Join Waterville Creates at the 1st Annual Variety! Fundraiser for an evening of exceptional entertainment at the Waterville Opera House on Saturday, October 19th

/in /by

Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, a non-profit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs and institutions in Waterville, Maine, is pleased to announce tickets are now on sale for Variety! – an evening of exceptional entertainment – at the historic Waterville Opera House on Saturday, October 19th at 7:30pm. Tickets for this first annual fundraiser are available for $35.00 each online at www.WatervilleCreates.org/variety or by calling the Waterville Opera House Box Office at 207-873-7000.

Variety! is a new, signature fundraising event for the performing, visual and cinematic arts in Waterville and promises to be the hottest ticket in town. This year features a live equestrian act on stage, which hasn’t happened at the Waterville Opera House in over eighty years. All Variety! proceeds will directly support the programming of Waterville Creates!, the Maine Film Center, and the Waterville Opera House.

Amazing and original performances have been curated especially for this community event! Your Emcee for this evening of exceptional entertainment is Hannah Dineen, NEWS CENTER Maine’s newest weekend news anchor and Colby alumni. Featured Variety! performances include:

  • Kevin Crane, Intuitive Horseman with Star the Dancing Horse
  • King of New York by the cast of Disney’s Newsies the Musical
  • Joao Victor, Maine Poetry Out Loud 2019 Champion
  • The cast of Waterville Senior High School’s Cinderella
  • Emilienne Ouellette, Begin the Beguine by Cole Porter
  • Mike Miclon, Stand-Up Juggler
  • Happy Hoofers by TNT Dance Studio’s Tap Company – Hannah Butler, Maya Gray, Hunter Hamlin, Haley Libby, Kali Lozada, Rowan Saucier (choreography: Terri Glidden)
  • Screening of Ocean Child, an award-winning film by Isabelle and Phoebe Rogers
  • MIFF Trailer Compendium by Jak Peters
  • Barbershop by Maine Stream – Jay Daniel, Steve Eccher, Tim Giroux, Emmons Pinkham, Tim Giroux, Juan Lavalle-Rivera
  • Music by Automat – Gary Coons, Dan Dubord, Steve Fotter, Greg Goulette, Jim LaLiberty, Christine Poulson

“Only 41% of our total budget is covered by ticket sales and program fees,” says Shannon Haines, president and CEO of Waterville Creates! “We rely on the support of our community to help sustain outstanding arts and cultural programming that is accessible to all. We felt that a variety-show fundraiser featuring performing, visual and cinematic arts would be the perfect way to represent the impact our organization has on central Maine, highlight incredible local talent, and provide our patrons with a delightful evening in thanks for their ongoing support.”

VARIETY! is made possible by Presenting Sponsor, Central Maine Motors Chevrolet, Media Sponsor NEWS CENTER Maine, Stage Sponsor Ware-Butler Inc., and Print Sponsor, SBS Carbon Copy.

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 www.watervillecreates.org. For more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit www.downtownartscenter.org.

Over 1,000 Yellow Tulips to be Planted in Waterville to Raise Awareness for Mental Health

/in /by

Community Hope Garden Planting on October 12 at 2:00 pm

Waterville, Maine— Waterville Creates! and The Yellow Tulip Project are teaming up to smash the stigma around mental illness by planting vibrant yellow tulips in community Hope Gardens at the RiverWalk at Head of Falls, Veteran’s Memorial Park, and at the Bill and Joan Alfond Main Street Commons in downtown Waterville. The Yellow Tulip Project was founded by Julia Hansen when she was just a sophomore in high school. The public is invited to participate in the planting of the Hope Gardens on Saturday, October 12. Planting will begin at the RiverWalk at 2:00 pm and finish at the Veteran’s Memorial Park. A Yellow Tulip ambassador, Abi Bloom, will lead the opening ceremony at the Veteran’s Memorial Park at 4pm, where there will be hot cocoa and cider to enjoy.

Participating organizations include Waterville High School, Kennebec Behavioral Health, Waterville Parks and Recreation, Hardy Girls/Healthy Women, The Family Enrichment Council, Maine General Hospital, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, FEDCO Bulbs, Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville Peer Recovery Center, the Universalist Unitarian Church, Waterville Rotary Club, Waterville Public Library, Waterville Creates!, Waterville Lions Club, Maine Film Center, as well as many privately-owned properties throughout Waterville.

Julia had the goal to make a space for determined youth to join together to eradicate the stigma surrounding mental illness, build communities, and spark conversations about how to decrease the suicide rate. This is done through the Hope Gardens and related programming. In May, when the tulips are in full bloom, there will be associated wellness events available for all to attend in Waterville.

“We are thrilled to be working with The Yellow Tulip Project to help raise awareness for mental illness while spreading joy throughout Waterville. I’m looking forward to the programming in May and seeing all the beautiful tulips in bloom,” says Serena Sanborn, Education and Outreach Coordinator at Waterville Creates!

