Above: NVU-Lyndon students work together on new repertoire for the Vermont music industry.
USDA Rural Business Development Grant Support funded this collaborative project
Vermont Business Magazine A new interactive Vermont music industry directory has been released for bigheavyworld.com, a website celebrating original music from Vermont. The repertoire was created through a collaboration between Big Heavy World, Vermont’s independent, volunteer-run music bureau, and students from the Northern Vermont University-Lyndon Music Business and Industry program. The project was supported in part by the USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant Program, designed to provide technical assistance, training, and other resources to small rural businesses.
“Vermont’s 2020 comprehensive economic development strategy places particular emphasis on arts and culture as a ‘priority sector’ for its contribution to quality of life,” said James Lockridge, executive director of Big Heavy World. “Vermont is waking up to the importance of the arts to the economy, social well-being, and the brand of the state. Investments in public resources like this music sector directory reflect these values and show that many Vermonters can benefit when diverse allies work together.
Cameron Delouis, Christopher Finn, AJ Gonzalez and Charlotte Morris, students of the NVU-Lyndon Music Business and Industry program, participated in the project as paid interns under the university’s community-based learning and working initiative . The students researched various sources of information to update and expand the content of the directory, and were paid through USDA Rural Business Development Grant funds given to Big Heavy World for this project.
“I’m very proud to be part of working with other students on this project,” Gonzalez said. “It was my first internship in the music industry, and I hope there will be a lot of public benefits that come from it. It’s really exciting to be able to associate my name with something so accessible. to the public and beneficial.
The new map guide shows the music industry “ecologies” of five regions of the state: Southeast, Southwest, Central, Champlain Valley and Northeast Kingdom. It includes filterable listings for broadcast media, festivals, instrument stores, music venues, print media, record labels, record stores, and recording studios.
The directory was developed in the ArcGIS Online environment by Stone Environmental. “The ArcGIS Online platform is a great tool to help develop low-code/no-code web applications at low cost,” said Warren Rich, GIS project specialist at Stone Environmental. “It’s ideal for this project, making the directory usable and attractive to everyone who uses it.”
As a community-driven, non-profit arts organization, Big Heavy World invites anyone to contact if they have any updates or additions to this first draft of the living document, [email protected]. Future additions will include instrument makers, music-focused healthcare providers, and other industries recommended by the music community and the public. The directory is free to the public.
“NVU Music Business and Industry students benefit from our partnership with Big Heavy World in many ways,” said Joe Gittleman, NVU-Lyndon Associate Professor of Music and Performing Arts. “But with this particular project, the students played a crucial role in identifying the resources of Vermont’s music industry. These resources also represent opportunities for our students, so it was really cool to be involved.
The new Vermont Music Sector directory.
Big Heavy World is an independent, non-profit, volunteer-run music bureau serving the State of Vermont. Founded in 1996, it has relied on a tech-do-it-yourself ethic and inclusive philosophy to support musicians and advance the music industry, preserve Vermont’s musical heritage, and empower young adults in an environment that focuses their passions and their intellect. The organization has been selected by an international jury to receive the 2020 Music Cities ‘Best Global Music Office Award’. Learn more about bigheavyworld.com.
Northern Vermont University is a two-campus higher education institution that combines the best of these campuses’ nationally recognized liberal and professional arts programs. At Northern Vermont University, the goal is to guide curious, motivated, and engaged students on their path to success and their place in the world. NVU Online offers flexible, affordable, and high-quality options for learners pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as certificates. NVU offers a full range of associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, as well as credited and noncredited certificates and professional development courses. On July 1, 2023, Northern Vermont University will partner with Castleton University and Vermont Technical College to become Vermont State University, a reimagined institution of higher education building on the strong heritage of its founding institutions. Learn more about NorthernVermont.edu.
BURLINGTON & LYNDONVILLE, July 14, 2022: NorthernVermont.edu
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