Vermont Arts Council staff on Jan. 16 told the Senate Institutions Committee that funds tied to a canceled Supreme Court art project will be redirected to active projects and that the council, in partnership with the Department of Buildings and General Services (BGS), recommends designating the Newport Courthouse as the Art and State Buildings project for fiscal year 2026.

"The role of the program is to commission original artworks from Vermont artists that go in state owned buildings and public spaces," said Susan Evans McClure, executive director of the Vermont Arts Council, as she described the program's purpose and history. She noted the program was established in 1988 and that Act 50 (2023) created a minimum annual requested appropriation of $75,000 for the program.

Michelle Bailey, the Arts Council's senior program manager, described the committee process and selection criteria, saying the council aims to work with architects and BGS project managers early so artwork can be integrated into building design. "We...work with the BGS project managers on identifying a local art selection committee, and then we talk about goals and project potential locations," Bailey said.

Council staff told the committee that a project originally identified for the state Supreme Court in FY17–19 is "not moving forward," and the advisory committee recommended moving those funds within the art acquisition fund to projects already underway. Presenters listed a state office building in Rutland and the Department for Children and Families' Green Mountain Youth Services campus as recipients of the reallocated funds.

The Arts Council said the BGS commissioner recommended making the Newport Courthouse the FY26 project. The council explained that, per the statute governing the program, projects must be associated with a construction or renovation project with total costs of $1,000,000 or more and that, after advisory committee approval, identified capital funds are transferred into the art acquisition fund to begin design and commissioning work.

Committee members were told these advisory-committee recommendations do not require a separate vote by the full Senate Institutions Committee; the presenters said advisory committee approval is the procedural trigger for transferring funds and proceeding with artist selection and installation. Presenters also noted ongoing work at the White River Junction Superior Court Building and invited members to visit future installations.

The briefing closed without objections from committee members. The Arts Council said it will return to the committee as needed with additional capital-bill changes or to present new installations when projects reach completion.