Executive Director Search Extended to February 9

The Maine Arts Commission is seeking an executive director who will be responsible for the strategic planning, direction, management, implementation, and evaluation of all agency operations, programs and services.

The position provides leadership to the arts industry in Maine; represents the agency, Commission, and the arts to governmental and legislative bodies, arts organizations, corporations, private foundations, the media, and the public. The position also directs the administration of agency operations and provides leadership to the personnel of the Maine Arts Commission. The position reports to the Maine Arts Commission and is responsible for the management of eight full-time employees in the agency.

The closing date is February 09, 2012. Full details can be found on Mainearts.com.

Website Design Workshop in Freeport

Steve Milligan, Technology Associate from the Maine Arts Commission will be conducting a workshop that focuses on online artist portfolios. Steve has over 10 years of experience in web design, usability, web standards and trends. The workshop will familiarize attendees with common web terms and theories. Although the workshop will not delve into the technical nuts and bolts of web development, it will provide a firm understanding of successful web design strategies through visual examples. Attendees will leave the workshop feeling confident and prepared to speak intelligibly with a designer to produce an effective, visually appealing portfolio website. The question and answer segment at the end will be extremely valuable and attendees are encouraged to participate openly. Attendees may bring examples of their existing, or proposed, websites to be critiqued.

The workshop will be at the Freeport Community Center at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 30. If you have any questions about this workshop, please call Kathleen Meade at 207/749-4451.

Agency Grant Deadlines Approach

Arts Visibility Grant

Application Deadline: January 13, 2012
Maximum grant award: $1,500
Program Guidelines

This grant supports Maine’s artists and arts organizations by providing the means with which to increase the visibility of specific artistic projects.

Innovative Production Grant

Application Deadline: January 13, 2012
Maximum grant amount: $2,000
Program Guidelines

This grant supports artistic innovation in the production and presentation of media and/or performance work of artists and organizations.

Jane Morrison Film Scholarship

Application Deadline: January 13, 2012
Maximum grant amount: $2,000
Program Guidelines

This grant supports educational opportunities for filmmakers in the early stages of their career development.

Great Works

Application Deadline: February 24, 2012
Maximum grant award: $20,000
Program Guidelines

The grant supports professional Maine arts organizations with annual operating budgets of $500,000 or greater to present significant and innovative projects such as an exhibition, performance, film or residency.

Artists in Maine Communities

Application Deadline: February 24, 2012
Maximum grant amount $7,500
Program Guidelines

This grant supports arts organizations, schools and other community groups that wish to develop collaborative projects that employ Maine artists to benefit Maine communities in innovative ways.

Free Agency Program and Grants Workshop at Center for Maine Craft

If you have ever had questions about funding available through the Maine Arts Commission then help is just around the corner. Kathy Ann Shaw, Senior Grants Associate and Kathleen Mundell, Traditional Arts Specialist will be visiting West Gardiner in February to provide the answers. This program is presented in concert with the exhibition Two Times Ten: 20 Years of Maine’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, an exhibition funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

This workshop will take place from 4 pm to 6 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012 and will be hosted by the Center for Maine Craft. The Center, a program of the Maine Crafts Association, is the central location for craft sales, education and activities in the state. All work for sale at the Center is handcrafted by Maine artisans. As many as 300 Maine craft artists from throughout the state may be represented in the Center at any one time. The Center is located at 24 Service Plaza Drive West Gardiner ME 04345.

Kathy and Kathleen will present basic information about the Maine Arts Commission’s grant programs, especially those in the traditional arts, and announce the offering of the new Maine Arts Commission / Maine Community Foundation Belvedere Craft Fellowship for artists in Hancock and Washington Counties. The presentation will include a review of the National Endowment for the Arts as needed and will feature tips and tricks for grant writing. This will be an informal gathering which will allow participants to ask specific questions and steer the presentation in the direction most helpful to them. There is no need to register.

For further information please contact Kathy at 207/287-2750 or kathy.shaw@maine.gov. The Center for Maine Craft can be reached at 207/588 0021

Two times Ten travels to d’Youville Pavilion in Lewiston and Center for Maine Craft in Gardiner

“Two Times Ten: 20 years of Maine’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program,” a photographic exhibit featuring portraits of participating master artists as teachers, cultural advocates and keepers of traditions. It features such artists as Cindy Larock, a master step dancer from Lewiston, who is now passing on the tradition to a whole new generation.

The exhibit is part of an upcoming series– sponsored by the University of New England Maine Geriatric Education Center (UNE-MGEC) in partnership with St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion and the Maine Arts Commission – which will include artist demonstrations and facilitated discussion called “Living Art–Living Well Studio.” The program explores how creativity and art affects the health of the body, mind and spirit of older adults. The first of the four part series takes place on Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion in Lewiston.

In February, “Two times Ten” will travel to the Center for Maine Craft in Gardiner and be on display between February 1 and February 28, 2012.

On February 17, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Center for Maine Craft, the Maine Arts Commission, in conjunction with the Center for Maine Craft, will provide a workshop that helps explain how to apply to the Maine Arts Commission’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program. The workshop will also expand beyond this to provide general information session about all of the Maine Arts Commission funding programs.

Internships at Bates Dance Festival!

Bates Dance Festival is seeking interns for the following areas:

Technical Production/Stagecraft Apprenticeships
Videography
Arts Administration
Dance Education


The Festival's internship/apprenticeship program offers qualified individuals an opportunity to work side-by-side with the Festival's professional staff. Interns/apprentices will receive on-the-job training in technical production, videography, arts administration and dance education, while gaining valuable contacts and in-depth knowledge of contemporary dance. Housing, meals and complimentary tickets to performances are provided. Dance education, administration, video interns and stagecraft apprentices may register for up to two classes a day. Technical Production interns receive a $300 stipend (upon submission of receipts) to assist with travel.

Visit the festival website for more details at: http://www.batesdancefestival.org/internships.php

Deadline Approaching for Innovative Production Grant

January 13, 2012 is the last day to apply for the $2,000 award. Artists and organizations exploring new and dynamic practices in producing artwork should consider applying. Innovation can be in the form of materials, production methods, project concepts, technology integration, or can come in the form of timing, placement of work, means of distribution or the manner that it is presented. Proposals should demonstrate excellence in the field and have some demonstration of public presence or community impact

In the past Haystack Mountain School of Crafts received the grant for aspects of incorporating an MIT Fab Lab into their facility. Opera House Arts in Stonington received the award for innovative programming for the productions of Much Ado About Nothing and Elizabeth Rex. Artist Nate Aldrich was given support to create a permanent interactive sound-scape installation at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art.

More information can be found on the Maine Arts Commission Website.