[creativeye]

Hello, I'm in the thinking process of moving out of Dallas and trying out Vermont...I'm an artist and photographer and I can't seem to get adjusted in Dallas. I live in Deep Ellum area and it's artsy, but again is not happening here. I'm looking for a small town feel, lots of nature, cool shops, antiques, and I love those areas that are cozy and have a nostalgic feel when you walk. I want to be close to an art community. My art is very eclectic as well as my photography. I'm planning on opening a small shop asap. I also do window displays as a freelance basis. So with all this information, I'm hoping that someone gears me to the right direction. Any other feed backs would be great. I love the downtown feel, so that's also something to think on. Hope to get some great feed back.. Thank you for taking the time in reading this. Laz

[googabee]

Brattleboro or Burlington are the obvious answers. I'm sure there are other towns with that character, but those are the main ones. Bratt is smaller and down south, burl. is up north on the lake.

[NYtoVT]

Try Brandon. It has a thriving artist community. The American folk artist Warren Kimball lives there and has a studio there also.

[arctichomesteader]

Just be sure you can afford to. Not trying to discourage you, I'd be moving to a state like VT too if I lived in Dallas, but just be aware making a living in VT can be tough and things are expensive...I'd not really suggest Brattleboro but some other town. Brandon, suggested above, might be good. Brattleboro isn't exactly a small town (I guess compared to Dallas it might be) and since it's been "discovered" (moreso than the rest of VT) it's gotten quite pricey...

I'd suggest someplace in Northern Vermont since I think it's the most beautiful part of Vermont but I'm not quite sure how opening an art shop up there would go.

[chaz longue]

Do a search for South End Art Hop and SEABA in Burlington. The area around Pine Street is becoming well known for artists studios and all sorts of artisanal businesses. This has been happening for decades and it's really starting to be a draw now.

[chutzpahgrrl]

You may already know but with that small town feel, you will actually get small towns. What I mean is, although Burlington (where I live currently) is relatively artsy and only has about 38,000 residents, you may not find a large audience for your art. If you are going to live in VT, (and please keep in mind how cold and grey it can be here) do pick a touristy place so that folks with money from out of state will come to your shop.

Places that have already been mentioned are good. Quiche VT is also very small town and known for it's quaint shops. Manchester VT is known for it's art, but it's also a little snooty. Stowe is very touristy and has interest in art but also has room for other art venues. Also Richmond is close enough to Burlington, and is an artsy small town.

Good luck. Me, I can't take the cold anymore and am moving out of VT!

[chaz longue]

Quechee Vermont is very pretty. Although it was nearly abandoned in the 50's, it's now quite lovely, and it's a bona fide tourist destination. It's a great place to visit.

I'd still guess there's more art being made, shown, and bought in Chittenden County, (the greater Burlington area) and more tourism and incoming visitors of other kinds, with it's 150,000+ people, than in any half dozen other towns in the state combined, but that might be overstating the case by a town or two...

[harry chickpea]

"Places that have already been mentioned are good. Quiche VT is also very small town and known for it's quaint shops. "

Quiche Vermont??? Would that be near the Cabot cheese plant or next to Breadloaf? Is there a waitress there by the name of Lorraine?

[stormy night]

Woodstock, Stowe, Burlington, Brandon, Mad River Valley (Warren, Waitsfield, Moretown). All great places. All artsy. All touristy and quaint.

[lxvt]

We live in Bristol, VT. It is about 45 minutes outside of Burlington. It has a thriving art community with a cooperative art gallery in town. We are planning on moving from Bristol but my husband has a fine art photography business here that has done pretty well.

P.S. the advantage to here is that it located centrally therefore you have may different markets to access. He has had a lot of work in the Rutland area with all of the resorts and out of town people coming in, but he also has done a lot of work in burlington. Brandon is artsy too, but, the real estate values are low and I think owners have a hard time unloading their houses because it is in close proximity to Rutland over Burlington. Rutland is not thriving right now, so it makes Brandon less appealing.