Kennebec Savings Bank Gifts $100,000 to Waterville’s Paul J. Schupf Art Center

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Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, a non-profit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs and institutions in Waterville, Maine, announces a gift in the amount of $100,000 from Kennebec Savings Bank (KSB) in support of the community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center. In recognition of their leadership gift, one of the cinemas in the new building will be named the Kennebec Savings Bank Screening Room.

Designed to bring together under one roof some of Waterville’s most beloved arts institutions, including the Maine Film Center, Common Street Arts, and a new gallery of the Colby Museum of Art, the Paul J. Schupf Art Center will be constructed on the current site of The Center building at 93 Main Street, directly adjacent to the Waterville Opera House and City Hall building and downtown’s central green space, Castonguay Square. Waterville Creates! and Colby College are partnering on this transformative project, which will create a distinctive hub for visual arts, performing arts, arts education, and film for children and adults. In addition to enhancing Waterville’s reputation as a destination for arts and culture, this new facility will add vitality to downtown Waterville during both the daytime and evening hours and serve as an economic driver for the region.

“Our roots run deep in Waterville, and we recognize just how important this new arts center will be to the region,” said Andrew Silsby, president and CEO of Kennebec Savings Bank. “We are proud to support and be a part of a collective vision to make Waterville a premier arts and culture destination.”

Kennebec Savings Bank’s gift was pledged in contribution to the $2 million community capital campaign led by Waterville Creates! as part of the overall fundraising goal of $18 million for the project. A lead capital campaign supporter of the Head of Falls RiverWalk project, Kennebec Savings Bank continues to play a key role in the revitalization of downtown Waterville.

“Kennebec Savings Bank has consistently been a strong champion of the arts in our community through their sponsorship of the Waterville Opera House, the Maine International Film Festival, Waterville Rocks!, and more,” says Shannon Haines, president and CEO of Waterville Creates! “We are so thankful for their ongoing contribution to local arts programming and now for this incredible gift to our community capital campaign.”

About Kennebec Savings Bank
Kennebec Savings Bank is a $1.1 billion state-chartered community bank, part of a mutual organization with a team of 135 employees and offices in Augusta, Waterville, Winthrop and Farmingdale, as well as “KSB Anytime” 24-hour electronic banking centers in Augusta, Farmingdale, Freeport, and Manchester. The bank is proud that its involvement in the community as an employer, a business and as a contributor has led to many other successes besides its own. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! connects artists, cultural organizations, and the public with arts and cultural events and programs happening in our community. We firmly believe that art and culture have the power to enrich lives, strengthen community bonds, and serve as an economic engine. We promote and support arts education, exhibitions, theatre, film, music, and dance that is accessible to all residents and visitors. By helping to build a creative economy, Waterville Creates! is leading the effort to make Waterville an exciting cultural destination and a thriving, vibrant community. Learn more at http://www.watervillecreates.org. For more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit http://www.downtownartscenter.org.

DAC Interior Lobby

Golden Pond Wealth Management Gifts $25,000 to Waterville’s Paul J. Schupf Art Center

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Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, a non-profit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs and institutions in Waterville, Maine, announces a gift in the amount of $25,000 from Golden Pond Wealth Management in support of the community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center.

Designed to bring together under one roof some of Waterville’s most beloved arts institutions, including the Maine Film Center, Common Street Arts, and a new gallery of the Colby Museum of Art, the Paul J. Schupf Art Center will be constructed on the current site of The Center building at 93 Main Street, directly adjacent to the Waterville Opera House and City Hall building and downtown’s central green space, Castonguay Square. Waterville Creates! and Colby College are partnering on this transformative project, which will create a distinctive hub for visual arts, performing arts, arts education, and film for children and adults. In addition to enhancing Waterville’s reputation as a destination for arts and culture, this new facility will add vitality to downtown Waterville during both the daytime and evening hours and serve as an economic driver for the region.

