BRATTLEBORO-The Athena Giving Circle recently announced that River Gallery School has been named the 2026 recipient of their annual $5,000 grant.
The Athena Giving Circle is a group of area women who pool resources to support one local nonprofit organization each year. This is their seventh annual award since forming in 2020. This year, they honor River Gallery School on their 50th anniversary.
“Art in and for the community has always been a hallmark of River Gallery School and we are excited to help support this next chapter of outreach,” organizers wrote in a news release. “Each year the Athena Giving Circle explores the valuable work done by local nonprofit organizations. We recognize the impact these groups have on our community. Our awards are a tribute to their efforts.”
For 50 years, River Gallery School has opened its doors to creators of all ages and abilities to classes, workshops, studios, camps, and more, and the Athena group said it was particularly impressed by the school’s recent work with people who arrived in Vermont from other nations.
“When New Vermonters entered our state,” they said, “[the school was] among the first to step up with offers of scholarships so the young people affected by the changes around them, most with no or limited English, would have a way to express themselves.”
While impressed with their body of work over 50 years, the Athena Giving Circle said it was most interested to learn of River Gallery’s expanding off-site initiatives. Developed in partnership with local organizations, the programs broaden access to creative possibilities in five key areas: Art for New Vermonters, Making Community, Creative Aging, Ability Art, and Arts in Schools.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.