Now in its third year of existence, the Governor's Institute on the Arts provides grade and high-schoolers with an intensive, two week residential program of independent and collaborative work in a variety of fine arts, as well as film animation. The program is funded by the VT State Department of Education and staffed by professional artists. Participants are chosen (2 per school) on the basis of proven potential in the arts. The primary objectives of the program are to expose young artists to working artists instead of teachers; to challenge the young artists' previously held notions about their particular media, as well as about the concept of 'art' in general; to expose young artists to a larger community of peers who share the same creative drive, and to harness the positive reinforcement inherent in that commonality. Last year's institute was held, as it will be again this year, at Castleton State College.
Made possible in part by grants from the Vermont Department of Education, Vermont Council on the Arts, and the Amicus Foundation