“Giving back to our community is one of our core values at Golden Pond Wealth Management, and we are particularly compelled to work with organizations that advance our collective cultural well-being,” says Brian Bernatchez, managing director of Golden Pond Wealth Management. “We are a major season sponsor of the Waterville Opera House because of its tremendous impact on our community, both culturally and economically, and we see the Paul J. Schupf Art Center as an incredible opportunity to further advance the arts in Waterville.” Golden Pond Wealth Management’s gift was pledged in support of the $2 million community capital campaign led by Waterville Creates! as part of the overall fundraising goal of $18 million for the project.

“Golden Pond Wealth Management has consistently been a strong supporter of the arts in our community, and we are thrilled by their generous support of this project,” says Shannon Haines, president and CEO of Waterville Creates! “The recent momentum that has been building for our community capital campaign has been due in large part to a business community that values and invests in the arts not only for the cultural enrichment they provide but for their power to drive a robust local economy.”

According to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study published by Americans for the Arts in 2017, Waterville’s nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and their audiences generate over $6 million in direct economic activity per year. Business Contributions to the Arts: 2018 Edition, a study by The Conference Board in conjunction with Americans for the Arts, revealed that 63% of companies believe the arts contribute to the economy of the community and 79% of companies believe arts help to improve quality of life in the community.

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! connects artists, cultural organizations, and the public with arts and cultural events and programs happening in our community. We firmly believe that art and culture have the power to enrich lives, strengthen community bonds, and serve as an economic engine. We promote and support arts education, exhibitions, theatre, film, music, and dance that is accessible to all residents and visitors. By helping to build a creative economy, Waterville Creates! is leading the effort to make Waterville an exciting cultural destination and a thriving, vibrant community. Learn more at http://www.watervillecreates.org. For more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit http://www.downtownartscenter.org.

Central Maine Motors makes $25,000 Gift to Waterville’s Paul J. Schupf Art Center

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Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, a non-profit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs and institutions in Waterville, Maine, announces a gift in the amount of $25,000 from Central Maine Motors Auto Group in support of the community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center.

Designed to bring together under one roof some of Waterville’s most beloved arts institutions, including the Maine Film Center, Common Street Arts, and a new gallery of the Colby Museum of Art, the Paul J. Schupf Art Center will be constructed on the current site of The Center building at 93 Main Street, directly adjacent to the Waterville Opera House and City Hall building and downtown’s central green space, Castonguay Square. Waterville Creates! and Colby College are partnering on this transformative project, which will create a distinctive hub for visual arts, performing arts, arts education, and film for children and adults. In addition to enhancing Waterville’s reputation as a destination for arts and culture, this new facility will add vitality to downtown Waterville during both the daytime and evening hours and serve as an economic driver for the region.

“Central Maine Motors Auto Group is dedicated to supporting the community of Waterville because we are Waterville – this is where we live, work and play,” says Chris Gaunce, president of Central Maine Motors. “Supporting our community means supporting the arts, especially this new art center, which will create accessible arts opportunities for people of all ages and have a huge economic impact on the city.” Central Maine Motors’ gift was pledged in support of the $2 million community capital campaign being led by Waterville Creates! as part of the overall fundraising goal of $18 million for the project.

“The impact Central Maine Motors Auto Group has on Waterville cannot be overstated – they generously fund so many community events, like our free summer concert series, Waterville Rocks!, and support programs and organizations that bring a high level of visibility to Waterville, including the Maine International Film Festival and the Waterville Opera House,” says Shannon Haines, president and CEO of Waterville Creates! “We are incredibly thankful for their ongoing support of our programs as well as our community capital campaign.”

