’Tis the season … for a zillion holiday art sales, craft bazaars and every imaginable kind of fundraiser for strapped arts organizations. One of the more unusual such outfits in Vermont is the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, or CERF. The Montpelier-based nonprofit provides no-interest loans, grants and services to artists who are facing a career-threatening emergency. This Friday, an “arts stimulus celebration and holiday bash” at the T.W. Wood Gallery offers a silent auction — of works by local artisans — live music from Lewis Franco and the Missing Cats, and food and drink from local restos Kismet and The Black Door, respectively. Vermont State Curator David Schutz will play the dashing emcee. Eat, bid and be merry.
And, speaking of giving, CERF has created a “survival kit” that could be a preapocalyptic stocking stuffer for creative types on your list. The Studio Protector is a calendar-sized, pop-up-style wall chart that aims to help artists make like Boy Scouts and be prepared. CERF worked with experts in art conservation, arts business management and emergency relief services to develop guidelines on what to do if one’s studio is hit by fire, flood or other disasters. Maybe include a sugar plum with that?
This article appears in Dec 2-8, 2009.
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