Grant size: $500 to $5,000
Application Deadline: September 15 (postmarked)

General Information
The State of Maine has a rich and varied tradition of indigenous art. The dramatic scenery, solitude of long winters and distant neighbors, practical necessity and the strength of character of its citizens have inspired generations of fine craftspeople, writers, visual artists, musicians, storytellers, dance and dramatic artists. Maine arts have also been enriched by waves of immigrants, each with their own cultural heritage to contribute.

Background
The Maine Expansion Arts Fund is the result of a collaborative effort of the National Endowment for the Arts, Lillian M. Berliawsky Charitable Trust,  Maine Community Foundation and  Maine Arts Commission to strengthen and ensure the future of these artistic traditions. A permanent endowed fund held by the Maine Community Foundation, the Maine Expansion Arts Fund supports indigenous, ethnic, or rural arts programs or projects, particularly those that serve areas with limited access to arts events. Additional funding is provided through the Elizabeth Laughlin Anderson Memorial Fund at the Maine Community Foundation. Grants range in size from $500 to $5,000.

An Advisory Committee comprised of Maine artists and others knowledgeable about the needs of the state's arts organizations and programs reviews applications and makes recommendations on awards.

Priorities
The Maine Expansion Arts Committee seeks to support indigenous, ethnic, or rural arts programs or projects, particularly those that serve areas with limited access to arts events.

In ranking applications for awards, the Advisory Committee gives priority to the following:

• Artistic quality of the program
• Organizations that are developing and promoting the arts of their own communities, using local artists and other resources rather than importing art and artists from outside the region or state.
• Ability of the organization to carry out the project for which funds are requested
• Evidence of cooperation and coordination with other organizations and programs, within or outside of the arts
• Evidence of local support for proposed project (financial or in-kind donations).
• Projects serving underserved areas.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be incorporated in the State of Maine as nonprofit organizations and have federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or have a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) organization,  public school or public agency (click here for more information on applying with a fiscal sponsor

To be eligible for Expansion Arts Fund support for small, rural arts programming, applicants must have an operating budget of less than $250,000 a year and must have a commitment to serving rural audiences and communities.

Community-based projects affiliated with school districts are eligible to apply. School-affiliated projects supported by the Fund must be open to the public. Curriculum-based arts projects from schools or school districts are not eligible to apply. Please contact a MaineCF program officer if you are uncertain if a school-affiliated project is eligible for funding.

Grants will not normally be made for endowment purposes, capital improvements, scholarships, a regular performance series, production costs of films or annual operating expenses (except for start-up support for new organizations and unusual circumstances where a one-time grant will meet a special need). Costs for equipment necessary to implementing a proposed project may be funded. Projects are rarely funded for a second year.

How to Apply
Application letters with appropriate enclosures should be submitted to:

Maine Expansion Arts Fund
Maine Community Foundation
245 Main St.
Ellsworth, ME, 04605-1613.

In addition to a completed application form, applicants should also include: evidence of artistic quality, such as slides or tapes and, if professional artists are involved, background information on their work; an itemized income and expense budget for the project that pinpoints where a grant from the Maine Expansion Arts Fund will be used; a list of key personnel with credentials; and a copy of the sponsoring organization's most recent 501(c)(3) ruling. Please make sure your application includes all of the above

Please make sure your application includes all of the above.
We are happy to discuss project ideas by telephone or personal interview.
Please contact Pam Cleghorn via email or phone at (207) 761-2440.

Applications must be postmarked by September 15. Decisions will be announced in late  November.

Maine Expansion Arts Fund Advisory Committee Members

Bland Banwell, Belfast
Don Cyr, Lille-sur-St-Jean
Bruce Hazard, Belgrade Lakes
Ervin Kimball, Gorham
Kathleen Mundell, Blue Hill
Jennifer Neptune, Old Town
Victoria Woodhull, Rockland

Click here to see a list of recent grants from the Expansion Arts Fund

Expansion Arts Application:   (pdf format)    (word processor version)

Back to list of available grants