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! connects artists, cultural organizations, and the public with arts and cultural events and programs happening in our community. We firmly believe that art and culture have the power to enrich lives, strengthen community bonds, and serve as an economic engine. We promote and support arts education, exhibitions, theatre, film, music, and dance that is accessible to all residents and visitors. By helping to build a creative economy, Waterville Creates! is leading the effort to make Waterville an exciting cultural destination and a thriving, vibrant community. Learn more at http://www.watervillecreates.org. For more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit http://www.downtownartscenter.org.

Northern Light Inland Hospital makes $25,000 Gift to Waterville’s Paul J. Schupf Art Center

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Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, a non-profit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs and institutions in Waterville, Maine, announces a gift in the amount of $25,000 from Northern Light Inland Hospital in support of the community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center.

Designed to bring together under one roof some of Waterville’s most beloved arts institutions, including the Maine Film Center, Common Street Arts, and a new gallery of the Colby Museum of Art, the Paul J. Schupf Art Center will be constructed on the current site of The Center building at 93 Main Street, directly adjacent to the Waterville Opera House and City Hall building and downtown’s central green space, Castonguay Square. Waterville Creates! and Colby College are partnering on this transformative project which will create a distinctive hub for visual arts, performing arts, arts education, and film for children and adults. In addition to enhancing Waterville’s reputation as a destination for arts and culture, this new facility will add vitality to downtown Waterville during both the daytime and evening hours and serve as an economic driver for the region.

“We believe that by supporting the creative arts in Waterville, we help strengthen our community’s health and well-being, and its overall quality of life,” says John Dalton, president of Northern Light Inland Hospital. “Inland’s Family Fun Series often collaborates with Waterville Creates! on arts events that connect families with young children to the importance of healthy eating and active living. We are pleased to support the growth of the arts in the community we are proud to serve.” Northern Light Inland Hospital’s gift was pledged in support of the $2 million community capital campaign being led by Waterville Creates! as part of the overall fundraising goal of $18 million for the project.

“Working with Northern Light Inland Hospital on free family programming, like Art in the Park held every Thursday this summer at the Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market, helps us reach a broader audience and provide community members with more engaging experiences,” says Shannon Haines, president and CEO of Waterville Creates! “We are incredibly thankful for their ongoing support of our programs as well as our community capital campaign.”

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! connects artists, cultural organizations, and the public with arts and cultural events and programs happening in our community. We firmly believe that art and culture have the power to enrich lives, strengthen community bonds, and serve as an economic engine. We promote and support arts education, exhibitions, theatre, film, music, and dance that is accessible to all residents and visitors. By helping to build a creative economy, Waterville Creates! is leading the effort to make Waterville an exciting cultural destination and a thriving, vibrant community. Learn more at http://www.watervillecreates.org. For more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit http://www.downtownartscenter.org.

Award-winning actor Ed Harris makes $75,000 gift to Waterville’s Paul J. Schupf Art Center

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“The people of Waterville hold a fond place in my heart” – Ed Harris, Actor

Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, a non-profit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs and institutions in Waterville, Maine, announces a gift in the amount of $75,000 from actor Ed Harris in support of the community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center. Harris, who worked and lived in Waterville in the early 2000s while filming the HBO movie Empire Falls, cited his fondness for the people of Waterville as one reason for the gift.

Designed to bring together under one roof some of Waterville’s most beloved arts institutions, including the Maine Film Center, Common Street Arts, and a new gallery of the Colby Museum of Art, the Paul J. Schupf Art Center will be constructed on the current site of The Center building at 93 Main Street, directly adjacent to the Waterville Opera House and City Hall building and downtown’s central green space, Castonguay Square. Waterville Creates! and Colby College are partnering on this transformative project which will create a distinctive hub for visual arts, performing arts, arts education, and film for children and adults. In addition to enhancing Waterville’s reputation as a destination for arts and culture, this new facility will add vitality to downtown Waterville during both the daytime and evening hours and serve as an economic driver for the region.

