The Vermont Studio Center (VSC) is a non-profit organization located in the town of Johnson in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Vermont

Vermont

Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...

. VSC conducts the largest fine arts and writing residency program in the U.S., with a significant population of international artists in residency. The center operates one- to three-month residencies, with 52 fine artists and writers in the residency program at a time. The programs are highly selective and include a broad variety of media, cultures, and ages. The center was founded in 1984 by Jonathan Gregg, Frederick Osborne, and Louise Von Weise. In January 2007, George Pearlman succeeded Jonathan Gregg as VSC's Executive Director. Though there is no denominational affiliation, the center offers a meditation and yoga component.

Intercultural emphasis

The center attracts residents from more than 40 countries and all of the U.S. states. VSC fellowships emphasize intercultural exchange, and are organized around the following cultural programs: The Triangle Arts Trust Africa/Arab World; The Freeman Foundation Asian Artists; Central America; ArtNexus Latin America Artist Award; Reed Foundation Caribbean Basin Fellowships; and CEC ArtsLink Central Europe, Russia and Eurasia. Specific international fellowships focus upon Ireland, Italy, and Mexico.

Visiting artists, visiting writers

More than 75 visiting artists and writers visit the center each month (approximately 700 per year). They include established writers, painters, printmakers, and sculptors. Visiting artists interact with residents on a daily basis through readings, slide presentations and one-on-one studio visits and writing conferences.

The campus

The campus consists of thirty studio and residence buildings clustered along the Gihon River in the village of Johnson. Several of the buildings date to the nineteenth century and their restoration have won awards from the National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...

 and the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

The Vermont Studio Center's residencies and fellowships are non-degree granting, however work in both fine arts and writing can be granted credit towards an M.F.A. through Johnson State College

Johnson State College

Johnson State College is a small public liberal arts college, founded in 1828 by John Chesamore at Johnson in the U.S. state of Vermont. Johnson's president is Barbara E. Murphy and its board chair is Gary M. Moore.- History and governance :...

, located a short walk from the center.