Arts & Cultural Alliance of Freeport (ACAF) is pleased to announce the grand opening of Meetinghouse Arts, a newly renovated performance, presentation, and gallery space located within the historic First Parish Congregational Church at 40 Main Street in Freeport. To celebrate the completion of this project, ACAF is offering free, public events and activities during the weekend of November 5 through 7. ACAF invites residents, artists, visitors, and creators to come together to enjoy the events, experience this new venue, and get a taste of the exciting types of activities and performances that will be happening there in the future. We ask all visitors to wear masks while inside Meetinghouse Arts.

Festivities kick off Friday afternoon, November 5, with an interactive workshop by Stages Youth Theater. In the evening, enjoy chamber music with a recital by the Music @ Meetinghouse Arts Strings Collaborative. On Saturday morning, November 6, offerings include a story time on the theme of “Celebrating Community through Children’s Literature” and tours of the facility. In the afternoon there will be a pastel drawing workshop for all ages; a performance from internationally acclaimed master storyteller Antonio Rocha; and a theatrical presentation entitled “Inside Radio: Joe Tanner Revisited”. In the evening, enjoy The Altar-ed States Coffee House, an open-mike invitation to the community to present music, comedy, poetry, dance, skits or spoken word in a welcoming space. On Sunday morning, all are welcome to First Parish Church’s worship service and coffee, followed by tours of the facility. The afternoon will feature a performance by the Sanctuary Ringers, a bell choir from New Gloucester Congregational Church. Throughout the weekend, the Meetinghouse Arts gallery will feature a show entitled “Uniting Our Arts and Cultural Community”. More information about these events can be found on the ACAF website (freeportartsandculture.org).

ACAF is excited to invite Greater Freeport residents and visitors to come see Meetinghouse Arts, and encourages everyone to take advantage of these free events. Executive Director Dana Legawiec hopes that these activities will “bring folks in to Meetinghouse Arts, maybe for the first time, so ACAF can welcome and thank everyone for their support, and imagine together the possibilities for how the arts and culture can build community." Future events already planned for Meetinghouse Arts include music, art shows, lectures, dance performances, workshops, classes, and theatrical productions. It has been carefully developed to ensure that it is a high-quality venue that is flexible enough in its design to accommodate a wide variety of the creative needs of local artists and performers and touring shows. It will be a new creative focal point for the Greater Freeport area, furthering the goals of establishing Freeport as a center for arts and culture, and strengthening its creative economy.

###

Arts & Cultural Alliance of Freeport (ACAF) is a non-profit organization formed in 2015 by residents of Freeport and representatives of local businesses and organizations. It is dedicated to fostering the Greater Freeport creative community and establishing Greater Freeport as a vibrant center for arts and culture for residents and visitors alike. For more about ACAF visit FreeportArtsAndCulturalAlliance.org.