Southern Vermont Arts Center

10/14/2026

10/08/2026

This year's Fall Foliage Plein Air Retreat has been incredible. Artists have been all over the valley, painting the landscapes, light, and changing colors of Southern Vermont.

A huge thank you to Cynthia Rosen for sharing her process during an inspiring evening studio demonstration, and to plein air master George Van Hook for an unforgettable day of painting at the extraordinary Seven Springs. And thank you to Stan Stroup for his generous hospitality.

After a week of painting throughout the valley, tonight is your chance to see what these artists have created—and take home a piece of Vermont. Our Wet Paint Art Sale & Exhibition is tonight at SVAC's Wilson Museum from 6-9 p.m. Come see the work fresh from the easels and find your favorite.
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10/07/2026

Don't miss our Open Members' Exhibition! Opening party is this Saturday from 3-5 p.m.

SVAC’s 97th Open Members’ Exhibition brings original art, fresh discoveries and works for sale to Manchester.

10/05/2026

They’re out in the field today! 🎨 Our visiting painters are spending the day capturing the landscapes, light, color, and character of Southern Vermont as fall unfolds—and today, they’re painting at Smokey House Center.

A big thank you to our friends at Smokey House Center for welcoming our painters and giving them such a beautiful place to work.

These paintings are being made right now and will be on the walls at SVAC for our Wet Paint Art Sale this Thursday evening. Come see what they’ve captured—and take home a little piece of Vermont painted this week.
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10/05/2026

Gallery Tour: For the Love of Vermont

First Wednesdays of the Month
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
FREE with admission
Yester House

Join Anita Rafael, co-author of For the Love of Vermont, for a special guided tour of Southern Vermont Arts Center’s celebrated For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection. Offered on the first Wednesday of each month, these tours provide an intimate opportunity to discover the stories, artists, and artworks that make the collection such a remarkable portrait of Vermont.

Drawing on her deep knowledge of the collection and her experience co-authoring the accompanying book, Anita will share stories and insights that illuminate the artworks, the artists who made them, and the Vermont they depict.

About Anita Rafael
For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection was authored in collaboration with Lyman Orton by Anita Rafael, a writer living and working in an 1840s carriage barn she rehabbed in Wardsboro, VT. Her feature articles about people, places, arts, food, travel, and events in Vermont have appeared in lifestyle magazines and newspapers throughout the state of Vermont since 2007.

https://www.svac.org/class/gallery-tour-for-the-love-of-vermont/?wcs_timestamp=1791372600

09/29/2026

Fall is putting on a beautiful show at SVAC. 🍂 Take in the changing colors across our 100-acre campus, enjoy the mountain views, explore the galleries, and settle in for a meal at curATE.

Whether you're here for the art, the scenery, or simply a little time to unwind, there's something special about fall on the hill. Come see us this season. We can't wait to welcome you!
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09/29/2026

This was a great program with Manchester Vermont Historical Society curator Shawn Harrington.

Shawn traced the evolution of art in Southern Vermont, from the early Dorset painters of the 1920s to the lasting influence of Bartlett Arkell and the founding of the Southern Vermont Artists. Through stories of artists, patrons, and the community, it explores how a regional movement grew into the Southern Vermont Arts Center and shaped a lasting cultural legacy that continues today with the vision presented in For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection.

09/27/2026

09/26/2026

There’s always another way to experience SVAC. Did you know we offer several recurring gallery and collection tours, giving you the chance to go deeper into the art, the artists, and the stories behind what’s on view?

Every week: Join our Collectors' Tour of Yester House for a closer look at our member works and the remarkable stories behind the art.

Every month: Go behind the scenes with artist Dona Ann McAdams in Troubleshooting: Making Photographs, or explore For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection with a guided gallery tour from author and historian, Anita Rafael.

Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, there’s always something new to discover. See upcoming tour dates and plan your visit at svac.org.
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