AGP Executive Report

Arts Leadership: Hinesburg journalist/photographer Geoffrey Gevalt won the 2026 Herb Lockwood Prize at Burlington City Arts, honored for a lifetime of creative work and for building the Young Writers Project that’s helped more than 100,000 young people find their voice. Theater & Community: Dorset Theatre Festival opens its 2026 season with “Deceived,” a gaslight-era thriller adaptation running June 19–July 4 at the Dorset Playhouse. Family-Friendly Drag: Springfield Town Library hosts a Drag Story Hour on June 22 featuring Anita Cocktail and Azio Nocturne, with readings, music, dancing, and Q&A. Local Film History: Brattleboro’s Latchis Theatre continues its summer run of classic-movie momentum, leaning into its long tradition of big premieres and cinematic nostalgia. Craft & Heritage: Vermont Frames marks 50 years since its founding in Hinesburg, with a public opening of its Starksboro campus on July 11 celebrating timber-framing craft. Sports Spotlight: The BFA-St. Albans Comets repeat as D1 softball champions, edging Colchester 2-1 behind Megan Gonyeau and Irie Shedd.

High School Sports: Mount St. Joseph ended a 77-year baseball title drought with a 3-0 win over Blue Mountain in the Division IV state final, while Westside softball chased its own championship dreams and will meet Blue Mountain for the Division IV title. NCAA & College Athletics: Denison made NCAA history with a standout run that powered a 19th-place finish in the Directors’ Cup, and PC Construction’s Shawn Walsh Hockey Center/Harold Alfond Arena expansion at UMaine earned a third major industry award. Arts & Theater: Weston Young Company brings “Schoolhouse Rock, Live!” to 15 free southern Vermont performances, and Dorset Theatre Festival opens with “Deceived,” a gaslight-era thriller adaptation running June 19–July 4. Books & Culture: A summer reading roundup highlights 70 “brilliant books,” plus new fiction includes Gregory Crewdson’s Dream House print release tied to Vermont-shot imagery. Vermont Outdoors & Community: Vermont tourism could take a fishing hit as access costs and demand strain public land budgets, and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail gears up for the Rangeley solstice paddling festival June 19–21. Tech & Money (National, with Vermont ties): Bernie Sanders’ AI sovereign wealth fund idea and Trump’s talk of AI companies “giving back” keep the national debate on public stakes in tech profits front and center.

Art & Photography: Gregory Crewdson is back with six new limited-edition “Dream House” prints, shot in an abandoned Vermont home and staged like cinematic nightmares—available as a time-limited release June 30 for 48 hours. Local Arts & Culture: Steve Hilton’s Chances?—No, instead: Vermont Frames marks its 50th anniversary by opening its Starksboro campus to the public July 11, celebrating the craft of timber framing that began in 1976. Sports (Vermont): Zoey McNabb officially set Vermont’s girls 1,500-meter record at the state meet, after timing officials reserved a conversion decision. Sports (Community): A Stowe facility is set to break ground Saturday—an indoor training hub for action sports and cross-training, built for year-round athlete development. Outdoor & Family Fun: Northern lights could be visible farther south than usual this weekend, with aurora alerts and clear viewing guidance for Vermont and beyond. Sports (World Cup): Rutland is hosting World Cup watch parties to build a local match-day vibe for U.S. games. Health & Community: Mountain Valley Health Center in Londonderry is celebrating 50 years with a free June 20 event featuring live music and community remarks.

AI & Elections in Vermont: An AI-generated deepfake video of Rep. Becca Balint is circulating on Vermont social media, sparking fresh debate over election guardrails and a new state disclosure law for AI ads and videos. Public Safety Tech Backlash: A Florida man and the ACLU of Florida sue Jacksonville Beach over a wrongful arrest tied to facial recognition, arguing police leaned on a faulty match instead of real investigation. Labor vs. AI: At the AFL-CIO convention, union leaders warned they’re racing to keep up with AI deployments and want stronger federal guardrails. Tech, Wages, and “Stakeholders”: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says AI backlash is real but predicts higher wages and broader prosperity, framing everyone as a stakeholder. Vermont Arts & Community Calendar: St. Albans hosts a free Pride karaoke night and a classic movie matinee, while St. Albans’ Northwest Farmers Market and Pride in the Park bring live music and local makers to the weekend. Local Culture & Craft: Milton Elementary students painted a Vermont-themed mural with the Milton Artists’ Guild—turning a school hallway into a lasting Class of 2034 farewell. Sports & Pride: Mount Anthony baseball advances to the state championship after a 2-1 playoff win over Champlain Valley Union. Border Library Milestone: The Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line reopens with a new permanent Canadian entrance after a costly redesign.

