a mid-19th-century historic hamlet setting. Another must-visit for contemporary art lovers, but in a very different setting, is the Bundy Modern, a gallery designed in the Bauhaus style and set among a landscaped sculpture garden in the woods of Waitsfield. About 30 minutes south of Montpelier on scenic Route 100, Waitsfield is the heart of Mad River Valley and home to a variety of galleries and shops. Check out Mad River Valley Arts for local exhibits and arts events.
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.
