Art zips to Brattleboro, VT 05301

Author: Joyce Man

"Brattleboro is a unique destination with its share of Who's Who," said Allyson Villars, one of seven organizers of the upcoming Festival 05301. Apparently, with a five-week-long schedule of events, this small Vermont location is also trying to expand its share of What's What.

Proclaimed as "one of the Top Ten Art Towns with populations less than 30,000" by John Villani in his book listing 100 carefully-chosen art centers in the United States, Brattleboro is a town that is proud of its identity as an arts destination of sorts.

Next month, this location at Vermont 05301 is setting itself up to be a zip code apart from the rest. Beginning on Sept. 20 and ending Oct. 29, the town's Festival 05301, which operates under the non-profit Arts Council of Windham County, celebrates music, art and more with a five-week-long schedule of music, dance, workshops and lectures aimed at local families and art enthusiasts.

Festival 05301 does a fair job of drawing together local resources and Brattleboro-native writers, performers and artists with national talents from further-flung locations. The festival's highlights include a small yet enticing and varied collection of musical performances by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the widely-toured Miami String Quartet and the Revels Circle of Song singing troupe.

The Boys Choir of Kenya joins Festival 05301, sliding in during the festival's third week with their traditional Masaai chants and Negro Spiritual repertoire. The choir has appeared on CBS and won praise from as far abroad as Kenya and Cambridge, England. Meanwhile, Estey Fest showcases reed organs from the 19th century manufacturer Jacob Estey with a special tribute concert on 20 portable versions of the celebrated instruments.

Beyond just music, Brattleboro's pre-existing annual three-day Brattleboro Literary Festival invites the winner of the 1996 National Book Award Andrea Barrett New York Times best-selling novelist John Irving and nationally-acclaimed author of "Banishing Verona" Margot Livesey for what looks to be a lively set of readings and panel discussions.

While we would scarcely expect Vermont to house a school for contortion, handstands and acrobatics, the organizers have scheduled "The Love Show" to kick off the first week of events. Performed by Brattleboro's very own Nimble Arts Trapeze and Circus School, the show promises to show off extraordinary gravity-defying acts, with high-flying aerialists, jugglers and an artist formerly of the famed Cirque du Soleil.

Festival 05301 is stepping out for its first year, but organizers are hopeful it could become an annual celebration of local arts offerings. "[Brattleboro] has long been a center for the arts with numerous writers, painters, poets and artisans," said Villars in their press release. "We believe that events that showcase why we flock here will bring lasting benefits to Brattleboro."