Stowe Jazz Festival
Stowe Jazz Festival
by the relatively young median age of this sampling, it’ s clear Petit is interested in helping usher in the future of jazz.
Future Plans
Speaking of the future, when I asked George about a 5 or 10 year plan for Stowe Jazz Festival, he was measured, in a manner consistent with the realities of running an arts non-profit. Some of those realities include very low earnings for an executive director, while still working 12 months out of the year. Or the non-existence of basic office infrastructure. Each fundraising season comes with the potential of falling short and calling it quits.“ We never know at the end of our festival if we’ re going to make it through another year. We’ ve made it through 10 years; to say,‘ by the skin of our teeth,’ would be an understatement.” He thinks there exist angel donors who could make SJF solvent, and better able to expand to include more full-time staff. He continued,“ In five years, I might not be
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© Neil Landino Photography
42 VERMONT MAGAZINE