Video Recap
Posts Tagged ‘Maine International Conference on the Arts’

Video – Day 1 MICA
September 30, 2018Overview of the Pre-Conference
If you missed the Maine International Conference on the Arts this year check out this video that provides an overview of Day 1! Mark your calendars for the next Biennial conference being held in the Augusta area in conjunction with the Bicentennial of Maine – 2020!
PRE MICA CONFERENCES VIDEO – DAY 1

MICA – Day 2
September 29, 2018A day filled with GREATNESS
The Maine International Conference on the Arts (MICA) wrapped up yesterday with a very full and high spirited, exciting day. The day started with a lively performance by the Maine Taiko Drummers. The Maine Artists Idea Lab stories followed in Hannaford Hall reaching across the many “arts” lines and inspiring folks bringing many to tears.
One of the Idea Lab presenters was Sedomocha School Music Educator Kaitlin Young (Maine 2018 Teacher of the Year) who shared her “teacher” story and reminded me of the importance of “life-long learning”! All of us who call ourselves “educators” can be proud that Kaitlin represents Maine educators who are continuously striving to provide an excellent education for all learners!
The day was filled with breakout sessions on a variety of topics relating to the Maine Arts Commission (MAC) Cultural Plan – Leveraging Investment, Building Capacity, Visibility of Arts & Cultural Sector, Arts Education & Lifelong Learning, and Promoting Cultural Tourism.
Just before lunch Arts EngageME presented their Inaugural Maine Arts Awards to the surprised recipients. Throughout the day there were pop-up performers including Sara Juli, Oratorio Chorale, Portland Piano Trio, Celebration Barn, Golden Oak, and MAMM students.
The PK-12 arts education sessions were informative, enlightening, and inspirational. Thank you to the following who contributed their expertise to the sessions designed especially for educators.
How do teaching, learning and assessment work together in a positive, productive standards-based Visual and Performing Arts classroom?
Jeff Beaudry, Jen Etter, Kelly Hrenko, Michelle Kaschub, Holly Leighton, and John Morris!
When Teaching Artists and Arts Teachers Connect, Students Win
Kate Smith, Brian Evans-Jones, Kris Bisson, Tim Christensen, Lori Spruce, John Morris, Carmel Collins
Empowering Your Voice for Arts Education
Catherine Ring
MAC provides MICA biennially so if you missed it this year mark your calendar for the next one being held in 2020. It will be a great way to celebrate the Bicentennial of our state.

Pre-MICA and MICA This Week
September 25, 2018Still time to register
If you haven’t heard the Maine Arts Commission is providing 3 conferences this Thursday and Friday, September 27 and 28, Abramson Center, USM, Portland.
LEARN ALL THE DETAILS AND REGISTER HERE.
Thursday, September 27 | Pre-Conferences & Opening Reception
8:00 AM ~ The 2018 Maine State Teacher of the Year, Kaitlin Young, will provide an engaging keynote at the Arts Education Pre-Conference: At the HEART of Arts Education and provide seeds of inspiration to help you create action steps for your work at the school and/or community level. Attend as individuals or consider bringing a team from your school and/or community. The day will start and conclude with creative art and music making.
12:00 PM ~ Rural Arts Development Pre-Conference – Maine is the most rural state in the nation. Therefore, we have more unique challenges in our cultural sector with regard to sustainability, audience development, communications and connectivity. This Pre-Conference will provide hands-on advice, models to emulate and a space to have those conversations that are unique to artists and arts organizations functioning in our rural environment here in Maine. Don’t miss this opportunity!
4:00 PM ~ Opening Reception: A celebration of the arts with Keynote Speaker Maryo Gard Ewell – Rural Community Development in and Through the Arts
Friday, September 28 | Maine Arts Awards
12:00 PM ~ ArtsEngageME is pleased to be partnering with the Maine Arts Commission on the inaugural Maine Arts Awards – a brand new program to recognize and celebrate the arts in our communities. Awardees will be recognized for their substantial contributions made in Maine that exemplify a long-term commitment to the arts. Each awardee in seven categories will be given a work of art commissioned especially for the Maine Arts Awards by Molly Neptune Parker, a fourth generation Passamaquoddy basketweaver and National Heritage Fellow.