Public Art Expansion: North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture Show (NBOSS) marks its 29th season with a new year-round public art plan, adding select sculptures that stay up from June to June for sunrise-to-sunset viewing. Local Culture & Community: Milton Elementary students painted a Vermont-themed mural with the Milton Artists’ Guild, leaving a lasting “Class of 2034” farewell gift. Arts Calendar: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center hosts a June 20 climate-and-winemaking talk and tasting with Barnard winemakers, aiming to spotlight how Champlain Valley grapes are adapting. Juneteenth in Vermont: Bennington’s Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration returns June 19 with live music, performances, free food, and a Sankofa traveling museum walk-through. Sports Spotlight: Vermont high school baseball state finals hit Centennial Field this weekend, with Division I, II, III and IV championship games on the schedule. Tech & Politics (Vermont angle): Bernie Sanders keeps pushing AI public ownership and a moratorium on new data centers, framing it as a jobs-and-environment fight. Food & Lifestyle: Colchester’s Vermont Nut Free Chocolates is phasing out artificial dyes, moving to plant-based colors by end of 2026.

Public Art & Community Pride: Auburn’s “Good of the Hive” honeybee mural is finished, with artist Matt Wiley moving on after a downtown-brightening run. School Sports & Local Debate: A new letter lays out the case for an artificial turf field at CVU, arguing it’s about community joy as much as athletics. Outdoor Sculpture: Burlington’s Great Streets project welcomed “Lakebone,” a 48-foot black locust artwork that arrived by slow train, then rolled through town with a parade and giant puppet creatures. Youth in Government: Vermont legislative pages spent time at the State House making a collage map of Vermont—ski mountains and barns included—showing how civic work can feel hands-on and fun. Kids & Libraries: Richland Library is hosting Caldecott-winning children’s creator Jason Chin next week. Music Calendar: Putney’s Twilight on the Tavern Lawn returns June 14 with High and Loathsome. World Cup Fever (Vermont angle): Vermont’s Congolese community is celebrating Congo’s historic World Cup bid, with jerseys flying off shelves in Winooski. Theater & Summer Programming: Williston’s farm is turning into a Shakespeare stage for “Shakespeare in Love,” bringing movie magic to a barn setting.

Children’s Literature: Award-winning author/illustrator Jason Chin is coming to Richland Library (June 17, 6–7 p.m.) for a free talk on science, nature, and storytelling—Caldecott Medal winner for Watercress. Performing Arts: Bennington Theater is launching a truly year-round 2026 season, including a local-history take on Shakespeare with “Much Ado About Nothing: A Revolutionary Production.” Local Theater: Arlington Common Community Theater stages “The Play That Goes Wrong,” leaning into slapstick chaos with a community cast. Music & Festivals: Taconic Music’s 10th summer series runs June 15–July 13, mixing chamber music, jazz, and a full-orchestra pops concert. Community & Pride: Vermont Mad Pride returns to Burlington on July 11 for a march, rally, and community connection centered on psychiatric survivors and mad people. Arts & Culture Archives: Bennington Museum unveils Shirley Jackson’s archive in “Images and Metaphors,” spotlighting how the writer and the town shaped each other. Ski Industry: Smugglers’ Notch names longtime ski leader Brandon Swartz as its new general manager. Science/Research: SUNY Plattsburgh’s Lake Champlain Research Institute debuts a new research boat, the R/V Leptodora, to upgrade field work on the lake. Outdoor Safety: Vermont health officials warn heat illness can hit hard in June, urging hydration and attention to worsening symptoms.

New Music: Jack White announced his seventh solo album, Frozen Charlotte, due July 10, with the bluesy single “Dollar Bill” and a European tour underway. Vermont Reading & Youth Arts: Vermont students picked the 2025–26 Youth Book Award winners—Whalesong (Red Clover), Impossible Creatures (Golden Dome), and Not Like Other Girls (Green Mountain). Local Internet Upgrade: Fidium expanded 100% fiber service in Shelburne, bringing symmetrical multi-gig speeds to more than 2,100 homes and businesses. Border Culture: The Haskell Free Library and Opera House will inaugurate a new Canadian entrance in Derby Line/Stanstead after U.S. entry limits last year. Vaudeville & Jazz Events: Stephanie Bass Abrams brings a vaudeville history talk to ByWay Books & More (June 14), and Twilight on the Tavern Lawn hosts High and Loathsome (June 14). Independent Media Spotlight: Amy Goodman is set to visit Brattleboro for a fundraiser and screening supporting Vermont independent outlets. Tech in the Air: Vermont-based Beta Technologies’ Alia 250 electric air taxi demo highlights a potential $28/hour energy cost and quieter flights. Sports: Flyers gymnasts competed at states, and Vermont high school tennis crowns are set at Saint Michael’s College.

