Why VERMONT?
We're a state that thrives on rugged independence – a do it yourself culture with the talent and the tools to create incredible products. Vermonters have given the world beloved gifts such as snowboarding, Orvis fly fishing, the BATMAN graphic novel reboot, the IRON MAN movies, the JogBra, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Cabot cheddar cheese, the Blue Man Group, Guster, Phish, BINA48 the advanced AI, Kid Robot, Fun Home the graphic novel, King Arthur Flour, April Cornell, Darn Tough socks, Hill Farmstead beer ... Glorkian Warrior, the closing scenes of I AM LEGEND ... and so much more.
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Whether you visit Vermont to find peace of mind or stay to build a company, ours is a powerful little creative state we like to think of as a cradle of innovation.
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The Backpacker Guide is a community-driven effort to help everyone with creative ambition find your tribe, connect, and get busy. We've collected a few of the resources we love, and sorted them by geography and creative sector. We hope they can help talent find the networks and resources you need to thrive.
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So, welcome to our weird and brave little state! Poke around and, if you haven't found what you're looking for, drop us a line - maybe there's a way we can help!
* Logos displayed for informational purposes only. Use does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
* Logos displayed for informational purposes only. Use does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
Creative STRENGTHS
Any state cultivates its creative culture from the hands, minds and passions of its residents over time. Culture is a dialogue between the past and present and there are few places in America where that dialogue is more rooted in people than in Vermont. Discover and connect with some of the people, companies, and institutions that anchor Vermont's thriving culture of creativity – and help us strengthen and grow our creative economy.
To get started, just select a sector below to learn more. You can also discover more about Vermont by geographic area; scroll down to the next section to lean more.
The lines, colors, and textures that influence the visual styles of our state and where they thrive.
The digital game and interaction designers who are building products and companies with global reach.
Makers of high-quality Vermont goods, many of whom are proud to use locally derived materials and services.
The close-knit community building Vermont's digital production industry while serving in- and out-of-state commercial customers.
The extraordinary people, places, and events behind Vermont's vibrant arts scene.
Fiber and textile makers and the designers who use their materials for useful, playful and durable goods.
The flavors, colors, and textures of the landscape and far beyond - all within our world-class food system.
The places and spaces, forms and materials that are helping to reinvent Vermont towns and communities.
Diverse voices producing the written word in all of its forms - for the page, stage and diverse audiences around the world.
Explore VERMONT
The Vermont Creative Network, a statewide alliance of community organizations led by the Vermont Arts Council, has identified six geographic "creative zones" in Vermont. We're using that framework to organize discovery and connection each region's culture and assets. Click through the zones below to explore some of the people and resources that abound in each region.
The Four Counties (Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Washington) include the capital, Montpelier and the Lake Champlain islands.
The legendary Northeast Kingdom includes the towns of: St Johnsbury and Newport on lake Memphremagog.
Chittenden County includes Burlington, the state's largest city and home of the University of Vermont.
Addison and Rutland Counties include the town of Middlebury and the city of Rutland.
The Cornerstone Zone includes the Connecticut River Valley industrial and commercial towns of Windsor, White River Junction, and Springfield.
Southern Vermont includes the culturally rich towns of Bennington, Brattleboro and Bellows Falls.