About The Yellow Tulip Project
The Yellow Tulip Project is a Maine based non-profit organization whose mission is to diminish the stigma surrounding mental illness while building a supportive community combining youth and community leaders. The goal is to remove the stigma associated with mental illness and The Yellow Tulip Project is fiercely devoted to making this aspiration a reality. For more information about The Yellow Tulip Project, visit TheYellowTulipProject.org

About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! connects artists, cultural organizations, and the public with arts and cultural events and programs happening in our community. We 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. Learn more at www.watervillecreates.org. For more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit www.downtownartscenter.org.

I am not a stranger

I Am Not a Stranger: Portraits by Séan Alonzo Harris

/in /by

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.

There will be two concurrent exhibition openings on Thursday, September 19 to celebrate the exhibition. Common Street Arts will host its opening from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and the Colby Museum will include the opening of I Am Not a Stranger as part of its Fall Open House celebration that same evening from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Other venues that will participate and include a selection of community portraits are: Railroad Square Cinema, Waterville Public Library, Waterville Opera House, Waterville City Hall, Chace Community Forum, Beth Israel Congregation, Alfond Youth Center, Goodwill, United Methodist Church, Re-Books, Waterville Area Habitat for Humanity, Waterville House of Pizza, South End Teen Center, and Yardgoods.

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: 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.

MaineGeneral Gifts $25,000 to Waterville’s Paul J. Schupf Art Center

/in /by

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 MaineGeneral Health 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.

“Our mission is to enhance the everyday health of our patients, our families and our communities,” says Chuck Hays, president and CEO of MaineGeneral. “Research shows that art can help people with depression, anxiety, or life-threatening diseases. The act of creating and experiencing art has been linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience in healthy older people. In supporting the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, we’re investing in our region’s overall health.” MaineGeneral’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. $629,420 has been pledged to the campaign to date, representing businesses, individuals, and foundations.

“MaineGeneral Health is an incredible community partner and supporter of the arts. They truly value the impact that our arts and cultural organizations have on quality of life in the region, as reflected by their long-standing annual support of the Maine International Film Festival and the Waterville Opera House,” says Shannon Haines, president and CEO of Waterville Creates! “Now, with this generous gift to the capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, they are demonstrating that they share our belief that investing in the arts will lead to a more vibrant future for Waterville and the surrounding area.”

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

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.

The 28th Maine Open Juried Art Show (MOJAS) opens at Common Street Arts

/in /by

August 12 – September 7, 2019
Opening reception: August 15, 2019 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Waterville, Maine —The Waterville Area Art Society (WAAS) and Waterville Creates! are pleased to present the 2019 Maine Open Juried Art Show (MOJAS) at Common Street Arts Gallery at 10 Water Street in downtown Waterville. MOJAS received over 100 submissions representing a broad geographic range throughout Maine. Artists from 71 different towns and cities, representing 15 of the 16 Maine counties submitted work for consideration. Towns and cities included, but were not limited to: Machias, Owl’s Head, Embden, Farmington, Portland, Saco, Wiscasset, Brighton Plantation, Veazie, Yarmouth, Bangor, Wellington, Pittston, New Gloucester, Indian Island, Belfast, Appleton, Jay, Northport, and the Central Maine area.

The selection committee consisted of arts professionals and artists with combined work experience from the Maine Arts Commission, Colby College Museum of Art, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation. An opening reception and awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, August 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Sterrs Gallery at Common Street Arts.

Featured Artists:

Thomas L. Blackstone, Tori Britton, Alexis Burbank, Martha Stanford Campbell, Barbara Chase, Ami Bai Chung, Teddi-Jann Covell, Rose Crossman, Robert Dennison, Page Eastman, Margaret La Farge, Catherine Gibson, Julie K. Gray, Bonnie Hayward, Barbara Lynne Joseph, Marc Leavitt, Sara McDougall, Jim McLear, John T. Meader, Olga Merrill, Gail Rowe, Judith Schuppien, Sean Seuffert, Oliver Solmitz, Sally Stanton, Sandra Stanton, Margaret (Peg) Stevens-Becksvoort, Michael E. Vermette, Lisa Mossel Vietze, Gail Wartell, and Tom Whittaker.

“We are thrilled to host the Maine Open Juried Art Show. This year was highly competitive due to the volume and quality of submissions and this has allowed us to feature an exceptionally diverse array of artists and media from across the state of Maine,” 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 MOJAS exhibition, please visit: www.watervillecreates.org/event/mojas-2019/

Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! connects artists, cultural organizations, and the public with arts and cultural events and programs happening in our community. We 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. Learn more at www.watervillecreates.org. For more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit www.downtownartscenter.org.

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

“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.