Local Music Spotlight: Harwood Union High School’s student band, the Glam Cowboys, won a “Beats for Good” contest and will open National Life Group’s Do Good Fest in Montpelier, landing a prime festival slot plus $1,500 for the band and $5,000 for the school music program. Community Celebrations: Milton is gearing up for a July 4 “Celebrating 250!” day with a grand parade, live band sets, and fireworks at Bombardier Park West. Education & Arts Access: Vermont schools are still battling chronic absenteeism, and a new state law targets the problem—framing attendance as key to the social side of learning, not just test scores. Career Pathways: Northwest Career and Technical Center held a Skilled Trades Signing Day where more than 20 students committed to future careers in trades, cosmetology, manufacturing, and healthcare. Food & Culture: Gondolas Snack Bar is back for its third season in Morristown, with a second year-round location in Morrisville and a menu built around stacked smash burgers and creemees. Arts Reading: Vermont Youth Book Awards named student-voted winners across K-4, 4-8, and high school categories, spotlighting new youth titles.

Juneteenth History & Film: North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association is running its “Juneteenth Colors of Freedom in the Adirondacks” tour on June 20, starting at Ausable Chasm and ending at the Plattsburgh Public Library with a movie based on a true story of escape back to freedom. Local Leadership in Senior Living: Danielle Nickerson has been appointed executive director of The Village at White River Junction, bringing nearly a decade of Vermont senior-care leadership. Vermont Arts & Community Building: Vermont Arts Council’s Vermont Creative Sector Convening in St. Albans drew about 200 people for hands-on sessions connecting artists, music groups, and local history. Sports Coaching News: Drew Kelleher returns to UVM as head men’s lacrosse coach, while Virginia hires Chris Feifs as associate head coach/defensive coordinator after a decade at Vermont. Pride & Culture: Burlington’s Discover Jazz Festival wrapped with major performances including Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Mavis Staples, and Vermont-based author William Graham contributed to a Pride exhibit theme. Statewide Health/Science: UVM researchers report H1N1 and H3N2 use different routes into lung cells, pointing toward new antiviral design paths.

Arts & Culture: Dorset Theatre Festival kicks off “Summer Magic” with professional summer theater at the Dorset Playhouse, bringing a full spotlight back to Southern Vermont. Music & Community: Burlington’s Discover Jazz Festival wrapped with big-name sets, including Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Mavis Staples, plus local performers across Church Street and waterfront stages. Local Arts Economy: St. Albans hosted the Vermont Creative Sector Convening, a “Hands-On” day connecting artists, music orgs, history and culture with community and economic development. Historic Gardens: The von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort in Stowe earned Historic Hotels of America’s Top 25 Most Magnificent Gardens nod, celebrating Maria von Trapp’s long-rooted landscape design. Outdoor Access: Barre Town opened Milestone Nature Center, a sensory-friendly nature space built for neurodivergent visitors with accessible paths and hands-on stations. Sports (Vermont): Vermont Amateur golf qualifiers advanced players for the July 7–9 tournament at Ekwanok in Manchester. Business/Leadership: Danielle Nickerson was named executive director of The Village at White River Junction, bringing nearly a decade of Vermont senior-care leadership. Healthcare Policy: A new public commentary argues Vermont can’t fix hospital problems with top-down directives alone, calling for reference pricing instead. Sports (Baseball): Summer college baseball is a Vermont-friendly option, with the Mountaineers, Nighthawks, and Lake Monsters keeping fans close to the action.

Vermont Arts & Music: Burlington Discover Jazz Festival wrapped with major sets including Chris Potter and Julian Lage, plus a world-premiere tied to John Brown’s raid, keeping the Flynn and downtown venues buzzing. Community Events: Merck Forest & Farmland Center announced its Oct. 3 Hike-a-thon in Rupert, with multiple trail options and a music-and-food celebration at the Sap House. Film & Culture: Brattleboro’s Latchis Theatre is leaning into classic Hollywood this summer, with “Casablanca” drawing a near-capacity crowd and more big-screen sequels on deck. Sports Spotlight: The Lowell Spinners opened their Futures Collegiate season with a rain-shortened win over the Vermont Lake Monsters, while Vermont high school spring sports scores and playoff updates keep rolling in. Local Life & Entertainment: Vermont Quick Lube’s “Ladies’ Day” is getting a feel-good profile, pairing fast service with flowers and small perks for customers. Tech & Schools: A national look at how schools are pushing iPads/Chromebooks early is sparking fresh debate about what parents and students are really getting.

