Vermont Performance Lab (VPL) was founded and shaped in direct response to emerging thinking about the need for stronger support for research and development, especially in the performing arts; the changing nature of artists’ creative process; the need to continue to build audiences for contemporary performance; and the evolving needs of a rural American community.
VPL offers artists a network of people, sites and expertise that can be brought to a creative project. VPL responds to each artist's research needs, provides production support, leverages additional resources in the community, and creates non-conventional pathways for engagement and connection between audience and artist.
Core to VPL's mission is to developing a wider audience for contemporary performance and making contemporary performance accessible to rural Vermont communities. We aim to accomplish this through these four principles of our practice:
VPL and artists co-envision residency projects to develop in Vermont
Artists expand the dimensions of their practice as they involve people of all walks of life in creative processes. Audiences deepen their experience and connection with contemporary performance
By linking art-making with community building, VPL residencies transcend aesthetic, social and physical barriers that conventionally circumscribe the arts and separate them from civic discourse.
Cooperating arts, education, residency centers, funders, social service and civic organizations extend the production capabilities, audience reach and artistic impact of Lab residencies.