The Contemporary Arts program is committed to the support of the Individual artist. The program’s goals reflect the belief that the creative economy begins with creative people, creative people are the focus of support as the program aims to rebrand the arts in Maine, revitalize Main Streets, and build quality of place within the state through individual artist assistance.

To that end, the Contemporary Arts program administers a variety of grant programs and provides educational tools and support for Maine’s artists. The program is responsible for grants such as the Individual Artist Fellowships, which recognize excellence in the field of contemporary art, and the Good Idea Grant for contemporary arts, which supports artist development and project based ideas.

The program also encourages artists to peruse all of the Maine Arts Commission’s grant programs, and to think innovatively about how to insert themselves as individual artists into each of these program areas. For example, an artist interested in education could look at the SMART grantwhich can be initiated by an individual artist in collaboration with a school. The Artists in Maine Communities grant can be an idea put forward by an artist or group of artists in collaboration with a community organization or non profit arts organization.

Artists will find that there exists within the framework of the programs and services of the agency, a myriad of opportunities for an individual artist to gain support.

For more information please contact the Contemporary Arts Administrator at the Maine Arts Commission. Julie Richard, 207/ 287-2710 - julie.richard@maine.gov