MANCHESTER — Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) announced the success of its annual Beaux Arts Fête, held Saturday, Sept. 6. This year’s gala brought together artists, patrons, and community members for an evening of celebration, netting more than $270,000 to benefit the Arts Center — the highest fundraising total in the event’s history.
The Beaux Arts Fête, SVAC’s signature benefit event, is a cornerstone of the center’s mission to champion the arts in Vermont and beyond. Guests enjoyed a night of music, dancing, fine dining by curATE café, and spirited giving, all in support of SVAC’s exhibitions, educational programs, and community initiatives.
“The number itself is extraordinary, but even more extraordinary is what it represents: a shared belief in the power of the arts to inspire, connect, and transform lives,” said Maxine Linehan, chair of the Beaux Arts Fête Committee. “Together, we strengthened Southern Vermont Arts Center, ensuring that it remains a vibrant home for creativity and community for years to come.”
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of two distinguished awards:
Stefania Urist, recipient of the 2025 Artist Award, was honored for her innovative sculptural and installation practice investigating the complex relationship between humans and the environment. Urist’s work, which has been exhibited nationally and internationally, transforms invasive phragmites reeds into monumental installations that raise profound questions about ecology, belonging, and our responsibilities to the land. Her upcoming project in SVAC’s Stroup Family Sculpture Park, planned for 2026, will further highlight her unique vision. Additionally, Urist has just this fall installed “The Ceiling” at SVAC. Located in the lawn near Yester House, this sculptural installation reimagines the “glass ceiling” as a permeable, organic form — blurring boundaries between nature and architecture. The SVAC Artist Award is sponsored by Allison and Walker Kimball.
Bob Van Degna, recipient of the inaugural Vermont Luminary Award, was recognized for his extraordinary leadership and vision as president of SVAC’s Board of Trustees. Over the past decade, Van Degna has been a driving force behind the Center’s revitalization and growth, leaving an indelible mark on Vermont’s cultural landscape. Beyond SVAC, his impact extends across the region through his service on numerous nonprofit boards and initiatives, as well as through his artistic practice as a photographer and filmmaker. Van Degna’s documentary “REUNION: Ordinary Lives Viewed Up Close” recently premiered at SVAC.
The funds raised at the 2025 Beaux Arts Fête will directly support SVAC’s exhibitions, youth and adult programs, and performances, sustaining the organization’s role as a beacon of arts and culture in the region.
The SVAC Beaux Arts Fête was sponsored by Naylor & Breen, Cindy Loudenslager and Gretchen Schmidt, Kathleen Fischer and Rocco Maggiotto, Birdseye Architecture, Berkshire Bank, BMA Architects and Planners, Church Street Hospitality, Dartmouth Health at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, and Sharon and Barnet Phillips, with additional support from H.N. Williams.
For more information about SVAC, upcoming events, or ways to support, visit www.svac.org.
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