Mission:
The Valley Arts Foundation supports the communities of the Mad River Valley, Vermont by encouraging and promoting participation in the Arts.

History:
In 1997, a group of Mad River Valley community members joined together with the goal of establishing a vibrant summer event highlighting the many artists who live and work in the community, and providing the Valley’s residents and visitors with opportunities to experience, explore and participate in the making of art.  The result was the Vermont Festival of the Arts.

In 2006 the Valley Arts Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, took over the Vermont Festival of the Arts.  Under the extraordinary leadership and vision of then Director, Beverly Kehoe, the Festival went from a 10-day event to a full month of arts-related events and activities.  In 2012 we are celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Vermont Festival of the Arts!

2012 is also a transitional year for the Festival and the Foundation.  After the flood of 2011 cancelled a full week’s worth of Festival events, the Board of Directors decided to expand the mission of the Valley Arts Foundation to be a year round organization that encourages and promotes the appreciation and participation of the arts.  In addition, the Festival Gallery, location of the Foundation offices, has become a dynamic venue for local and regional art exhibitions.