“Ever since living in Waterville and working on Empire Falls some 15 years ago, the town and the people in it have held a fond place in my heart,” said actor Ed Harris. “This project is such a great idea and will enrich the lives of so many that I felt compelled and honored to contribute in what I hope is a meaningful way.” Harris’ gift was pledged in support of the $2 million community capital campaign being led by Waterville Creates! as part of the overall fundraising goal of $18 million for the project. In recognition of his generous support, the box office of the new facility will be named the Ed Harris Box Office.

“Over the twenty-two-year history of the Maine International Film Festival, we have had the honor of welcoming some incredible guests to Waterville, and Ed Harris was certainly one of the most memorable,” says Shannon Haines, president and CEO of Waterville Creates! and past director of the film festival, which presented Harris with its annual Mid-Life Achievement Award in July of 2004. “Ed was not only incredibly generous with his time at the festival, but he also used the opportunity to advocate for Railroad Square Cinema and independent film programming. We are so grateful for his remarkable gift.”

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! connects artists, organizations, and the public with arts and cultural events and programs happening in our community. Supporting and promoting arts education, exhibitions, theatre, film, music, and dance that is accessible to all, Waterville Creates! is leading the effort to make Waterville an exciting cultural destination and a thriving, vibrant community. Learn more at http://www.watervillecreates.org and for more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit http://www.downtownartscenter.org.

I am not a stranger

I Am Not a Stranger: Portraits by Séan Alonzo Harris

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September 16 – October 26, 2019

Waterville, Maine —Presented by Waterville Creates! in partnership with the Colby Museum, I Am Not a Stranger: Portraits by Séan Alonzo Harris, is an innovative and participatory exhibition featuring individual photographic portraits of community members who live and/or work in Waterville. Waterville Creates! and the Colby Museum of Art will present the full suite of approximately fifty photographic portraits at Common Street Arts Gallery and the Colby Museum. In addition, selections from the series will appear throughout the city and will be on view at the Waterville Public Library, Railroad Square Cinema, Waterville Opera House, as well as other public and private institutions and local businesses throughout the city.

Like many cities in the United States, Waterville has welcomed new residents in recent years, including more people of color and new Mainers. Using a combination of individual portraits and personal narratives, I Am Not a Stranger will create channels for storytelling, capture local history, and build bridges across difference.

“I’m looking forward to learning more about Waterville and hearing from folks about their individual histories and aspirations.  It will be interesting to reveal the shared characteristics that connect and unite us as a community,” says artist Séan Alonzo Harris.

“Through his work, Séan is able to facilitate moments of visual and narrative exchange between members of our community,” says Patricia King, vice president at Waterville Creates! “This is an opportunity to challenge assumptions and make new connections, and we are thrilled to undertake this project with so many of our local partners, especially the Colby Museum.”

“This is a truly collaborative effort that invites participation and engagement across the city of Waterville. There will be a free printed map that will guide residents and visitors to the project’s multiple venues, generating new relationships throughout our community,” added Beth Finch, Lunder Curator of American Art at Colby College.

The Sterrs Gallery at Common Street Arts is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 – 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Hathaway Creative Center, 10 Water Street in Waterville. The Colby Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (and until 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays during the academic year) and Sunday from 12:00– 5:00 p.m.  To learn more about the I Am Not a Stranger exhibition, please visit: http://www.commonstreetarts.org.

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! enriches lives and grows the creative economy by supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs and institutions. Learn more at www.watervillecreates.org, and learn more about our ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center at www.downtownartscenter.org.

About the Colby College Museum of Art

The Colby College Museum of Art is a collecting and teaching museum dedicated to the preservation, display, and interpretation of the visual arts. We manage these resources for the benefit of the Colby College community, the region, and the nation, and we aspire to display works that embody the highest standards of achievement. For more information, visit www.colby.edu/museum.

Waterville Rocks! Returns for 4th Year in Castonguay Square with Free Summer Concerts

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Free, family-friendly concerts to be held on June 28th, July 5th, July 26th, and August 2nd  

Featured Acts include Enter the Haggis, The Mallett Brothers Band, Kat Wright and more!

Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, one of Maine’s leading arts and cultural organizations with a mission to promote Waterville as a vibrant destination in central Maine, is delighted to announce the fourth consecutive year of Waterville Rocks! The series of free and family-friendly outdoor concerts will feature regional acts, including Enter the Haggis, The Mallett Brothers Band, and Kat Wright in downtown Waterville’s Castonguay Square on Friday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. Along with fabulous music, the concert series will offer a beer garden by The Proper Pig selling adult beverages and food for adults of age to enjoy, and will also host the Stone Fox Farm Creamery Food Truck for kids of all ages. Waterville Rocks! is hosted by the Waterville Opera House and sponsored by local businesses, organizations and patrons of the arts. The series is designed to provide free cultural programming for the community and offer a new way to animate downtown Waterville.

The 2019 Waterville Rocks! free summer concert dates are set for June 28, July 5, July 26, and August 2 and will once again feature a variety of funk, rock, pop and Americana music for attendees. A website to help promote this free concert series is located at www.operahouse.org/watervillerocks/.

The first Waterville Rocks! concert is scheduled for Friday, June 28th and features performances by The Mallett Brothers Band and Hymn for Her. Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy in Castonguay Square, stop by The Stone Fox Farm Creamery ice cream truck, or The Proper Pig Beer Garden (open at 5:30pm for adults of age).

The second concert in the Waterville Rocks! series is scheduled for Friday, July 5th and is our first all-female concert, including performances by Kat Wright and Katie Matzell. Come enjoy these ladies of rock in Castonguay Square! Yes, The Proper Pig Beer Garden and The Stone Fox Farm Creamery will be back!

The third concert in the Waterville Rocks! series is scheduled for Friday, July 26th and will include performances by Tinsley Ellis and Cold Engines. Come enjoy these fan-favorites in Castonguay Square along with ice cream from The Stone Fox Farm Creamery and delicious refreshments from The Proper Pig Beer Garden.

Enter the Haggis and Tricky Britches will perform on August 2nd for the final concert. Enter the Haggis performed at our largest Waterville Rocks! concert last season, so we just had to ask them back to play for us again for anyone who missed that incredible evening downtown. We thought Tricky Britches would pair nicely!

Waterville Rocks! is hosted by the Waterville Opera House and made possible by the generosity of the following businesses, organizations and arts patron sponsors: Colby College, GHM Insurance Agency, Waterville Creates!, Kennebec Savings Bank, Inland Hospital, Central Maine Motors, Thomas College, and John and Jackie Dalton. Waterville Rocks! is also supported by Waterville Creates! Partners: the City of Waterville, Common Street Arts, the Maine Film Center, the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and the Waterville Public Library.

In the event of rain, all Waterville Rocks! concerts will be performed inside the Waterville Opera House. Scheduled to perform as part of the Waterville Rocks! Summer Concert Series:

June 28
The Mallett Brothers Band – An independent, nationally touring sextet with albums chock-full of crackling Americana, a foot-stomping patchwork of country, folk, and rock.
Hymn for Her – An incredible duo that injects juiced-up backwoods country blues with desert rock psychedelia.

July 5
Kat Wright – There’s soul flowing in and out of her rock ‘n’ roll with a serpentine seduction. She has been described as “a young Bonnie Raitt meets Amy Winehouse.”
Katie Matzell – Upcoming Portland, Maine native with a voice that is “fierce and dazzling.”

July 26
Tinsley Ellis – “Non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor’s edge… his eloquence dazzles… he achieves pyrotechnics that rival Beck and Clapton.”
Cold Engines – An all-star cast of artists that brings together a mix of soul, new wave, rock, and dance.

