“…Libraries in Maine are the nodes of multiple connections and the gateways for prosperous communities.”

“To me being a Mainer means that you’re a very genuine person who’s friendly, down to earth, and up for adventure!”

“I come out here [to my workshop] and work with the brown ash and it’s almost like praying.”

“I think the [Astor] grants have made me more of an artist,” says K-8 art teacher Carol Shutt. “And they have changed how I work with kids. Being a teacher but being an artist too, I am setting an example.”