VTISA gets accessibility grant from VT Arts Council

Pictured: State representatives Jim Masland and Margaret Cheney, Gov Jim Douglas, Barbara Smith & Scott Paulson from VTISA, and Vermont Arts Council Executive director Alex Aldrich

On Friday, January 11th, the Vermont Arts Council announced their Cultural Facilities Grant recipients for 2008. Scott Paulson and Barbara Smith from Vermont Independent School of the Arts were on hand to accept a $15,747 grant to fund the installation of an elevator in their space in Sharon. All grants awarded from the Vermont Arts Council are matching grants. Since acquiring the 7 Stars property in Sharon one year ago, Board members at VTISA have been busy pinpointing building and program needs. "We have always known to make this building fully accessible to the public that handicap accessibility issues would need to be addressed," said Scott Paulson, founder and Artistic Director of VTISA. "We are extremely grateful to Board member Bob Johnston for putting so much time and effort into this grant project. It wouldn't have happened without him!"

The Vermont Independent School of the Arts is preparing to have our handicap lift installed. We have begun our fundraising to match the $15,747.00 grant. We have to date raised $11,400.00. If you would like to make a donation to our matching funds please send a check to VTISA at PO Box 216, Sharon, VT 05065 and Thank You very much!

We are enormously pleased that the Seven Stars Center will now be accessible to all in our community. Work on this project will begin mid-June and we expect it to take about a month. We will be doing the final finish work and painting ourselves. Anyone good with a brush who would like to help, give us a call!

For more information about this project, or to offer assistance for VTISA to reach their goal, call 802-763-2334, email info@vtisa.org, or log onto www.vtisa.org.