We Couldn't Do Art Without You!

Norma C. Wilson, President, Vermillion Area Arts Council

            I am pleased to announce that the structural work on Washington Street Arts Center’s bell tower has been completed. Vermillion Area Arts Council is grateful to the Mary Chilton Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution through the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation, Sioux Falls, South Dakota for providing us with major funding for this project. We used this money for brick restoration, and for new roofs on the upper and lower levels. We also thank the South Dakota Historical Society for providing additional funding through a Deadwood Fund Grant. A portion of this grant was utilized for removing the bees, rebuilding the louvers and repairing the wooden structure of upper roof. Additional donations to our Building Fund and volunteer labor by VAAC members and friends provided additional muscle and money required to stabilize the bell tower. We very much appreciate your generous donations and hard work. Later this summer, we’ll be working to restore the ceiling and walls inside the tower that were damaged during the bee removal; and we will again need assistance in this final part of the project.

We are grateful to all who donated items and helped with the VAAC’s Bizarre Bazaar rummage sale on Saturday, June 24th. Thanks also to those who came and shopped, we raised $400 for the arts. The volunteers and donors included Ina Anderberg, Pam Kadous, Nancy Losacker, Cathy Beard, Lois O’Grady, Marcella Remund, Shelley Sykes, Cindy Kirkeby, Marie Dahlhoff, Dennis Johnson, Mary Mock, Lindy Obach, Michaelene Adams, Laurie Brown, Rebecca Gehm, Sandy Pederson, Nolan Petersen, Jo Pasqualucci, and Gail Tallaksen and others.

A special thanks to the generous sponsors who joined the VAAC in funding The Messy Hands Summer Art Camp.Sponsors include the South Dakota Arts Council, the City of Vermillion, Vermillion Civic Council, Vermillion United Way, and private donors.
Throughout the summer the VAAC is proud to sponsor Open Pottery Studio for students of all ages. Trenton Deis, a USD Art Education student, will offer instruction in the basement of Washington Street Arts Center each Wednesday, from 4-8 p.m. at $10 per session. Contact Trenton at 605-940-4234.