HOULTON, Maine — An organization that promotes and supports art in the state is holding an event in Houlton next month.
The Maine Arts Iditarod will be held on Jan. 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Houlton Higher Education Center. The Maine Arts Commission is hosting the statewide information and listening tour, and will hold seven such regional meetings statewide until the end of February.
The commission supports artists, art organizations, educators, policy makers, and community developers in advancing the arts in Maine, according to its website.
Julie Richard is the executive director of the organization. She said Wednesday, Dec. 27, that the event usually attracts artists, nonprofit leaders and staff members of nonprofits. The commission held the event in Presque Isle last year, and decided this year to hold the event for the first time in Houlton.
“This came about as a result of a listening tour,” said Richard. “Artists talked to us about what they needed. We typically hold a grants workshop, but the attendees said that they needed more. That is why we decided on the Arts Iditarod.”
Richard said that during the event, officials will be offering several updates on Arts Commission programs and happenings as well as intensive workshops in Cultural Tourism Readiness, Strategic Planning for Artists and Organizations and How to Be and Build a Better Board.
Richard said the strategic planning workshop was a direct result of audience requests.
There also will be infomercials on the commission’s arts education program and its Arts EngageMe program, which works to build an environment that engages all sectors across the state to promote the awareness and value of the creative and cultural sectors, and to invest in their sustainability
The Houlton Higher Education Center is located at 118 Military Street. The remainder of the Arts Iditarod will be held on Jan. 29 in Kennebunk, Feb. 6 in Ellsworth and Feb. 14 in Lewiston.