Maine Artists Idea Lab
September 24, 2018MICA
Along with the great sessions taking place on Thursday and Friday, September 27 and 28 at the MICA and Pre-MICA conferences there will be other events as well. Attending MICA provides multiple learning opportunities. Here are some of the highlights outside of the sessions. The Idea Lab starts off the MICA on Friday morning, the 28th. Our own Kaitlin Young, elementary music teacher from Sedomocha School in Dover Foxcroft, will provide one of the fast-paced and engaging pecha kulcha-style format. I hope to see you there!
CHECK OUT THE FULL AGENDAS FOR BOTH DAYS!
REGISTER HERE
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MICA Arts Ed Sessions
September 8, 2018Three amazing sessions
This is the third blog post that provides information about the learning opportunities being happening in September from the Maine Arts Commission – the Pre-MICA At the HEART of Education, Thursday, September 27 at USM, Portland campus, Abromson Center. And, yesterday’s post with the overall details for the Maine International Conference on the Arts being held, same place, on Friday, September 28. This post includes the details on the ARTS EDUCATION track with 3 sessions for your interest. Below you will find the details.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Kaitlin Young is one of five speakers that will start off the day presenting in the Maine Artists Idea Lab. It is a fast-paced and engaging peach kulcha-style format that will knock your socks off with the newest innovations. an Idea Lab.
ARTS EDUCATION SESSIONS
- 11:00 – 12:00 How do teaching, learning and assessment work together in a positive, productive standards-based Visual and Performing Arts classroom?
Description
The use of “standards” and “assessments” in visual and performing arts (VPA) education have been discussed, planned for, and developed over many years. A panel of educators will share the work they have underway. Participants are invited to join the conversation – bring your thoughts, questions, and curiosity on why standards and assessments are used in the arts.
Facilitator
Jeff Beaudry
Panel
Jen Etter, Kelly Hrenko, Michelle Kaschub, Holly Leighton, John Morris
Bios
Jeffrey S. Beaudry, Ph.D., Professor, Educational Leadership, University of Southern Maine
Dr. Beaudry is focused on high impact, classroom and leadership strategies, and how they relate to assessment literacy, assessment for learning (formative assessment), evidence-based practices, and STEAMSS (STEM and arts and service learning). Dr. Stewart MCafferty and Dr. Beaudry just co-authored a book, Teaching Strategies to Create Assessment-literate Learners and Educators, which Corwin Press released in May, 2018. The book provides the research base and multiple examples of practices of high impact strategies of assessment for learning. He also wrote a textbook, Research Literacy: A Primer for Understanding Research, and a book of teaching case study about concept mapping and critical thinking. Jeff passionate about the use of visual thinking in teaching, learning and assessment. He is also very proud of his time as co-director of the Southern Maine Partnership, a regional collaboration of schools and the University of Southern Maine.
Mrs. Etter is a music teacher at York Middle School in York, ME. She is currently in her 11th year of teaching chorus, general music and beginning band at YMS. Within her district, Jen serves on the Leadership Team and played an integral role in helping to transition the York School Department to a proficiency based, student centered model of instruction and assessment. She has presented on proficiency education at the regional and state level and is passionate about spreading the story of how this has transformed her classroom. Jen has been a teacher leader with the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative since 2013 and in 2014 was selected to featured in the Initiative’s video series on standards-based, student centered learning. She is extremely proud of the work of this organization and feels blessed to have had the opportunity to be involved with MALI. It is a privilege to be able to work with such amazing arts educators from around the state of Maine.
Kelly Hrenko, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Art Education, University of Southern Maine
Dr. Hrenko’s current scholarship is within the field of integrated arts and multimodal creative literacies. She uses her position as a teacher educator in the visual arts as a place where several intersections occur; between art and culture, community and school; and interdisciplinary education. She comes from the Midwest where she worked in public and Native American BIA schools, assisting k-12 teachers as they work to integrate the visual arts and native cultures across curricula. Dr Hrenko’s recent publication, Decolonizing Vacationland (Hrenko & Paul, 2017) in Staikidis and Ballengee-Morris (Eds.) Transforming Our Practices: Indigenous Art, Pedagogies, and Philosophies, shares examples of culture based work from Maine classrooms, in partnership with Maliseet teaching artist Mihku Paul. Additionally, Dr. Hrenko works closely with Side X Side, a local arts education non-profit, to support the integration of creative teaching practices and arts-based curriculum across k-12 subject areas.
