The Current

Located in Stowe, Vermont, The Current was established in 1981. Our mission is to enhance the human experience through the visual arts. The Art Center serves more than 75,000 national and international audience members annually through year-round visual art exhibitions and our annual outdoor sculpture show, Exposed; public programs such as lectures, panels, and film screenings primarily linked to our exhibitions; and arts education programs for all ages. In recent years, we have evolved our arts education initiatives through an Interpretive Learning Program expanded studios that create hands-on learning experiences for our audiences to become active participants in building understanding for, and making meaning from, the artists and work we present.

We operate with the conviction that meaningful, formative art experiences be available and accessible to all people regardless of age, class, race, ability, and geography. One of our core goals and impacts is to ensure accessibility to quality arts experiences and educational opportunities for underserved and disadvantaged rural communities. We are a critical resource to provide the region with exposure, access, and connection to diverse artistic voices and perspectives from all over the world. 

The art center is driven by an ambitious curatorial vision shaped by the pursuit of meaning in contemporary art. Our programs consider how the arts can be a platform for activism, responding to contemporary issues facing artists and audiences, offering outlets for creative dialogue and critical examination of our social, cultural, and political moment. We strive to amplify underrepresented voices and urgent issues through our programs.

Each year, professional artists and art educators teach over 50 classes and workshops, emphasizing progressive art education. From intensive summer art camps to afterschool classes, our education program has a broad reach, engaging 571 children, youth, and adults in a variety of media and activities. Youth classes such as animation, digital art, puppet making, woodworking, ceramics, and glass fusion are just a few examples of the variety offered.  Adults enjoy a wide variety of workshops for the beginner and the seasoned artist including  working with water soluble oils, watercolor, stained glass, block printing, photography, ceramics, woodworking, and so much more. Scholarships ensure that classes are open to all who wish to participate