The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way organizations are considering their Bicentennial celebration events. Many of the Maine200 projects were planned before measures were put in place to address the severity of this health crisis. These measures have caused considerable disruption for many and in some cases necessitated cancelations for projects. The Maine Bicentennial Commission recognizes this and has extended the fund-use date to allow bicentennial awardees until December 31, 2021 to host their celebrations. (Letter from Senator Bill Diamond)
BICENTENNIAL GRANTS | MAINE 200
The purpose of the Maine Bicentennial Grants program is to support the interests, needs, and local creativity of communities as they plan local commemorations of the Bicentennial and to ensure that citizens throughout Maine have the opportunity to participate in Maine’s Bicentennial commemoration. Projects can be on any scale. All funds must be expended no later than December 31, 2021. Complete information is at: https://www.maine200.org/
Grant applications should be submitted to the Maine Bicentennial Commission c/o the Maine Arts Commission, which will administer the program applications. Program applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of representatives from the Maine Cultural Affairs Council (7) and from practicing educators representing the field (2).
Deadlines:
The Maine Bicentennial Project Grant program has concluded. Applications are no longer being accepted.
The grant application screening committee will make awards based on the priorities listed above, and based upon ensuring a representative distribution of funds across the state. Support for communities that lack existing capacity to raise funds for these purposes will be prioritized.
Notification of awards will be made within 4 weeks of the deadline for each application cycle. Applications not approved for funding in one cycle may be resubmitted for a future cycle.
All funds must be expended by December 31, 2021.
Project Grants (Small)
Maximum Award: $500. Required Match: None. Award Cycle: September 1, 2019 - December 31, 2021
Proposed projects should offer context to the Bicentennial Commemoration and could include:
- Public Programs: Lectures, exhibitions, library series, workshops, discussion groups, etc.
- Community Events: Parades, fairs, festivals, concerts, performances, reenactments, etc.
- Preservation Projects: Digitization/processing of collections, publications, oral history initiatives, location-based restoration /interpretation, etc.
- Curriculum Development: Classroom offerings, student projects, fieldtrips, adult learning, etc.
Project Grants (Large)
Maximum Award: $10,000.Required Match: 1 to 1 cash or in-kind match is highly encouraged. Award Cycle: September 1, 2019 - December 31, 2021
Maine’s Bicentennial commemoration offers a unique occasion to draw residents, visitors, public servants, and private businesses together to commemorate 200 years of statehood, celebrate Maine’s present, and inspire a healthy and prosperous future. The Maine Bicentennial Commission exists to plan, administer, and coordinate programs and projects that commemorate Maine’s 200th anniversary of statehood, with three major goals:
- To explore Maine’s history from the many perspectives of its multiple past and current populations.
- To celebrate Maine’s present people, places, institutions, and economy.
- To envision the public and private actions that will enhance Maine’s future prosperity.
September 1 Deadline (R1) - Awardees
Nine Small Project applications and thirty-five Large project applications requesting a total of $298,870 in support were reviewed on Wednesday September 25, 2019. The Maine Bicentennial review committee reached consensus to recommend nine Small Project applications be approved for funding and that twenty-two Large Project applications be approved for funding for a total of thirty one projects being supported in the amount of $142,255 for the first round of Maine200 Bicentennial Project funding.
Small project awardees (R1) |
Large project awardees (R1) |
Large project awardees (R1) |
| Boothbay Region Elem. School | Bangor Public Library | |
| Friends of Craig Brook, Inc | Center for Maine Contemporary Art | Penobscot Marine Museum |
| Friends of Lithgow Library | Center Theatre, Inc. | Portland Museum of Art |
| Liberty Library | City of Caribou | Portland Stage Company, Inc. |
| Oak Hill Middle School * | City of Hallowell | Rockland Historical Society |
| Patten Free Library | Deer Isle - Stonington CSD | Terra Moto Inc. |
| Pine Tree State 4-H Club Foundation | Gardiner Library Association | Thomaston Historical Society |
| Rotary Club of Belfast Maine | Greater Portland Landmarks | Town of Falmouth |
| Town of Limerick | Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance | University of Maine at Augusta |
| Makers Guild of Maine | University of Southern Maine | |
| Mayo Street Arts | Farnsworth Library and Museum |
February 1 Deadline (R2) - Awardees
Forty-three Small Project applications and one-hundred Large project applications requesting support totaling $787,701 were received. The review of these applications took place February 20, 2020. The review committee recommend that 43 Small Project applications be approved and that 90 Large Project applications be approved for a total of 133 projects being supported in the amount of $432,290 for the second round of Maine200 Bicentennial Project funding.