Michele Kaschub, Ph.D., Professor of Music, Coordinator of Music Teacher Education, Director-Center for Collaboration and Development, University of Southern Maine
Dr. Kaschub is Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Teacher Education in the School of Music, as well as Director of the Center for Collaboration and Development at the University of Southern Maine. Prior to teaching at the college level, Dr. Kaschub taught 6-12 general and choral music in Camden, ME, and elementary music in Glencoe, IL. Her research interests include children’s composition, composition pedagogy, choral music education, curriculum design/assessment, and the professional development of teachers at all levels. She is co-author of Minds on Music: Composition for Creative and Critical Thinking (Rowman & Littlefield, 2009) and Experiencing Music Composition in Grades 3-5 (Oxford University Press, 2016), co-editor of Composing Our Future: Preparing Music Educators to Teach Composition (OUP, 2013) and Promising Practices in 21st Century Music Teacher Education (OUP, 2014), and has contributed chapters to several pedagogy texts and articles to multiple professional journals. Michele is currently the Chair & Academic Editor of Music Educators Journal, the most widely disseminated journal for music practitioners in the world. An active clinician and guest lecturer, she has presented research papers and workshops at conferences throughout the United States and abroad.
Holly Leighton, B.S., Art Education, K-12 Mattanawcook Academy, RSU 67, Lincoln
Ms. Leighton is an art teacher at Mattanawcook Academy, RSU 67, Lincoln, Maine. Holly began her teaching career in the district 20 years ago at the Ella P. Burr Elementary School by developing and implementing the first art program at the elementary level in RSU 67. Holly is currently in her 4thyear as the art teacher at the high school. Over the past 4 years Holly has participated in district courses and workshops led Dr. Beaudry and Dr. Stewart MCafferty on assessment literacy which has become an important part of her teaching philosophy. She has continued working with them by attending USM Literacy Conferences and co-presenting at workshops. Holly believes in creating a classroom environment of trust and respect where formative assessments are welcome and occur continuously between teacher and students and between students themselves. Holly is proud to have become a MALI Teacher Leader and a Teacher Leader at Mattanawcook Academy.
Mr. Morris is a dance educator and teaching artist based in Bridgton, Maine. Born and raised in Maine, John performed and taught dance for many years in New York City, before living in the United Kingdom for four years with his wife and stepdaughter. John promotes creative exploration and expression in his teaching, specializing in improvisation and inter-disciplinary collaboration. His writing on creativity and dance has been published in “Creativity Across Domains: Faces of the muse,” edited by James C. Kaufman and John Baer. In addition, he has created a resource for the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Resource Bank on creativity and dance. He also has a background in large-scale arts assessment, as a consultant for the NAEP arts assessment and the A.P. Studio Art assessment. John is a member of the MALI design team, and is on the Maine Teaching Artists Roster.
- 2:00 – 3:00 When Teaching Artists and Arts Teachers Connect, Students Win Description: During the past 4 years, teaching artists and arts educators in the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative have collaborated to provide meaningful, purposeful and authentic learning opportunities for students. Educator collaborations provide opportunities for learners that can surpass what a teacher, working alone, can offer. Hear the stories from these collaborators, bring your questions, share your experiences and imagine the possibilities in more Maine schools and communities.
Description
During the past 4 years, teaching artists and arts educators in the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative have collaborated to provide meaningful, purposeful and authentic learning opportunities for students. Educator collaborations provide opportunities for learners that can surpass what a teacher, working alone, can offer. Hear the stories from these collaborators, bring your questions, share your experiences and imagine the possibilities in more Maine schools and communities.
