SUPPORT SVAC’S GROWTH Framing the Future
Imagine a must-see destination for art and nature in Southern Vermont, a cultural anchor in our community and a major draw for crowds of visitors from beyond the region. With a transformative new building on the horizon and a gift of an unparalleled collection of Vermont art, the time for building SVAC’s future is now.
JOIN US!
Opening summer 2026, SVAC’s transformative new addition to Yester House will feature:
• A two floor, 12,000 square-foot architectural work of art
• Main level gallery showcasing For the Love of Vermont
• Lower level museum-class exhibition space
• Destination lookout, roof terrace, and expanded dining patio
• Art storage and loading dock built for an expanding collection and national loans
• ADA-compliant elevator providing access to the new building and both floors of Yester House
SVAC’s $14.5 million Capital Campaign has strong support from a growing list of supporters.
Join us in framing the future of the arts in our community. To get involved, contact Amelia Wiggins, Executive Director, at awiggins@svac.org.
AN UNPARALLELED GIFT For the Love of Vermont
SVAC’s future will be shaped by an unparalleled gift: 250 artworks from Vermont Country Store proprietor Lyman Orton’s “For the Love of Vermont,” the world’s largest private collection of 20th-century Vermont art. These extraordinary paintings, gifted to SVAC to care for and share with the public in perpetuity, showcase the Green Mountain State’s rich artistic heritage like no other.
After breaking attendance records when first exhibited at SVAC in 2023, the “For the Love of Vermont” collection will continue to drive destination visitors to the Arts Center. And now, the works will be displayed in a custom gallery that invites visitors to gather, linger in a comfortable, visitor-centric space, and soak in the Vermont art and mountain views.
CONNECTING VERMONT TO THE WORLD A First-class Gallery
We envision art exhibitions that bring Vermont’s stories to the national stage—and the art of the world to Southern Vermont.
With this new building, SVAC’s exhibitions and collection will move into new museum-class facilities. With strengthened security systems and high level humidity and climate controls, SVAC will be able to borrow art from notable collections across the country. The new exhibition program will help SVAC build ties to peer art institutions and national art funders while drawing artists to Vermont and new visitors to SVAC.
BUILT TO LAST Architecture Rooted in Vermont
SVAC selected Birdseye Architecture to lead the project’s design. Birdseye, founded in 1984, is an employee-owned architectural design and building collaborative based in Richmond, Vermont.
Since its inception, Birdseye’s architecture has been inspired by the Vermont perspective—a reverence for the land and its history. Shaped by the rural landscape, their work is both distinctly familiar and uniquely contemporary, harmonizing beauty and utility to foster a deep sense of belonging while celebrating individuality.
The studio is guided by founder Brian J. Mac, FAIA, a 2018 Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and an inductee of the New England Design Hall of Fame.
KEEP UP TO DATE News & Progess
Keep up to date with our progress during the construction phase.
Regularly updated, our news section will include any press coverage and relevant imagery!
MANCHESTER JOURNAL
05/01/25
“SVAC to break ground on Orton collection wing in June”
MANCHESTER JOURNAL
02/19/25
“Orton Vermont collection on track for new home in Manchester Village”
PRESS INQUIRIES
Please contact Sean Osborne, Marketing Director with any press inquiries. Email: sosborne@svac.org.
A NEW VISION IN SOUTHERN VERMONT Beyond the Horizon
The transformative new Yester House addition will set the stage for a series of further changes to come across SVAC’s 100 acres.
In 2025, the Arts Center’s board and staff will come together to envision and create a new strategic plan and campus masterplan to chart the next phase of growth. With community feedback, we’ll plan important pillars of SVAC’s offerings, including performing arts and our educational programming—which currently serves over 7,000 students annually, with continued increased demand.
SPECIAL THANKS TO Our Donors
JOIN US TODAY Make a Gift
Together, we can ensure SVAC thrives as a treasured community resource today, and for generations to come. With strong support from a growing list of donors, we’re well on our way to reaching our goal. Reaching our finish line will depend on everyone coming together to support the arts in Southern Vermont.
Contact Amelia Wiggins, Executive Director
about opportunities to make a gift to champion the arts in our community.
Amelia Wiggins, Executive Director
802-367-1300
awiggins@svac.org
Southern Vermont Arts Center, P.O. Box 617 Manchester, VT 05254