A Winter Visit To The Southern Vermont Arts Center

The Southern Vermont Arts Center offers a quiet and inspiring experience during the winter months. Snow-covered grounds and rotating exhibitions make it an ideal stop for art lovers and weekend travelers. A winter visit highlights the center’s peaceful setting and creative atmosphere without the crowds.

A large white building with black shutters, a red door decorated with a wreath, and snow covering the roof and ground, on a clear winter day. — Yester House, built in 1917. It now houses a gallery and restaurant at the arts center. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

I’ve visited this spot twice during the winter. As much as I enjoy getting outside during the winter, sometimes it’s a bit too cold and I’d really rather doing something indoors. This spot gives a great mix of both. I’ll usually explore the sculpture park until I get cold and then head inside to warm up and enjoy the art.

Getting There

The Southern Vermont Arts Center is located just outside Manchester, Vermont. It can be easily reached by car. Visitors traveling from the south can take Route 7, while those coming from the east or west can connect through Route 11 or Route 30. On-site parking is available and I’ve always found the road up to the parking lot well-maintained in the winter months. The parking lot can be a bit snowy.

A snowy landscape with a flat, open area in the foreground, leafless trees, a few scattered evergreens, and wooded hills in the distance under a cloudy sky. — The parking area during one winter visit. Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

History of the Arts Center

The Southern Vermont Arts Center started as an informal artists’ group for the exhibition of paintings and sculptures in the 1920s. Since then, it has grown and it’s now a leading Vermont institution devoted to performance, exhibition, and studio art.

A green historical marker sign for The Southern Vermont Arts Center stands in a snowy field with leafless trees in the background. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

The campus itself used to be the private estate of Gertrude Divine Webster, a wealthy socialite who used the property as her summer retreat. She was a patron of the arts and her multi-windowed conservatory boasted the finest Vermont-made glass collection in the world. The the Southern Vermont Artists bought the property in 1950.

Things To Do

There are things to do both indoor and outdoors at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in the winter months. Whether you’re looking to connect with nature or stay warm in the art galleries, there’s a little something for everyone.

Sculpture Park and Trails

This campus is home to a sculpture park, which is the largest in the state. There are about 20 to 30 sculptures around the park. The sculptures are worth checking out even in the winter.

A metallic humanoid sculpture with outstretched arms stands on a snowy field, with bare trees and a clear blue sky in the background. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

A metal sculpture stands in a snowy field in front of leafless trees, with a forested mountain in the background under a clear blue sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

In addition to the sculptures, there are also trails to explore. If you’re going to explore the trails, make sure you’re prepared for a winter hike. While a good pair of winter boots and micro spikes could be helpful, I’d also highly recommend having snowshoes since the snow tends to be pretty deep. And of course, dress appropriately for the temperatures and pack water.

Snow-covered field with scattered sculptural artworks in front of leafless trees and mountains, under an overcast sky. Several signs are visible in the foreground. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

A wooden sign in a snowy forest reads: “The Nature Conservancy, Equinox Highlands Natural Area, Southern VT Arts Center Forest.”. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

Yester House

This was the summer home of Gertrude Divine Webster. The mansion featured 28 rooms along with servants quarters. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places.

A large white colonial-style building with black shutters and a red door, surrounded by snow and leafless trees under a clear blue sky. — Photo credit: Kailey MarcAurele.

The house now serves as a gallery and a cafe. There are ten distinct galleries with art from dozens of individual and group art exhibitions rotating each season. These rotating exhibitions include works from member artists of all variety, medium, technique, concept, and background.

Art gallery room with wooden floor, benches, a gray couch, a piano, and several colorful paintings displayed on white walls.

There are still some features of the historic home visible as you make your way through the galleries, like fireplaces. There are also places to sit back and relax around the galleries.

A black fireplace with a surrounding bench sits against a white wall, above which three colorful paintings are displayed in a well-lit room with wood flooring.

Be sure to check out the unique light fixture as you make your way up and down the staircase.

Colorful chandelier with round glass bulbs hangs in an art gallery with paintings on the walls, a large arched window, and wooden floors.

Elizabeth De C. Wilson Museum & Galleries

This portion was opened in 2000 and designed by Hugh Newell Jacobsen. Inside, you’ll find more galleries and a museum shop with various gifts.

A white building with a red door, black wreath, and a flag that reads "OPEN" on a snowy ground under a clear blue sky.

This building provides a contemporary, exhibition space for visiting artists and exhibitions. It also serves as a secure spot for the their Permanent Collection, featuring over 900 works by Luigi Lucioni, Ogden Pleissner, Grandma Moses, Lorenzo James Hatch, to name a few.

A person with two long braids, wearing a light pink shirt, stands facing an abstract geometric painting on a gallery wall.

Something I really liked about this building was that there was an activity that my sister could do. It was a nice way to get her engaged with the exhibits.

A girl with braided hair sits at a black table writing, beneath a wall sign that reads, "What do you create and what lineages influence you?.

Is It Worth Visiting In The Winter?

If you’re interested in art, I’d say this spot is absolutely worth a visit in the winter. It’s a great indoor activity to do when the weather is a bit too cold to enjoy the outdoors comfortably. It’s a great spot for both adults and children. My sister thoroughly enjoyed visiting and I liked that the Elizabeth De C. Wilson Museum & Galleries building had activities for her to do!