Facilitator
Kate Smith
Panel
Brian Evans-Jones, Kris Bisson, Tim Christensen, Lori Spruce, John Morris, Carmel Collins
Bios
Mrs. Smith is an energetic music teacher currently teaching music to preK-third grade students in South Berwick, Maine. Kate earned her music education degree from USM and a Master’s degree in Technology in Education from Lesley University. Kate was honored as 2014 York County Teacher of the Year for her passion for innovation and creativity. Kate serves as a teacher leader and design team member for the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative, the Parade Coordinator for South Berwick’s annual Lanternfest and a coordinator for Central School’s farm-to-table program. Kate lives in southern Maine with her husband and three children.
Mrs. Bisson is Director of Choruses and a music educator at Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Maine. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine and has served as adjudicator and guest conductor for several district choral festivals. She is a teacher leader for the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative, and a member of the National Association for Music Education and the American Choral Directors Association. Her passion for student engagement is reflected in each class she teaches.
Mr. Evans-Jones is a former Poet Laureate of Hampshire, UK, now living in South Berwick, Maine. He studied Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick, UK, and received his MFA in Poetry from UNH in 2016. His poems have appeared in magazines and competitions in America and Britain, and he was the poetry winner of the 2017 Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award from Poets & Writers. Brian has taught creative writing to children and adults since 2005, and has run poetry residencies and workshops in schools, historic houses, prisons, libraries, and other community and educational venues.
Mr. Christensen is a well known ceramic artist, and teaching artist, living in the woods of Downeast Maine. In his practice working in sgraffito on porcelain, he seeks to understand and record the complexities of the systems operating, and changing, in our world today. In his teaching practice, he helps facilitate learning through the use of visual art as a language, supporting students, teachers, and administrators as they unlock the wonders of our world through art and visual literacy. He has worked in clay since 1999, and been teaching since 2003.
Ms. Collins is both a visual arts and dance teacher at Lake Region High School, Maine. She teaches a variety of arts classes that include ceramics, drawing, fundamentals and the latest addition graphic design. The dance program offers dance showcase (primarily a performance class) and dance academy, as well as supporting a dance outreach program which serves the district schools. She has served on several educational boards and acted as teacher leader for MALI several times, and served as a member of the reviewing committee in the formulation of the NCCAS. In addition to her classroom duties Carmel also serves the district as K-12 fine arts coordinator and serves on the teacher evaluation committee.
Mr. Morris is a dance educator and teaching artist based in Bridgton, Maine. Born and raised in Maine, John performed and taught dance for many years in New York City, before living in the United Kingdom for four years with his wife and stepdaughter. John promotes creative exploration and expression in his teaching, specializing in improvisation and inter-disciplinary collaboration. His writing on creativity and dance has been published in “Creativity Across Domains: Faces of the muse,” edited by James C. Kaufman and John Baer. In addition, he has created a resource for the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Resource Bank on creativity and dance. He also has a background in large-scale arts assessment, as a consultant for the NAEP arts assessment and the A.P. Studio Art assessment. John is a member of the MALI design team, and is on the Maine Teaching Artists Roster.
Mrs. Spruce is a visual art educator at Brewer High School in Brewer, Maine. She teaches multiple art classes including Art 1, Painting, Photography, Graphic Design, and Advanced Placement Studio Art. Lori received her Bachelor’s Degree in Art education and Studio Art from the University of Maine in Orono. She is proud to have been instrumental in creating the digital media arts program that is now offered at her school that includes a traditional black and white photography darkroom as well. She is also the curriculum leader for the visual and performing art department at Brewer. She is a teacher leader for the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative, a member of the Maine Arts Education Association, and Art in the Heart of Maine. Lori lives in Lamoine, Maine, with her husband and son and is a painter in her artist time.
- 3:15 – 4:15 Empowering Your Voice for Arts Education
Description
We often underestimate the power of our passion and voice for arts education. Yet, we’ve seen students, educators, artists, arts organizations and community members find their voice, build their stories and messages, back them up with research and evidence, and become leaders and advocates for arts education in powerful ways. In this session, we will explore ways to empower our voices, use helpful resources that are just clicks away, and be on our way to making an impact with our hopes and dreams for the arts in education!
