Maine Arts Commission News

Maine Arts Commission wins Innovation Award

The Blaine House Conference on Maine's Creative Economy will be awarded the National Assembly of State Arts Agency's Innovation Award in Washington DC, on July 18th. The award will be presented at pARTicipate, a joint convention of Americans for the Arts and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

The Innovation Award is presented to one state arts agency or regional arts organization a year to recognize best practices and to inform the broader public of what these agencies can accomplish. The focus of the award changes every year to respond to key issues in the public arts support field. In 2004, it recognizes a strategy for communicating the public value of public support for the arts.

"I am pleased that the Blaine House Conference on Maine's Creative Economy has been nationally recognized for promoting arts as an integral part of the state's future," said Governor John E. Baldacci. "The Creative Economy opens the door to an exciting vision for Maine; creating good paying jobs, entrepreneurship and vibrant communities."

"We are delighted and honored to receive this award," said Alden C. Wilson, director of the Maine Arts Commission. "The Blaine House Conference was a great success that has highlighted the importance of arts in economic development. It is wonderful to have all of our hard work recognized on a national level."