Manchester Historical Society curator, Shawn Harrington traces the evolution of art in Southern Vermont, from the early Dorset painters of the 1920s to the lasting influence of Bartlett Arkell and the founding of the Southern Vermont Artists. Through stories of artists, patrons, and the community, it explores how a regional movement grew into the Southern Vermont Arts Center and shaped a lasting cultural legacy that continues today with the vision presented in For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection. The enduring idea is that great art should be accessible to all.

Shawn Harrington serves as Curator of the Manchester Historical Society and is a lifelong resident of Bennington County. Over the years, he has been digitizing the thousands of pieces in the MHS collection to use for outreach and education at local schools, as well as in print and social media.

This program is presented in partnership with the Manchester Historical Society and Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning.

Enjoy dinner at SVAC’s curATE café. Visit OpenTable for reservations or call 802.362.9100.