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 Donna McNeil –Photo: Shoshannah White PDF of this Article (2.4MB) |
Greetings Friends:
After thirty three years of service to the cultural sector of Maine, Alden C. Wilson has moved to the desert paradise of Palm Springs, California, his 'place in the sun.' Alden's leadership garnered national recognition for Maine. His work with the creative economy initiative received the Innovation award from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. The implementation of Discovery Research, a cultural assessment tool for communities, became a respected national model. The formation of the Cultural Affairs Council has been praised by the Pew Foundation, the Kennedy Center, the Urban Institute and others as a model for government, and in 2006 the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies/National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Accessibility Leadership Award came to Maine, recognizing our leadership in bringing the benefits of culture to all people.
Alden was there when the first grant was given to the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance which now receives national attention and respect including a $400,000 award from the Ford Foundation. Alden was there when the Percent for Art law, which is about to celebrate thirty years of placing art in Maine's public realm, was enacted, and Alden was there during the censorship battles at the NEA ensuring continued support for Maine's individual artists. For these initiatives and so many more I take this opportunity to thank Alden C. Wilson for his leadership.
I begin my new duties with great joy and with the support and confidence of my colleagues nationwide. I will continue to rely on the wonderful folks who selflessly lend their expertise in the field to their service as commission members, a capable hardworking staff, the dedicated wunderkinds who administer Maine's extraordinary arts institutions and organizations, my beloved Maine artists and all of us who take away the benefits of creativity as an audience.
I trust that my lifetime of involvement with the arts from maker to administrator will serve me well as I embrace new skills required of state and national government. It is my sole purpose to secure a place of respect for the artist in society. Please join me as we move forward together with renewed energy and commitment to make life in Maine resplendent with all forms of creativity, as we build on our partnerships with business, education and government, as we continue our national leadership role through courage and innovation and as we reap the benefits of this beautiful place that catalyzes all that is noble within us.
Donna McNeil
Director
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