AI & Politics: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ push for public ownership in AI is getting high-profile attention, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly telling Sanders he supports the idea of public equity even if he won’t back Sanders’ exact 50% threshold. Vermont Education & Tech: A national look at “anti-tech” backlash in schools spotlights parents alarmed by early iPad/Chromebook rollouts and what they see as a mismatch between classroom tech and kids’ needs. Local Governance: Peacham voters voted to let the town buy its elementary school building for $1, keeping it as a community asset if district mergers happen. Arts & Community: Burlington Discover Jazz Festival keeps expanding beyond traditional venues, including a “Skate Jam” that pairs skateboarders with live music at Talent Skatepark. Health & Environment: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, an herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease. Sports Culture: Marlboro Music marks its 75th anniversary season in southern Vermont, with tickets now on sale. Sports Betting (Sports): Kalshi and Polymarket promos are driving attention to NBA and Stanley Cup markets ahead of key games.

Cinema Nostalgia Meets Blockbusters: Brattleboro’s Latchis Theatre keeps its “golden age” vibe alive with big-screen classics like a near-sellout one-night return of “Casablanca,” plus summer sequels including “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Toy Story,” and “Spider-Man.” Chamber Music Milestone: Marlboro Music marks 75 years in southern Vermont with a July 18–Aug. 16 anniversary season led by Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss; tickets are $20–$40. Jazz Festival Day 4: Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Mavis Staples headline Burlington Discover Jazz Festival’s Waterfront Park lineup. Local Food & Drink Plans: Burlington Wine & Food Festival returns June 27 at Hula Lakeside with 75+ exhibitors, seminars, and live jazz. Community Running Story: Pam Begnaud keeps her and late husband Bubba’s 50-half-marathons-in-50-states goal moving after his death. Sports Spotlight: Lowell Spinners fall to Worcester, then host Vermont Sunday; Johnny Damon’s Bobblehead day drew big attention. Health Watch (Backyard Flocks): CDC links a salmonella outbreak to backyard chicken flocks, with cases reported across many states including Vermont. Vermont Policy: Vermont becomes the first state to ban paraquat, tied to Parkinson’s risk.

AI Wealth Push: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ plan for the public to own a big stake in AI companies is getting high-level attention, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly meeting Sanders and President Trump floating a similar “American people benefit” partnership. Local Arts & Culture: Burlington Wine & Food Festival returns June 27 at Hula Lakeside with 75+ exhibitors, seminars, and live jazz. Community Sports: Northfield’s Summer Road Race Series kicks off its 15th season June 4, with weekly 5Ks through August. Health & Environment: Vermont becomes the first state to ban paraquat, an herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease. Music & Theater: of Montreal’s new album aethermead is described as their warmest, most vulnerable work in years, while WCPA’s Shakespeare in the Sangres has its summer interns settled in and rehearsing. Human Interest: Justin Spencer of Recycled Percussion keeps pushing a wheelchair-bound friend from Vermont to Maine to raise support for traumatic brain injuries.

AI Wealth Politics: Trump is floating a plan to have the federal government acquire “pieces” of major AI firms so Americans get equity and possible dividend-style payouts, with Sam Altman reportedly aligning on the broader idea even if he won’t back Sanders’ 50% target. Vermont Arts & Culture: Manchester Music Festival (52nd season) leans into “Sounding America” for a “Summer of Discovery,” while Weston Theater Company revives “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” for its 90th season. Local Entertainment & Community: Burlington Wine & Food Festival returns June 27 at Hula with tastings, seminars, and live jazz; and Otter Valley’s softball run ends in a Lyndon win as the Vikings surge to the semis. Food & Lifestyle: Vermont Smoke & Cure goes bold with new A.1. and Lea & Perrins meat sticks, now hitting Kroger nationwide. Books & Reading: Vt. Book Nook spotlights Rickey Gard Diamond on what reading means, plus summer picks and reviews keep the literary calendar moving. Tech & Privacy: A survey finds many Americans don’t realize how searchable they are on Google or AI tools, and that attempts to remove info often fail.