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AUGUSTA — Rangeley Friends of the Arts was one of the six artists and creative leaders from across the state honored at the Maine International Conference on the Arts Sept. 28.
It was the first time the awards were presented. The six award recipients were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the state’s creative sector, the organization said. The honors were bestowed by ArtsEngageME and the Maine Arts Commission.
“We were absolutely thrilled to host Maine’s first-ever arts awards,” said Larry Rubinstein, president of the ArtsEngageME board. “We look forward to doing so annually. All of the nominations received were very moving. There are a lot of people to be recognized in Maine arts.”
Rangely Friends of the Arts, won the Rural Organization award. RFA is an arts and community organization that runs the Rangeley Lakes Theater among other programs.
Other winners were: Bill Raiten, Lifetime Achievement, founder and artistic director emeritus of the New Surry Theatre, Blue Hill. Emily Isaacson, Artist of the Year, artistic director of Oratorio Chorale and founder of the Portland Bach Experience, Portland.. 240 Strings, Arts Education, a Portland based organization that provides free classical music education to the city’s underserved youth. Schoodic Arts for All, Community Organization, celebrating 20 years of bringing an arts festival and year-round programming to the Schoodic peninsula. Alan and Lorna Crichton, philanthropists, founders of the Waterfall Arts center in Belfast.
ArtsEngageME and the Maine Arts Commission partnered on the Maine Arts Awards. The awards were created to celebrate Maine’s remarkable arts community and to raise the visibility by honoring a cross section of the sector.
Recipients were selected from a nomination process that began last winter. ArtsEngageME commissioned ash baskets by Molly Neptune Parker that were awarded to each recipient. Parker is a Passamaquoddy basketweaver who has been making baskets in the traditional form for over 70 years. She has been a Maine Arts Commission Traditional Arts fellow, and in 2012 she was named a National Heritagef.
“I have been wanting to launch these awards ever since I arrived in Maine six year ago,” said Julie Richard, executive director of the Maine Arts Commission. “It is gratifying to see this come to fruition. We are very much looking forward to this being an annual event.”
The Maine Arts Awards will accept its next round of nominations during the spring of 2019 for any Maine resident, organization, business, school, or community. Accomplishments of a nominee should reflect substantial contributions made in Maine that exemplify a long-term commitment to the arts.
