The Maine Arts Commission is a state agency that receives funding appropriated by the Maine State Legislature. In addition, the Agency partners with the National Endowment for the Arts for additional annual funding. The Maine Arts Commission shall encourage and stimulate public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and cultural programs of our state; shall expand the state's cultural resources; and shall encourage and assist freedom of artistic expression for the wellbeing of the arts, to meet the needs and aspirations of persons in all parts of the state.
The Maine Arts Commission offers grant funding to Maine organizations, individuals, schools, and municipalities. The grant cycle opens January fifteenth each year with the majority of deadlines before the end of March, with some offerings that have additional autumn deadlines. Funding support must be used for projects between July 1 of the current year and June 30 of the following year. If a project has components that fall outside of the timeframe, those components cannot be funded, although components within the timeframe are eligible for funding. All applications must be made through the agency online Grants Management System.