August 2
Enter the Haggis – Toronto-based Indie Celtic Folk Rock band with appearances on “Live with Regis and Kelly”, and a PBS concert special that aired across multiple stations!
Tricky Britches – A country, contra-dance, bluegrass, rock string-band consisting of four friends from Maine who shape their music around experiences from places in the U.S. to Europe!

About Waterville Rocks!
Waterville Rocks! is a free, family-friendly concert series held in downtown Waterville’s Castonguay Square. Established in 2016 by local business leaders and arts-focused organizations, Waterville Rocks! has become an annual community celebration of all-things-music held in the great outdoors. Keep up to date on all the latest and greatest news and event updates at operahouse.org/waterville-rocks or on Facebook at facebook.com/WatervilleRocks.

Lost + Found: Photographs by Susan Metzger — a new photography exhibition at Common Street Arts

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April 15 – June 29, 2019
Opening reception: April 18, 2019 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Waterville, Maine —Waterville Creates! is delighted to present Lost + Found: Photographs by Susan Metzger, a new exhibition featuring the bucolic Maine landscape, opening at Common Street Arts on Monday, April 15, with a reception scheduled on Thursday, April 18 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Susan Metzger is an artist who has a keen interest in historic preservation, open space, rural tradition, architecture, and the humble and mundane. In the exhibition Lost + Found, Metzger turns her lens to the landscape and communities geographically adjacent to Waterville. Metzger invites the viewer to pause and consider these simple and beautiful subjects – from the classic Maine farmhouse to the open fields, farmland, and outbuildings that comprise the Central Maine countryside. These images harken to a shared past and encourage imaginations to flood with questions about the who, what, and when in these photographs.

Associated Programming

Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m.
Common Street Arts will host John Bunker, “the apple guy,” as he discusses the history and distinct features of the unique apple varieties often found in our state. John Bunker is a self-taught fruit explorer, and has pioneered work in locating, identifying, and preserving heritage apple tree varieties discovered while exploring the fields, farms, woods, and towns in Maine.

Thursday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Join Common Street Arts for a conversation entitled Past + Present: The Rural Maine Landscape between artist Susan Metzger and Robert Sanford, Professor of Environmental Science & Policy at the University of Southern Maine and author of the recently published Reading Rural Landscapes, A Field Guide to New England’s Past. Together, Susan and Rob will discuss their artistic and archeological approaches to the historical and present-day rural Maine landscape. Audience participation is encouraged. For more information, visit www.commonstreetarts.org/events.

“This exhibition is about exploring our natural and built environments and closely examining the features that define our Central Maine landscape. From fruit trees to farmhouses, what elements do we continue to see today that we might have seen one hundred years ago—this exhibition helps us rediscover some of the natural features in our landscape” says Patricia King, vice president at Waterville Creates!

The Sterrs Gallery at Common Street Arts is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 – 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Hathaway Creative Center, 10 Water Street in Waterville. To learn more about the Lost + Found exhibition, please visit: http://www.commonstreetarts.org.

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! is a non-profit on a mission to promote, support, and grow greater Waterville’s arts and cultural scene. Collaborating with regional arts and culture institutions and their supporters, together we are strengthening our community as a vibrant creative center, increasing access to creative opportunities. Learn more at www.watervillecreates.org and learn more about our ongoing community capital campaign for the Downtown Arts Center at www.downtownartscenter.org.

Waterville Creates! Issues Call for Art for 29th Annual Maine Open Juried Art Show (MOJAS) Exhibition

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Submission Deadline: June 3, 2019

Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, Common Street Arts, and Waterville Area Art Society (WAAS) invite artists to submit works for the 29th Annual Maine Open Juried Art Show (MOJAS). The MOJAS exhibition attracts artists from across the state, representing a wide range of Maine communities and presents a diverse array of media. Artists may submit up to two entries. Submissions are due Monday, June 3, 2019. The Maine Open Juried Art Show (MOJAS) exhibition will be hosted at the Sterrs Gallery in Common Street Arts from August 12 through September 7. An opening reception and awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, August 15 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

This year’s jurors are: Donna McNeil, Executive Director of the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation, Tim Christensen, Artist, and Olivia Fountain, Anne Lunder Leland Fellow, Colby College Museum of Art.

