PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook Creative Network has awarded micro-grants to 15 artists from across Aroostook County, providing funding to support new creative projects, professional development and career-building opportunities.
The grants support artists as they create new work, build professional skills, pursue career opportunities and share their work with the public. This year’s recipients represent a wide range of artistic disciplines, including pottery, film, painting, photography and more. The Aroostook Creative Network Micro-Grant Program is supported by the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
“Wintergreen has been honored to partner with the Maine Arts Commission for the past few years to bring these micro-grant opportunities to the County,” Wintergreen Executive Director Allyson Midgley said. “This was an incredibly competitive grant cycle, with requests well exceeding the funding we had and so many amazing artists who applied. We are so grateful to the Maine Arts Commission for their support, and we are so excited to see all that the artists do with this funding.”
The artists funded this grant cycle include Norith Soth, Sarah Smith, Katherine Bestwick, Frank Sullivan, Brianna Gerrish, Elisabeth Dumond, Samantha Csizmesia, Andrew Serfes, Joanna Dumond, Amanda Giberson, Holly Hess, Elizabeth Allen, Sophie Ouellette, Gina Parent and Morgain Bailey.
“Artists are essential to the cultural and economic vitality of Aroostook County,” Julie Horn, assistant director of the Maine Arts Commission, said. “These micro-grants help artists take the next step in their creative practice while strengthening the communities where they live and work. We’re grateful to partner with Wintergreen Arts Center to invest in local artists and expand access to creative opportunities across northern Maine.”
The micro-grant program is administered by Wintergreen Arts Center. Applications were reviewed by a review panel of community-based artists and arts/cultural advocates from southern, central and northern Aroostook County.
