Maine Arts Commission
193 State Street
25 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0025
Phone: 207/287-2724
Fax: 207/287-2725

The Maine Arts Commission is a state agency that receives funding appropriated by the Maine State Legislature. In addition, the Agency partners with the National Endowment for the Arts from which we receive annual funding.

Mission

The Maine Arts Commission supports artists, arts organizations, educators, policy makers, and community developers in advancing the arts in Maine. For more than 50 years the Commission has encouraged and stimulated public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and programs of our state; has worked to expand the state's cultural resources; and has encouraged and assisted freedom of artistic expression for the well-being of the arts, to meet the needs and aspirations of persons in all parts of the state. 

To carry out this mission, which is drawn from the Maine Art Commission's enabling legislation, the agency will support programs and partnerships that: 

• Engender a cooperative environment within the arts field that results in more efficient delivery of programs and services.
• Further the goals of the state as articulated by its elected leadership, advancing the arts through activities in such areas as technology, education, and the economy.
• Have the potential to change lives by giving people of all ages the opportunity to come into meaningful contact with artists and art-making.
• Build a broad support base for the arts by increasing local capacity for arts-making and arts presenting, and by increasing local advocacy. 

Guiding Principles

The actions of the Maine Arts Commission are guided by the following basic principles. In all its programs, the agency will: 

• Value artistic quality and cultural diversity, which may be represented in many forms and achieved in many ways.
• Engage widely and deeply the public it seeks to reach, recognizing that access and impact of the kind that changes lives are both immediate and long-term goals.
• Act locally, because it is at the local level that access and impact are most readily achieved and sustained.
• Work collaboratively and promote collaboration in order to increase the impact of the Maine Arts Commission's resources, and foster relationships and commitments that build infrastructure beyond the Maine Arts Commission's involvement.
• Be flexible and adaptive in the way the agency functions and respond to needs more effectively and incorporate what it learns from its experience.
• Demonstrate leadership in its conduct as a state agency.

In acting on these principles, the Maine Arts Commission will look for evidence that the public is a clear beneficiary; that available resources (including but not limited to money) are being used efficiently; that additional resources are being leveraged to ensure success, sustainability and commitment; and that the local capacity to carry on the work begun becomes greater as a result of these efforts.

Cultural Affairs Council 

 The Maine Arts Commission is a member of the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council, which comprises: 

• Maine Arts Commission
• Maine Historic Preservation Commission 
• Maine State Library 
• Maine State Museum
• Maine State Archives
• Maine Historical Society 
• Maine Humanities Council 

Directions

From the South 95 North to first Augusta Exit 109. At exit bear right on to Western Avenue. Proceed through 4 stoplights to the rotary. At rotary, take the first exit to the right on to State Street. There is a dry cleaner on the corner and you can see the Capitol Building. The Maine Arts Commission is on the left hand side of the street, a turn of the century building, brick with white trim and directly across from the Blaine House. It is about 500 yds up State Street. Look for Child Street, which precedes the building. Turn left on to Child Street, parking is located on the left hand side in the gravel parking lot.

From the North 95 South to second Augusta Exit 109 A. At exit bear right on to Western Avenue. Proceed through four stoplights to the rotary. At rotary, take the first exit to the right on to State Street. There is a dry cleaner on the corner and you can see the Capitol Building. The Maine Arts Commission is on the left hand side of the street, a turn of the century building, brick with white trim and directly across from the Blaine House. It is about 500 yds up State Street. Look for Child Street, which precedes the building. Turn left on to Child Street, parking is located on the left hand side in the gravel parking lot.