Presenter
Ms. Ring is Executive Director of the New England Institute for Teacher Education and teaches graduate level courses to educators across the state of Maine. She co-founder of the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative and has served on the core leadership team since it was established in 2010. Catherine completed her Education Leadership studies at the University of Vermont and received her Master of Arts from Vermont College of Norwich University. For her thesis, entitled “Education and the Arts, Toward Creative Intelligences,” she researched the role of the arts in learning and has worked closely with classroom teachers, helping them to integrate the arts into their regular curricula. As Principal, Catherine helped to bring to her school district the Kennedy Center’s National Partnership program. She assists school districts throughout Maine with differentiated instruction, arts integration, and gifted and talented programs. Catherine is the 2014 Advocate of the Year by the Maine Art Education Association. Catherine returned to the art classroom in 2016 and is teaching on Isle au Haut.

MICA
September 7, 2018Biennial gathering for the Arts
Portland, ME | September 28, 2018
University of Southern Maine, Abromson Community Education Center
Join the Maine Arts Commission for the third biennial Maine International Conference on the Arts (MICA), where we will explore art making, arts education, capacity-building strategies and skills, and more—all specifically for Maine artists, arts educators, and arts organizations.
To learn about the Pre-MICA Arts Education conference, September 27, CLICK HERE.
MICA CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Registration Pricing & Info
Thursday Pre-Conferences
Friday Conference
Friday, September 28 | Maine Arts Awards
ArtsEngageME is pleased to be partnering with the Maine Arts Commission on the inaugural Maine Arts Awards – a brand new program to recognize and celebrate the arts in our communities. Awardees will be recognized for their substantial contributions made in Maine that exemplify a long-term commitment to the arts. Each awardee in seven categories will be given a work of art commissioned especially for the Maine Arts Awards by Molly Neptune Parker, a fourth generation Passamaquoddy basketweaver and National Heritage Fellow.
Friday, September 28 | Conference
Maine Artists Idea Lab: Five speakers using the fast-paced and engaging pecha kucha-style format will knock your socks off with their newest innovations. Speakers include:
20 Professional Development Sessions in 5 Tracks Running Concurrently:
LEVERAGING INVESTMENT. Learn to attract and leverage greater investment through corporate sponsorships, development planning, capitalization and more.
BUILDING CAPACITY. All you need to know on strategies for sustainability and increased impact, from an intensive on strategic planning with Julie Richard to a session on The Role of the Arts in Communities in Crisis.
VISIBILITY OF THE ARTS & CULTURAL SECTOR. Discuss ways to increase awareness of creative opportunities, as well as their value to communities and local economies. Participate in a new, two-part workshop by MICA 2016 superstar Matt Lehrman, Opportunity Everywhere, Parts I & II. Or attend a dynamic session hosted by DataArts/The Cultural Data Project on ways to connect your data to stories about your mission and impact, for more effective communications with key stakeholders.
ARTS EDUCATION & LIFELONG LEARNING. Participate in sessions on fostering PK-12 arts education and lifelong learning programs, including Creative Aging and Traditional Arts.
PROMOTING CULTURAL TOURISM. Gather the information you need to enhance experiences and leverage cultural tourism. Hear from organizations on their successes creating experiences outside of traditional venues, or attend a Rural Community Arts Development session facilitated by Maryo Gard Ewell.
Pop-up performances throughout the day.
ARTS EDUCATION SESSIONS
- 11:00 – 12:00 How do teaching, learning and assessment work together in a positive, productive standards-based Visual and Performing Arts classroom? Facilitator: Jeff Beaudry. Panel: Jen Etter, Kelly Hrenko, Michelle Kaschub, Holly Leighton, John Morris
- 2:00 – 3:00 When Teaching Artists and Arts Teachers Connect, Students Win Facilitator: Kate Smith. Panel: Brian Evans-Jones, Kris Bisson, Tim Christensen, Lori Spruce, John Morris, Carmel Collins
- 3:15 – 4:15 Empowering Your Voice for Arts Education Presenter: Catherine Ring
Thank you to our sponsors






Maine International Conference on the Arts
July 30, 2018September 27 and 28
The Maine International Conference on the Arts (MICA) is taking place at USM, Portland campus on September 27 and 28, 2018. Learn about the details and registration by CLICKING HERE. Early bird discount is available until July 31. Watch the video below and see familiar arts education colleagues and their students from the last MICA that was held in Lewiston.

