What We Do
Preserve. Empower. Build.
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OUR THREE-PART MISSION:
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(1) PRESERVE the 138-acre historic Clemmons farm in Vermont as a critical educational prototype, and a model for preserving other African-American owned agricultural land, cultural and heritage assets in the U.S. The farm is one of the 0.4% of farms in the US that remain African-American owned: land is EQUITY;
(2) EMPOWER a growing network of Vermont's artists who bear the cultures of the African diaspora with opportunities for professional development, advocacy, visibility, networking, paid engagements, collective healing, and a safe haven for creativity that helps them to thrive; (3) BUILD a loving multicultural community around African-American/African diaspora history, arts and culture. |
Our work to preserve the 138-acre Clemmons farm is closely tied to our work to empower a growing network of Vermont artists who self-identify as those who bear the culture of the African diaspora. The physical farm provides a strong platform for Black arts, culture and farming in Vermont. It is a vibrant demonstration of the importance of investing in and retaining Black-owned assets-- land, businesses, cultural heritage, education and human resources-- as tangible ways to advance racial equity in Vermont. We provide opportunities for artists to have paid creative work, professional development, networking, and an inspiring platform to showcase their work. We actively advocate for opportunities to help African diaspora artists and culture bearers THRIVE in Vermont. We also actively discourage the tokenism of Black talent and Black bodies for purposes that ultimately facilitate the continuation of racial inequities and structural racism in the creative economy, the agritourism sector, and the nonprofit sector.
We bring people together across differences of race, culture, national origin, language and religion. We then work to transform these differences into opportunities for people to learn, celebrate and commune in a unique setting that is welcoming, inspiring and deeply meaningful: one of the handful of African-American owned historic farms in the state of Vermont. We help people to relax, have fun, and enjoy multicultural experiences with art, history and place at the center of their engagements with the farm and with each other.
Our mission is to be “more than a farm” by offering curated opportunities for visitors to enjoy discovering the fascinating history, culture, arts and sciences of the African-American and African diaspora in what is often described as a "magical" setting with views of the Adirondacks, wide-open meadows and lovely historic buildings. Many of our programs are designed to give people a chance to create art together, to learn about each other and to enjoy each other's company. We use African-American heritage as the central theme around which people- - all people-- can unite. We encourage multicultural small group interactions where quality human-to-human connections and positive relationships begin on the Farm and continue off the Farm, spreading out into our expanded community.
We promote the celebration of heritage as a continuum in which we learn from our past, shape our present, and invest in our future. The Clemmons Family Farm is one of the official 22 landmark cultural and historic sites on Vermont's African-American Heritage Trail. We are one of the 2% of organizations who won the prestigious 2017 National Creative Placemaking Fund grants from ArtPlace America.
Our programs center the arts and African diaspora cultures in cross-sectoral collaborations with public health, K12 education, historic preservation, and agriculture, which we design and implement partnership with a statewide network of Vermont artists of the African diaspora.
We bring people together across differences of race, culture, national origin, language and religion. We then work to transform these differences into opportunities for people to learn, celebrate and commune in a unique setting that is welcoming, inspiring and deeply meaningful: one of the handful of African-American owned historic farms in the state of Vermont. We help people to relax, have fun, and enjoy multicultural experiences with art, history and place at the center of their engagements with the farm and with each other.
Our mission is to be “more than a farm” by offering curated opportunities for visitors to enjoy discovering the fascinating history, culture, arts and sciences of the African-American and African diaspora in what is often described as a "magical" setting with views of the Adirondacks, wide-open meadows and lovely historic buildings. Many of our programs are designed to give people a chance to create art together, to learn about each other and to enjoy each other's company. We use African-American heritage as the central theme around which people- - all people-- can unite. We encourage multicultural small group interactions where quality human-to-human connections and positive relationships begin on the Farm and continue off the Farm, spreading out into our expanded community.
We promote the celebration of heritage as a continuum in which we learn from our past, shape our present, and invest in our future. The Clemmons Family Farm is one of the official 22 landmark cultural and historic sites on Vermont's African-American Heritage Trail. We are one of the 2% of organizations who won the prestigious 2017 National Creative Placemaking Fund grants from ArtPlace America.
Our programs center the arts and African diaspora cultures in cross-sectoral collaborations with public health, K12 education, historic preservation, and agriculture, which we design and implement partnership with a statewide network of Vermont artists of the African diaspora.
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Most of our arts and culture programs are led by our collaborating artists and are tailored for events for 50 people or less. These include:
We also occasionally provide guided tours of the property and historic buildings, and beautiful indoor and outdoor venues to rent for meetings, retreats and special events in a working landscape.
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AND YES, WE ARE A FARM!!! Nearly 60 acres of prime agricultural soils and 60 acres of forest are under our stewardship. The organic farmland produces two annual crops of hay, and wheat, soy, corn, black beans and pinto beans in rotation. The forest is maintained under a Forest Management Plan and is a certified through the American Tree Farm System.
Click on the button below to enjoy our multi-media program highlights report!
