large room with circular tables and people sitting at them listening to a speaker at the front
Participants from arts, culture, and Vermont’s creative sector gather to learn about emergency preparedness at the 2024 VACDaRN Day of Learning. Credit: Noel Clark, Vermont Humanities

What We Do

The Vermont Arts and Culture Disaster and Resilience Network (VACDaRN) is working to build the strength and resilience of Vermont’s vital cultural sector. Through the network, artists and cultural organizations work together to share expertise and resources, mobilize response for mutual assistance during emergencies, and engage collectively with first responders and government emergency management agencies.

VACDaRN provides resources and training in readiness and in how to respond in the event of an emergency to mitigate the impact of disasters and ensure our communities recover quickly and grow more resilient.

VACDaRN is a partnership of the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.

History

Over the course of nearly a year (2018-2019), three meetings were held, bringing together relevant organizations and expertise to organize and set the action priorities for the network.

In 2020, VACDaRN created two resource pages in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including information about funding and arts and cultural response.

In 2023, VACDaRN created a resource page in response to the July flooding and severe weather, including information about funding opportunities.

In 2024, VACDaRN created a resource page in response to the summer flooding with guidance on next steps for impacted organizations and artists.

Steering Committee

Steering committee members embody the diversity of VACDaRN’s individual and organizational constituents.  Archivists, arts organizations, artists, conservators, educators, emergency managers, historic preservationists, historical society staff and volunteers, humanities organizations, and librarians are all represented.

Meet the Steering Committee.

Read Steering Committee meeting notes.

Stay Connected

Contact vacdarn@gmail.com to request to be added to the VACDaRN mailing list. Visit our Contact page for more ways to get in touch, and find us on Facebook.

Meet Our Partners