Maine International Conference on the Arts
June 6, 2018USM – September 27, 2018
THIRD BIENNIAL MAINE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE ARTS
Join the Maine Arts Commission at the University of Southern Maine Portland Abromson Community Education Center, where we will explore art making, arts education, capacity-building strategies and skills, and more – all specifically for Maine artists, arts educators, and arts organizations.
Thursday, September 27 | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
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- Pre-conference Sessions – Discussions on Rural Community Development, professional development for Arts Educators, and Maine craft and traditional art apprenticeships
- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Opening Reception: A celebration of the arts with keynote speaker and performances
- Keynote Speaker Maryo Gard Ewell– Rural Community Development in and Through the Arts
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Friday, September 28 | 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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- 7:30 a.m. – Continental Breakfast/Networking
- 8:15 a.m. – Maine Artists Idea Lab : 6 speakers using the fast-paced and engaging pecha kucha-style format will knock your socks off with their newest innovations. Confirmed speakers include Lucas Richman, Music Director, Bangor Symphony Orchestra; Rene Johnson, Executive Director, Theater Ensemble of Color; Erin McGee Ferrell, Visual Artist; Kaitlyn Young, 2018 Maine Teacher of the Year; Jeremy Frey, Passamaquoddy basketweaver;
- 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – 20 professional development sessions in 5 tracks running concurrently
- Leveraging Investment. Learn to attract and leverage greater investment through corporate sponsorships, development planning, capitalization and more
- Visibility. Discuss ways to increase awareness of creative opportunities, as well as their value to communities and local economies. Participate in a new, two-part workshop by MICA 2016 superstar Matt Lehrman, “Opportunity Everywhere, Parts I & II. Or attend a dynamic session hosted by DataArts/The Cultural Data Project on ways to connect your data to stories about your mission and impact, for more effective communications with key stakeholders
- Arts Education. Participate in sessions on fostering PK-12 arts education and lifelong learning programs, including Creative Aging and Traditional Arts
- Cultural Tourism. Gather the information you need to enhance experiences and leverage cultural tourism. Hear from organizations on their successes creating experiences outside of traditional venues, or attend a Rural Community Arts Development session facilitated by Maryo Gard Ewell.
- Building Capacity. All you need to know on strategies for sustainability and increased impact, from an intensive on strategic planning with Julie Richard to a session on The Role of the Arts in Communities in Crisis.
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- 12:30 p.m. – Maine Arts Awards Luncheon hosted by ArtsEngageMe
- Pop-up performances throughout the day
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Maine Arts Awards
February 23, 2018First time presented
The Maine Arts Commission and ArtsEngageME are pleased to be partnering on the Maine Arts Awards – a brand new program to recognize and celebrate the arts in our communities.
The first Maine Arts Awards ceremony will take place during the Maine International Conference on the Arts on September 28, 2018. Each awardee in seven categories will be given a work of art commissioned especially for the Maine Arts Awards.
Any Maine citizen, organization, business, school, or community may be a Maine Arts Awards nominee. Accomplishments of a nominee should reflect substantial contributions made in Maine that exemplify a long-term commitment to the arts.
- Any Maine citizen that meets the eligibility requirements can make a nomination to the Maine Arts Awards.
- Any Maine citizen, organization, business, school, or community that meets the eligibility requirements may be nominated for a Maine Arts Award.
The Maine Arts Awards will be an annual event recognizing the deep commitment and dedication that individuals and organizations have contributed to the advancement and strengthening of the arts in Maine.
A selection committee consisting of arts funders and state leaders will make the selections from among the nominations received.
The goal of the Arts Commission and ArtsEngageME is to raise awareness of the arts and the contributions of our sector through this program. Please join us in celebrating those who have made a difference in your community or region through the arts, and make a nomination today!
Categories for nominations include
- Lifetime Achievement in the Arts
- Business
- Arts Education
- Community
- Artist
- Rural Organization
- Philanthropist
For more information and to download the guidelines and nomination form please CLICK HERE.