To learn more about MOJAS and submissions for 2019, please visit: http://commonstreetarts.com

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! is a non-profit on a mission to promote, support, and grow greater Waterville’s arts and cultural scene. Collaborating with regional arts and cultural institutions and their supporters, together we are strengthening our community as a vibrant creative center, increasing access to creative opportunities. Learn more at http://www.watervillecreates.org and for more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Downtown Arts Center visit http://www.downtownartscenter.org.

Jim LaLiberty Named President of Waterville Creates! Board of Directors; Don Cragen, Deb Susi Appointed New Board Members

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Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, one of Maine’s leading arts and cultural organizations and a key driver in making the city a vibrant destination in central Maine, has elected Jim LaLiberty to the role of chair of the Waterville Creates! board of directors as of January 2019. As chair, Jim will lead the board’s efforts to support Waterville Creates!’ goals to strengthen and promote Waterville’s arts and cultural organizations and offerings and advance plans to develop a new Downtown Arts Center. The organization has also recently added two new board members, each bringing a unique skill and experience set to the board: Don Cragen from Thomas College, and Debra Susi from Maine Central Institute.

Jim is currently an attorney at Jabar, LaLiberty & Dubord LLC and has practiced law in Waterville for 39 years. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Maine School of Law. His practice is concentrated in the areas of business and commercial law. In addition to his role as president of the Waterville Creates! board, Jim is also a member of the board of directors of MaineGeneral Health. He lives in Waterville with his wife, Julie, a seventh-grade teacher at Waterville Junior High School.

“Jim brings an invaluable amount of experience to the Waterville Creates! board, and we are incredibly grateful he’s willing to take on this expanded role,” says Waterville Creates! president and CEO, Shannon Haines. “We look forward to working with Jim and our entire board to bring sustainable, positive growth to Waterville’s collaborative arts community.”

Don Cragen is professor and chair of the H. Allen Ryan School of Business at Thomas College, where his current research focus is in business strategy incorporating innovation adoption along with the use of a systems approach for business education. Don holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Accountancy and Finance from Salem State University, a Master of Science in Athletic Training from Illinois State University, an M.B.A. from Thomas College, a Master of Science in Project Management from Purdue University, and a Global Doctorate in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy.  In addition, he holds a Graduate certification in Innovation Engineering from the University of Maine at Orono, and a Graduate certification in Design Thinking from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Prior to joining Thomas College, Professor Cragen held the positions of Collegiate Athletic Director, Certified Athletic Trainer, and Union President. Dr. Cragen was a member of the editorial board for the national magazine Exercise for Men from 1999 – 2014.

Debra Susi is a teacher and arts educator with over 38 years of teaching students and actors from grades five through adults. In addition to directing over 200 productions on a variety of school and community stages, Debra has served on a number of arts organization boards including New England Theatre Council Board of Directors (2005-2009), Waterville Opera House Board of Directors (2016-2018), and Maine Drama Council (2005 – present). In 2009, Debra received a Maine Arts Teacher Fellowship to attend the La Mama Umbria International Symposium for Directors in Italy. In addition to teaching and directing, Debra has worked as BBT Adjunct Faculty and Stage Manager, Antioch NE Graduate School Adjunct Faculty and Chicago Director’s Lab Attendee (2007 & 2008).

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! is a non-profit on a mission to promote, support, and grow greater Waterville’s arts and cultural scene. Collaborating with regional arts and culture institutions and their supporters, together we are strengthening our community as a vibrant creative center, increasing access to creative opportunities. Learn more at http://www.watervillecreates.org and learn more about our ongoing community capital campaign for the Downtown Arts Center at http://www.downtownartscenter.org.