The story of the Highland Center for the Arts is the story of Greensboro and the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Crucially, it’s the story of placemaking, built on a regional creative identity that has fueled its rural economy for centuries. From early fiddlers and Shakespearean players, to painters, writers and poets, the Northeast Kingdom and Greensboro have a storied creative legacy that has only grown deeper and more resilient today. Whether inspired by the long, cold, dark winters, or the explosive springs and colorful falls, this community of musicians, actors, orators, painters and poets has flourished and given us inspiration, love, laughter, and hope. And because of this, a stronger community. 

 

Over the years, the region has made a name for itself through names like Jean Simpson, Wallace Stegner, Rob Mermin and Circus Smirkus, Francis Colburn, Alfred H. Barr, Galway Kinnell, David Mamet, Peter Schumann and the Bread and Puppet Theatre, Jay Craven and Bess O'Brien, and thousands of others who live an inspired, creative life, and make such a vitally important contribution to the fabric of our community.

 

Through inspiration and persistence, this creative streak has built a resilient creative economy in multiple and wide ranging sectors, from performing arts, visual arts & crafts, literary arts & publishing, to design, specialty foods & culinary arts, and film & media. Our creative economy now represents almost 10% of our total workforce in all industries*.

 

With all of this growth came the desire to give the arts a home.

 

In the early 2010s, with the generous help of long-time Greensboro residents and lovers of the arts, Andrew and Elizabeth Brown, the community rallied support to build a community Arts Center that could nurture our unique creative economy and support creative opportunity for all.

 

The Highland Center for the Arts opened in 2017 as a symbol of the region’s enduring commitment to the arts and community. It has become a welcoming venue for assembly, artistic expression, entertainment, and education. HCA presents locally, nationally and internationally sourced performances, exhibitions, and events, and collaborates with other arts organizations and with local schools.

 

HCA is as much an abundance of opportunity as it is the gift of an arts center. We have an exciting and promising path in front of us and look forward to building this future together.

 

*Report to the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Creative Network, 2018