PORTLAND, Maine -- CSArt Maine, Maine’s first community art share program is launching their next season, entitled: SUMMER. CSArt Maine is modeled after Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), where shareholders invest in farms in order to receive shares of produce. CSArt Maine shareholders invest in the program to receive shares of art handcrafted by local artists and actively participate in the lively Maine arts scene. As GreenDrinks connects beer lovers and Creative Portland connects creative entrepreneurs, CSArt Maine aims to connect local artists to each other and new art collectors.

After a successful inaugural season which culminated in CSArt Maine shareholders picking up their shares at a pick-up event at the Portland Flea-for-All, CSArt Maine is looking forward to a sizzling summer. The program, in it’s second year, is announcing their new Summer Artist line-up online (www.csartmaine.org) this Friday, 4/24/15. They will also unveil new options for burgeoning art collectors looking to purchase all things local, including art. “CSArt Maine is a great way to network, purchase art at a reasonable price all while keeping sales and revenue in the local Maine economy,” explains Guy Lyons, Creative Director.  

Lyons, along with Executive Director Alana Dao, plan to offer full-shares which consists of 6 works of art for $400 or half-shares at $200 for 3 pieces in a unique vessel to carry home. Individual works by last season’s participating artists will also be available. 2014 Participating Artist, Meg Willing, reflects on a great experience working with the CSArt Maine team, saying “CSArt Maine is a progressive model that provides opportunities for artists to reach new audiences, for collectors to be exposed to new work, and is a fabulous addition to Maine’s already vibrant creative landscape.”

Last season, shareholders received a one-of-a-kind screenprinted tote bag that contained work such as handmade prints and jewelry. With generous funding through the Rebel Blend Fund from Coffee by Design, Dao and Lyons were able to provide tokens for free coffee and other treats along with the shares, rounding out the buy local experience. Shareholder Amelia Lyons thought her share and the program were “really innovative and loved everything in the share. All the work was so special.” This season, with a line-up of artists from over three counties in Maine, CSArt Maine is sure to impress.

“We can’t wait to see what our artists this year produce. We are so excited to be bringing art and watching supportive networks within our creative community grow,” says Dao. Shares will be available for purchase beginning this Friday, 4/25/15, online at their official website and live at various events this summer such as the Saturday Farmer’s Market at Deering Oaks.

About CSArt Maine

CSArt Maine is the state’s first community-supported art share program, meant to inspire new collectors of art and to help artists find new audiences. Based on the community-supported agriculture model of supporting farms and inspired by similar programs nationwide, CSArt Maine is now selling shares for its summer season, to be distributed at a pick-up event in August 2015. Learn more at www.csartmaine.org or www.facebook.com/csartmaine or @csartmaine

About the Founders

Alana Dao and Guy Lyons co-founded CSArt Maine in 2014, the state’s first and only community supported art share program. Dao, who serves as Executive Director, is a native of Texas who first made Portland home 3 years ago. A graduate of Smith College and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she is an experienced arts administrator, both nationally and locally. Lyons, a native of Lubec, Maine and Portland resident, serves as Creative Director.