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BigTown today
In 2025, BigTown proudly celebrates 25 years of community-centered arts programming in rural central Vermont. This milestone honors the writers, artists, architects, photographers, photojournalists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who have shaped a vibrant, resilient arts community committed to addressing critical issues — climate change, social and environmental justice, war, and innovation.
In the summer of 2025, we partnered with Kyle Bergman, founder of the Architecture & Design Film Festival, to host a series of three immersive gatherings that combined film, dialogue, and locally inspired meals. This was in addition to the second running of our photography workshop, led again by Jim Dow and Cassandra Klos.
While generous friends and patrons of BigTown Projects and BigTown Gallery helped support this year’s programming, we’d love to be able to continue putting on events and run a full season of programming next summer. Your support, once or ongoing, ensures that BigTown can continue to offer transformative arts experiences in rural Vermont for years to come. If you would like to donate, tax-deductible donations may be written to BigTown Projects, Inc. the non-profit branch of BigTown Vermont, through check or through the form below.
Thank you!
Bring your curiosity — Leave inspired!
FILM
Partnering with the Architecture & Design Film Festival, we were able to screen three engaging films this summer —
Strange and Familiar: Architecture on Fogo Island
Frank Gehry: Building Justice
& Beyond Zero
Three films that inspired conversation and brought new knowledge to our audience. BigTown wishes the repurposing committee for the Rochester High School, where we were able to screen these films, all the very best in its endeavors to revitalize this space and much positive momentum going forward.
TALK
We were able to host incredible artists, authors, and inspirational speakers, encouraging dialogue about complex and challenging topics.
April Surgent, one of the artists featured in our ongoing exhibition Being Here Now, gave a talk about her work photographing in the Pearl and Hermes Atoll.
Colleen Meaney, Program Director at the Treamont School, moderated a conversation on resiliency, recovery, and healing after conflict with authors and educators Dr. Theresa Betancourt and Betsy Small, with special guest Alusine Kamara.
Bill McKibben, author and leading environmental activist, gave on a talk on solar power and his new book, Here Comes the Sun.
FOOD
Your support allowed us to feed hundreds of people with delicious, locally sourced food, prepared by incredible chefs. A bountiful grazing table featuring the best of Vermont’s seasonal foods, wood-fired pizza by Chef PJ Lauriello, and One-Meal-For-All with food historian and hearth-cooking expert Paula Marcoux. Our last event even got a shout out from local foodie Senator Rocket at EatVermont on Instagram!
With the support from local farms, including North Hollow Farm, Uphill Farm, Old Road Farm, and Jasper Hill.
We were continuously supported by Foley Brother’s Brewing, who offered beer and wine at all events.