Small project awardees (R2) |
Large Project awardees (R2) |
Large Project awardees (R2) |
| Age Friendly Saco | 317 Main Community Music Center | Lincoln County Government |
| Ancient Ones of Maine | Abbe Museum | Lost Trotting Parks Heritage Center |
| Bar Harbor Garden Club | Ad-hoc town committee, "Surry Celebrates Maine 200" | Main Street Bucksport |
| Bowdoinham Historical Society | Agricultural Wild Blueberry Heritage Center and Virtual Museum | Maine Audubon Society |
| Bowdoinham Public Library | Apogee Arts | Maine Maritime Museum |
| Bremen Town Center Project | Atlantic Challenge Foundation Inc. | Maine Pops Concert Band Inc |
| Brewer Public Library | Augusta Literacy For ME | Maine Potato Blossom Festival |
| Brooklin, Town of | Augusta School Department | MSAD 75 |
| Camp Ketcha | Bagaduce Music Lending Library | Merriconeag Grange #425 |
| Cushing Public Library | Bangor School Department | Moosehead Historical Society, Inc. |
| Dennys River Historical Society | Bangor Symphony Orchestra | New England Music Camp |
| Dr Shaw Memorial Library | Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School | Newport Public Library |
| Engine, Inc. | Belgrade Historical Society | Ogunquit Museum of American Art |
| Fryeburg Public Library | Boothbay Railway Village | Old Berwick Historical Society |
| Good Will Home Association | Bowdoin College | Old Fort Western Fund |
| Gym Dandies Children's Circus | Brick Store Museum | Opera House Arts |
| Hawthorne Community Association | Brunswick Public Library Association | Opera Maine |
| Heart of Ellsworth | Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library | Orrington Historical Society |
| Jackson Memorial Library | City of Belfast | Owls Head Transportation Museum |
| Lincoln Memorial Public Library | City of Biddeford | Penobscot Maritime Heritage Assn |
| Main Street Bath | City of Gardiner | Pineland Farms, Inc |
| Maine Grange Foundation Inc | City of Old Town | Points North Institute |
| Monmouth Museum | City of Rockland | Portland Public Library |
| Monson Historical Society | Creative Portland | Presque Isle Historical Society |
| Newcastle Historical Society | Denmark Arts Center | Quoddy Tides Foundation |
| Newport Public Library Association | District 53 | Rangeley Lakes Historical Society |
| Pineland Suzuki School | Downeast Institute for Appld. Marine Research | Robbinston Historical Society |
| Piscataqua Rangers Junior Fife and Drum Corps | Downeast Lakes Land Trust | RSU 18 |
| Portland Public Schools | Eliot's Maine Bicentennial Committee | RSU#10 |
| Readfield Historical Society | Ellsworth Historical Society | The Iris Network |
| Sebago Elementary School | Fiddlehead Center - Scarborough | Timelines Community Inc. |
| Stockton Springs Historical Society | Fiddle-icious | Town of Bristol |
| Swans Island Lobster & Marine Museum | Friends of DaPonte String Quartet | Town of Brunswick |
| The Center for Painted Wall Preservation | Friends of the Maine State Museum | Town of Castine |
| The Maine Archaeological Society | Friends of Windjammer Days | Town of Gorham |
| Topsham Public Library | Hartland Bicentennial committee | Town of Kennebunkport |
| Town of Buckfield | High Peaks Creative Council | Town of Lincoln |
| Town of Castine | Hiram Historical Society | Town of Machiasport |
| Town of Danforth | Island Readers & Writers | Town of Mount Vernon |
| Town of Dexter | John B. Curtis Free Public Library | Town of Westport Island Hist. Comm. |
| Town of Greenwood | Kennebec Historical Society | University of Maine System |
| Town of Monmouth | Kennebunk Free Library Association | Vaughan Woods & Hist. Homestead |
| Town of Wells | LA Arts | Waldo Theatre |
| Lamoine150! | Waldoborough Historical Society | |
| WERU Community Radio | ||
| Word: A Blue Hill Literary Arts Festival |
June 1 Deadline (R3) - Awardees
Seven Small Project applications and thirty-six Large Project applications requesting support totaling $281,843 were received. The review committee recommended that seven Small Project applications be approved and that twelve Large Project applications be approved, for a total of nineteen projects being supported in the amount of $80,684.
Small project awardees (R3) |
Large project awardees (R3) |
Large project awardees (R3) |
| Chebeague Island Historical Society. Inc. | Baxter Memorial Library Association | SoBo Central |
| Fox Islands Outing Club | Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine | The Telling Room |
| Girl Scouts of Maine | Gateway Milbridge | Union Historical Society |
| Maine Farmland Trust | Holocaust and Human Rights Center | Washburn Norlands Foundation Inc. |
| Sebago Historical Society | Indigo Arts Alliance | Wesserunsett Arts Council |
| Sons of the American Revolution | Maine Preservation | |
| Waterford Historical Society | Museum L-A |
Agency staff are always here as a resource for you. We recommend contacting the correct staff person a minimum of two-weeks prior to submitting your application.
For questions regarding the Maine Bicentennial Commission (Maine200): Please contact Alyssa Wood at gro.002eniaM@dooW.assylA or 207-441-2713.
For general questions about the application or review process please contact Kerstin Gilg, Director of Grants and Accessibility, at kerstin.gilg@maine.gov or 207/ 287-6719 .
Grant information is 
available in large print format by request. All Maine Arts Commission programs are accessible to people with disabilities. All programs funded by the Maine Arts Commission must also be accessible.