This adventure guide is brought to you in partnership with the Manchester Business Association, connecting you with the businesses and experiences that make Manchester, Vermont, a premier adventure destination.
You know that feeling when you discover a place that gets it exactly right? That's Southern Vermont Arts Center perched on its 100-acre hilltop in Manchester. While some people might think "art center" means a gallery or exhibit walk-through, SVAC has steadfastly become something more ambitious: a full cultural destination where you can spend an entire afternoon moving between contemporary exhibitions, outdoor sculptures, camps & classes, and summer concerts lineups.
This summer, they're proving that point with a triple-threat lineup that goes way beyond any standard gallery programming.
The centerpiece exhibition, "Into the Abstract," pairs two contemporary artists whose work fits together and complements each other perfectly. Paul Gruhler and Neha Vedpathak both work in contemporary abstraction, and their approaches create a stunning visual conversation across the clean white walls of the Wilson Museum.
What continues to set this show apart are three additional works from the Art Bridges Foundation - national loans that bring museum-quality pieces to Manchester's mountains. You can preview all the works online before visiting, but seeing them in person reveals the scale and texture that digital just can't capture.
"We're bringing in a brand new curator this year," explains Sean Osborne, who's been Marketing Director since January. "Danny Volk comes to us from the Westmoreland Museum in Pennsylvania with a strong background in American regionalist work." That expertise shows in how the exhibition flows between the spaces.
Here's where SVAC goes the extra distance: six free concerts are planned throughout the summer under their new "Sounds Good" festival. We're talking everything from alternative to jazz, culminating with Saints and Liars in late August.
The performances happen on the lawn near the Arkell Pavilion, weather permitting - and if you've been to Manchester in summer, you know those mountain evenings are pretty ideal for outdoor music. The Manchester Music Festival will join for several shows, but this is SVAC's own programming, designed to draw people up the hill for something completely different and unexpected.
Free concerts at an art center? It makes perfect sense once you're there. The 100-acre campus practically demands you stay longer than a a quick visit.
Between exhibitions and concerts, SVAC's outdoor sculpture park connects to local trails, creating natural excuses to wander. The park serves as both art destination and community resource - locals use it for walking and hanging out, while visitors get that bonus layer of discovery that makes a place memorable. Be sure to check out the trails that connect all the way to the Equinox Pond loop for a fantastic hike through the woods.
SVAC's education programming has also become a regional draw. Education Manager Erin Kaufman developed summer camps to fill gaps in the community - theater camps, bookmaking workshops, art-in-nature explorations led by working artists and educators.
"We served over 4,000 students last year through partnerships with BRSU and other schools," Osborne notes. "But we're also trying to position ourselves as a destination for people who want to make learning part of their Vermont experience."
The adult programming shines in this pursuit: single-day workshops running 10 to 2, multi-week courses, and this fall they're launching a week-long foliage artist retreat designed to attract destination learners, not just locals or day-trippers.
Understanding SVAC means knowing how they use their two main buildings. The Wilson Museum handles larger exhibitions, national loans, and juried member shows - it's where "Into the Abstract" lives, along with the museum shop. While Yester House (named for the 1917 estate it once was) focuses on member-based solo shows and group exhibitions.
Right now, Yester House features solo shows where each artist gets their own gallery space throughout the building. It's more intimate, more personal - the kind of setup where you might discover your new favorite regional artist.
This dual approach lets them serve both their 300+ artist members and bring in significant traveling exhibitions. It's an artist community and cultural destination rolled into one.
We’d recommend to allocate two to three hours minimum when heading for a visit. Start with the exhibitions in both buildings, grab lunch (onsite restaurant CurATE is phenomenal), walk the sculpture park trails, and if you're visiting during one of the "Sounds Good" concerts, stay for the music.
The real magic happens when you realize this isn't just about checking "gallery visit" off your Manchester to-do list. It's about discovering a place where contemporary art, outdoor spaces, and live music create something that feels distinctly Vermont - ambitious but unpretentious, rooted but forward-thinking. Truly something special.
Getting There: Southern Vermont Arts Center, 930 SVAC Drive, Manchester. Check their website for current exhibition details and soon to be released concert schedules.
Insider Tip: The fall foliage artist retreat launches this year - if you're planning an October Vermont trip, this could be the perfect way to combine leaf-peeping with hands-on creativity.
This adventure guide is brought to you in partnership with the Manchester Business Association, connecting you with the businesses and experiences that make Manchester, Vermont, a premier adventure destination.
