In Today’s News

Music teacher taking action about hunger in Maine

Michael Arell, the director of music for Veazie Community School, is doing something in response to something he heard on the radio during his morning commute. At least 12 percent of Maine households were food insecure in 2019, higher than the national average, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

So what is Arell doing? He has self-recorded a Christmas Album and is selling it for $10 on his website. The proceeds will go to the Good Shepherd Food Bank.

Michael Arell, the director of music for Veazie Community School, plays the piano during a graduate recital in 2019. Arell is pledging to donate profits from his self-recorded Christmas Album to the Good Shepherd Food Bank.

READ the entire article from the Bangor Daily News. Thank you Michael!

Arell’s Christmas Album is available for streaming on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. People can purchase a digital copy of the full album for $10 on his website.

Maine Theater Fund

Awards $76,000 in Grants

PORTLAND & ELLSWORTH—The Maine Theater Fund of the Maine Community Foundation has awarded 17 grants that total $76,829 to support professional and community theaters in the production and presentation of live theater.

Grace and Jenny of Bana Mboka lead the audience in Congolese dance during a 2019 performance at Mayo Street Arts. Photo Vanessa Marcoux, MSA

GRANT RECIPIENTS

• Everyman Repertory Theatre, Rockport, to present the 2021 season of plays that celebrate the arts in Maine and the state’s history
• Friends of St. Lawrence Church, Portland, to supplement operating funds for maintenance of the Parish Hall Theater
• Mayo Street Arts, Portland, to renovate the box office and concessions area to ADA standards
• Acadia Repertory Theatre, Somesville, to replace the theatre’s 40-year-old lighting system: $3,000
• Arts & Cultural Alliance of Freeport, for the purchase of a sound system for Meetinghouse Arts:  $5,000
• Chocolate Church Arts Center, Bath, to replace ticketing and donation system: $5,000
• Community Little Theater, Auburn, for the theatrical rights and expenses for the production of AR Gurney’s Love Letters: $4,000
• Crowbait Club, Portland, for “King of Crows IX,” the yearly production of the winners of the monthly Theatre Deathmatch for 10-minute plays: $2,000
• Dramatic Repertory Company, Portland, to fund the 2020-2021 season, including two Maine premier productions: $5,000
• Everyman Repertory Theatre, Rockport, to present the 2021 season of plays that celebrate the arts in Maine and the state’s history: $5,000
• Friends of St. Lawrence Church, Portland, to supplement operating funds for maintenance of the Parish Hall Theater: $3,000
• Marsh River Theater, Brooks, for new lights: $5,000
• Mayo Street Arts, Portland, to renovate the box office and concessions area to ADA standards: $5,000
• Midcoast Actors Studio, Belfast, to provide quality year-round theatre opportunities in the new performance space at the former Waldo County Courthouse    $5,000
• Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation, to help offset the costs of COVID-19 personal protective equipment and safety upgrades for the 2021 season re-opening: $5,000
• Portland Lyric Theater, to install an air purification system to improve indoor air quality, preparing for safe opening: $5,000
• Saco River Theatre, to complete construction of staff/performer restrooms in the basement of the building           : $5,000
• Terra Moto Inc., South Portland, to produce MAINEUSA: The History of Maine from the Ice Age till Now in July 2021 at Portland Players Theater followed by statewide performances: $5,000
• Theater at Monmouth, to produce TopDog/UnderDog by Suzan Lori Parks as part of TAM’s (R)evolutionary Season Redux: $5,000
• Waldo Theatre Inc., to purchase and install essential flame-retardant stage masking curtains and the required stage rigging: $4,829

An anonymous couple who recognized the connection between vibrant communities and support for the arts established the Maine Theater Fund in 2005 to strengthen and sustain theater performance throughout the state. 

Awards are typically between $2,500 and $5,000. The next deadline for applications is September 15, 2021. Guidelines, application and a list of recent grants are available at www.mainecf.org. The 2020 grants are also listed below.

If you have questions please contact Carl Little, Communications Manager, Maine Community Foundation.

Headquartered in Ellsworth, with additional personnel in Portland, Dover-Foxcroft, Rockport, and Mars Hill, the Maine Community Foundation works with donors and other partners to provide strong investments, personalized service, local expertise, and strategic giving to improve the quality of life for all Maine people. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.mainecf.org.