S et amidst 100 acres of pristine forest at the foot of the Taconic Mountains, the Southern Vermont Arts Center( SVAC) stands as a beacon of artistic excellence and cultural enrichment. For nearly a century, SVAC has served as an artistic oasis that beautifully showcases the work of artists from Vermont and beyond. In addition, SVAC has hosted countless captivating musical performances, both on its gorgeous grounds and the on-site Arkell Pavilion, as well as phenomenal community programs for patrons and visitors of all ages. As SVAC moves into a new era, the venerated institution is poised for an exciting period of growth under the leadership of its new Executive Director, Amelia Wiggins.
Wiggins took the helm at SVAC in 2024, applying her rich background in arts administration, education, and museum curation to her new role. Wiggins previously served as the Director of Advancement and External Affairs at the Delaware Art Museum, where she spearheaded initiatives that significantly expanded audience engagement, diversified funding streams, and strengthened community partnerships. A trained painter with degrees from the Maryland Institute College of Art and Bank Street College, Wiggins possesses a deep understanding of both the artistic and institutional aspects of museum leadership. Wiggins envisions SVAC as an open canvas for artistic growth, fostering large-scale creative impact while remaining loyal to the needs of the Southern Vermont community.
When asked about what excites her most about SVAC’ s upcoming season, Wiggins doesn’ t hesitate:“ Now is a time for growth. SVAC is approaching its hundredth anniversary, and we have an opportunity to expand our reach— both by showcasing Vermont artists to a broader audience and by bringing extraordinary national and international artists to our campus.”
An Open Canvas
Southern Vermont Arts Center’ s passionate new Executive Director, Amelia Wiggins, shares her excitement for the upcoming season and the future of SVAC’ s programming
This dual commitment has manifested through the ambitious slate of exhibitions Wiggins and her team have planned for the coming season. A major exhibition of abstraction will feature works from both local and national artists, including three significant loans from the Art Bridges Foundation. The exhibit will feature works by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Alice Trumbull Mason, and Sam Gilliam.“ To have those artists as part of our programming is a major step forward for us,” Wiggins explains.“ It’ s a way of saying that SVAC isn’ t just a regional art center— we are an institution that is part of a much larger artistic conversation.”
Part of what drew Wiggins to SVAC was its stunning campus, a sprawling estate that combines historic, bucolic charm with stateof-the-art facilities.“ From the moment you drive up the hill, you can feel that this place is special,” she says.“ It’ s not just about the art— it’ s about the experience of being here, surrounded by nature, history, and creativity.”
In line with that sentiment, SVAC’ s Yester House has played a pivotal role in hosting its exhibitions since 1950. This grand 28- room mansion, with its ten distinct galleries, hosts rotating exhibitions featuring SVAC’ s member artists.“ Yester House is a space that truly allows artists to shine,” Wiggins notes.“ Each room feels like a world unto itself, offering a unique setting for a wide range of artistic styles and mediums.”
Complementing the contemporary art exhibitions is SVAC’ s permanent collection— which includes works by Luigi Lucioni, Ogden Pleissner, and Grandma Moses.“ One of our long-term goals is to make more of our permanent collection accessible to the public,” Wiggins explains.“ We’ re currently working to document and restore key works so that they can be displayed in ways that honor
COURTESY SVAC their significance.”
Beyond the galleries, SVAC offers visitors the opportunity to explore 100 acres of trails and sculpture park, a landscape where art and nature seamlessly converge.“ Walking through the sculpture park is one of my favorite ways to experience SVAC,” Wiggins shares.“ You can take a stroll through the park, bring a picnic, or just sit and take in the view of the mountains. It’ s an ever-changing, immersive experience.” For those seeking a more active encounter with the landscape, SVAC’ s campus connects directly to the Equinox Preservation Trust trails, offering trails that range from gentle loops to ambitious hikes leading to the summit of Mount Equinox.“ It’ s all part of what makes SVAC such a unique place,” Wiggins says.“ We’ re not just a museum or a gallery— we’ re a space where art, nature, and community come together.”
Another central pillar of Wiggins’ vision for SVAC is expanding access to arts education.
“ Right now, we serve about 4,000 students a year, but we know the demand is even greater,” she says.“ That’ s why we’ re increasing the number of camps we offer this summer, expanding our after-school programs, and working to bring more visiting artists into local schools. By 2027, we hope to double the number of students we serve.”
Wiggins, who is now raising her own children in Vermont, understands firsthand the importance of making the arts an integral part of daily life.“ One of the things that drew me to SVAC was its commitment to intergenerational programming— from summer camps for kids to art classes for adults to concerts that bring the whole community together.”
Among the many exciting community events on the horizon is SVAC’ s free six-week outdoor concert series, which will run on Friday evenings in July and August.“ We want SVAC to be a gathering place,” Wiggins says.“ Imagine sitting outside with a glass of wine and listening to incredible live music while your kids run around exploring freely. That’ s what we want to create— a place where everyone feels welcome.” n
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