News

For Immediate Release: March 26, 2021

A practicing poet, Luekhamhan previously held roles of director of operations at LION Publishers, a nonprofit member-based organization focused on supporting digital news publishers, director of business development, finance, and administration for the award-winning online publication VTDigger.org, and executive director at Montpelier Alive. She and Rachel Senechal co-founded Poem City a monthlong, city-wide celebration of poetry that has been adopted by three other Vermont communities.

Luekhamhan also holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Marlboro College Graduate School.

Founded in 2012, CAL houses more than 25 member artists, writers, nonprofits, and makers — along with founding members, the T.W. Wood Gallery and Museum and Monteverdi Music School.

“The board believes that CAL is poised to grow into a more active role as one of the anchor community arts institutions in the Central Vermont region,” said CAL Board President Elliott Bent. “Phayvanh is the person to take us there. She’s a practicing artist with extensive nonprofit management experience and a track record of getting things done. We’re absolutely thrilled that she’s joining the organization.”

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About the Center for Arts and Learning

The Center for Arts and Learning is a nonprofit 22,000 square foot facility in Montpelier, Vermont where arts nonprofits and independent artists of any medium or modality can draw inspiration, create, perform, and connect with a larger artistic community.

Our doors have been closed to the general public since mid-March, and we miss all of you. In this time of grief and unrest following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many others, we want to reiterate that everyone is welcome at the Center for Arts and Learning. We stand with the Black community and support calls for equity, justice, and an end to systemic racism.

If you are an artist of color looking for studio space, practice space, or exhibition opportunities locally — or would be interested in becoming more involved with CAL — please let us know. We want to help, and we’re listening.

If you are an artist of color looking for resources, or are an ally interested in learning more and working in solidarity, these resources may be helpful:

• Artnet’s 23 organizations that support Black Artists, Thinkers, and Change-Makers
• Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund – apply or donate to support microgrants for artists and arts administrators of color.
• We Need Diverse Books – a great source for learning about children’s and young peoples’ literature by authors of color
• The 1619 Project – a New York Times Magazine project on the history and legacy of slavery for the past 400 years

Due to the Coronavirus shutdown, the Center for Arts and Learning is closed to the general public until further notice. Tenants with spaces in the building can access their studios and offices. We ask that visitors to the building wear masks at all times in hallways and common areas, and not visit the building if they have had any symptoms of illness. The kitchen and gallery areas are currently closed.

As we start to reopen, many organizations in the building may have limited hours and activities. We encourage you to check their websites or social media for more details:

• T.W. Wood Gallery
• River Rock School
• Monteverdi Music School
• Summit School of Traditional Music
• Green Mountain Youth Symphony
• Onion River Exchange
• Friends of the Winooski

Join us on Saturday, October 26th for the Haunted House Story Spooktacular! We’ll have readings by five acclaimed authors for kids and teens: William Alexander, M.T. Anderson, Ann Dávila Cardinal, Cori McCarthy, and Linda Urban. They’ll be reading selections of middle-grade and YA fiction for kids and teens in the Stage Room of River Rock starting at 5pm. Throughout the evening (5-8pm), we’ll also have spooky rooms to explore at CAL – including a dance party! Suitable for all ages – costumes welcome!

All proceeds will benefit our 2020 programs – tickets are available on eventbrite or at the door and are $10/adults, $5/teens, $25/family and free for kids under 13. Please note entry will be at our Msgr. Crosby Ave. entrance (near TW Wood Gallery).