Art in Public Places - Call to Artists
BCA partners frequently with departments of the City of Burlington to issue Calls to Artists to integrate permanent works of art into the city's streets, buildings, parks and public places. Open calls can be found on the Current Projects page.
Community Fund
The BCA Community Fund was created to foster a robust, healthy, creative community, to encourage social innovation through the arts, and to support artists and organizations that contribute to the public good through a competitive grant process.
The BTV Market
The BTV Market puts local artists, makers, and entrepreneurs directly in touch with consumers, supporting Vermont's creative economy while bringing vibrancy and a unique shopping experience to downtown Burlington.
The Bright Ideas Project
Are you an artist, musician, creator, or small business with a big idea? Bring your brilliance to Highlight, Burlington’s official New Year’s Eve celebration, by submitting a proposal to the Bright Ideas Project! The Bright Ideas Project is Highlight’s engine for crowdsourcing concepts for one-of-a-kind NYE events. We select the best ideas from our community and support them with up to $8,000 in funding. Events may have elements of music, art, technology, food, literature, theater, and just about anything else you can think of. The more complete and inclusive your idea is, the better. We aim to create unique experiences that people won’t find anywhere else! Head to highlight.community for more details and submit your application by Sunday, September 10 at 11:59 PM.
Art Sales and Leasing Program
BCA’s Art Sales & Leasing program provides Vermont artists with opportunities for increased exposure and sales through external exhibitions in public and private locations. BCA handles all aspects of installation and receives a 40% commission on work sold. Clients may purchase or choose to lease artwork for their public spaces using our non-juried, online artist database to explore participating artists. All artwork is insured for the duration of the exhibition by the hosting venue. Participation in this program is non-exclusive, and we encourage artists to explore and foster many options for exhibition, representation, and sales.
Image: Sandy Sokoloff, Archangel Haniel, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 60
Gallery Submission
The BCA Center is Vermont’s premiere showcase for contemporary artists working in all media including but not limited to painting, sculpture, photography, video, installation and performance. Thoughtful consideration and equal representation is given to artists with strong connections to Vermont and the region. The BCA Center is equally dedicated to exhibiting artists of national and international scope so as to foster dialogue, promote an exchange of ideas, and to highlight current tendencies in contemporary art between the local art community and those residing elsewhere. BCA presents six to eight Main Gallery exhibitions each year, which range from thematic, group exhibitions to single artist exhibitions.
The Herb Lockwood Prize
The Herb Lockwood Prize was created to reward the pinnacle of arts leadership in the state of Vermont. The prize recognizes artists who produce significant work in the areas of visual arts, music, writing, drama, dance, film, and fine woodworking, while also having a beneficent influence on the Vermont community. An anonymous committee selects one recipient each year; there is no application process. Herb Lockwood was an inspirational figure in the Burlington arts and music scene in the 1980s. Learn more: herblockwoodprize.org.
Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award
The Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award was established in 2021 by the family of Diane Gabriel (1947-2017), one of Vermont’s most celebrated artists and educators. This award is given on an annual basis to emerging Vermont-based artists. The award encourages experimentation and supports an artist’s creative development, especially those artists interested in initiating innovative ideas, exploring new media, or better establishing their art-making practice. The award is valued at $2,500 and includes a cash stipend, complimentary class registration, and/or use of the BCA Studio. The Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award is made possible by Eben Cahan, Lorraine Gabriel Sherman, Robert Sherman, and Mark Stoler. Applications for the 2023 award are now closed and the winner will be announced Friday, May 19 at 6 pm at the BCA Center. Contact Curatorial Assistant and Gallery Coordinator, Jacquie O'Brien at jobrien@burlingtoncityarts.org with questions.
Image: Diane Gabriel, Untitled (Necklace)
Elevation Grant
A pilot program for 2022, the BCA Elevation Grant is designed to support regional artists and artist groups with grants between $500 and $5,000. The grant will help artists address the basic challenges of artmaking with the flexibility of funds that may be used at any stage of the creative process. The Elevation Grant is a one-year pilot program that will bridge support for artists as other pandemic-related funding sources reach their end. The Elevation Grant application period is now closed.
