The arts agency for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, Maine
Learn MoreLA Arts Executive Director to resign, search for new director begins
LA ARTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO RESIGN
LEWISTON/AUBURN: After running the organization for three years, Executive Director Joshua Vink is stepping down at the end of July. “It’s been a great ride, I’m so appreciative for the opportunities I’ve had to serve this community with work that I believe strongly in. I’m proud of the foundations we’ve established and the goals we’ve reached, and am hopeful for a bright future for L/A Arts and the arts and cultural landscape in the Twin Cities.” In his tenure, Vink took the organization in new directions, mainly around streamlining its work to four core programs: Arts in Education, Art Walk L/A, Ice Festival L/A, and Arts Agency Initiatives. The board of directors has announced that a search to replace Mr. Vink will begin in early May. “I have always seen our work as the local arts agency as a support entity for the arts, advocating, collaborating and celebrating the wonderful artists and institutions which add such richness and vibrancy to Lewiston Auburn”, Vink says. This is seen through the emphasis on Arts in Education the organization has developed, the expansion of Art Walk into Auburn, installing the L/A Rattle sculpture by Charlie Hewitt on Lisbon Street, and working with local partners to develop Cultural Plan L/A. The organization is also beginning a new initiative with the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council (LAEGC), the Maine College of Art (MECA) and Museum L/A called Downtown Creative Industries, which aims to give creative artisans and entrepreneurs business development and exhibition tools to help them start their own businesses and maker spaces. Vink sees a future in Lewiston Auburn for the continued growth of these programs, but only through strong collaborative partnerships and robust Arts in Education programs. I hope to see the continuation of this approach, both developing artistry in young people and supporting our current professional artistic class to build and highlight the Twin Cities’ wonderful people and assets”. Vink will be teaching at a college in New York in the fall.SEARCH FOR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEGINS
Executive Director (Lewiston/Auburn, ME)
LA Arts seeks a full-time Executive Director for the 43 year-old local arts agency in Lewiston Auburn, Maine. Position will begin mid-July, 2016.Vision Statement
The vision of LA Arts is to enrich the lives of people in our community by sponsoring partnerships, programming, and experiences of the arts in all forms.What We Do
Working with government arts agencies, city governments, businesses, and local arts and cultural organizations, LA Arts creates opportunities for community members across the generations to experience, learn, and participate in the arts; organizes arts programs and initiatives; supports the work of local artists and arts organizations; and highlights the essential role the arts play in shaping an economically vital, socially integrated, and forward-looking future for our community. read more…Double Marketing Opportunity – Sponsor Art Walk LA
Businesses, don’t miss this chance to gain double exposure while supporting local arts and community. Sponsor Art Walk LA at the Curation Supporter level ($500) and get a free $500 sponsorship at an upcoming LA Metro Chamber Breakfast.
That’s $1000 worth of marketing for half the price!
Art Walk LA Curation Supporter Sponsorship:
- on the Art Walk LA web page
- in Art Walk LA thank-you print ad
- before Art Walk LA performances
- in Art Walk LA promotional ads
- on Art Walk LA indoor maps and signs
LA Metro Chamber $500 Sponsorship:
- Logo and sponsor listing on event page LAMetroChamber.com
- Recognition in breakfast emails
- Info read at the breakfast, can highlight your business, events, specials, etc.
- Ability to distribute materials on the breakfast tables
- Ability to hang a banner at the breakfast
- Spotlight table to display materials
For more info or to become a sponsor, contact LA Arts: 207-782-7228.
Note: Sponsor must be an LA Metro Chamber member to redeem this offer. Date and time for the breakfast will be scheduled through the Chamber of Commerce and based on availability.
Arts-based Community and Entrepreneurial Development Investment for Lewiston Auburn
LA Arts one of 64 National Endowment for the Arts Our Town projects selected nationwide
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Lewiston Auburn, Maine: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu announced 64 awards totaling $4.3 million supporting projects across the nation through the NEA’s Our Town program. LA Arts, working together with the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council (LAEGC), Maine College of Art and the Pratt Institute is one of the recommended organizations for an award of $50,000 to design and implement an cultural and artist entrepreneurship program and related projects. The Our Town grant program supports creative place-making projects that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core. The NEA received 240 applications for Our Town this year and will make awards ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.
“For six years, Our Town has made a difference for people and the places where they live, work, and play,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Projects such as the one led by LA Arts and LAEGC help residents engage the arts to spark vitality in their communities.”
Josh Vink, Executive Director for LA Arts, explains “we believe that this initiative, which is a foundational model to give artisans business development skills, get them into makers and co-working spaces, and exhibit their work – is an incredibly important one. It offers key support for the arts and culture sector which very much needs it, is a vital part of our history, and essential for the continued innovation and development of the Twin Cities.” John Holden, President of LAEGC adds, “we are proud to partner with LA Arts as part of our engagement in entrepreneurship in LA Maine. Entrepreneurs will come from all walks of life, cultures, and are encouraged in a creative and artistic environment.” Rebecca Swanson Conrad, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Maine College of Art says, “MECA is pleased to be a partner in this grant to link our students and alumni to entrepreneurial opportunity to expand the breadth and depth of Lewiston and Auburn’s often hidden, but exemplary and innovative craft, art and design economy.”
The partners believe that the artisan-based manufacturer is one catalyst for the communities future economic development and that Lewiston Auburn can position a brand that is grounded in its cultural heritage, while at the same time offers a clear vision for the future. A major influence of that brand is that LA is a “makers place.” The project will include the development of artisan and maker assessment and strategy, building on a cultural planning process currently underway. Tools to enhance artisan and entrepreneurial development will be cataloged and built. The partners will build marketing and branding support for individual makers and cooperative opportunities, explore opportunities and financing for living and working space opportunities, makers space utilization and adaptive reuse of existing mill space. The project will also support and celebrate Lewiston Auburn as the center of manufacturing and “making” in the State of Maine including a partnership with Museum LA and the plans for the Maine Innovation Expo scheduled for May of 2017 at the Bates Mill complex.
For more information, contact LA Arts (207-782-7228).
Art Walk LA 2016 launches
LA Arts partners with the local community to coordinate this monthly summer event that fosters a sense of community and celebrates the vitality of the Lewiston and Auburn downtowns.
Art Walk Lewiston Auburn…
- Converts over 20 downtown LA businesses and storefronts into public arts spaces
- Includes galleries, exhibitions, and special performances
- Drives thousands of people each summer to LA downtowns
- Takes place every final Friday May through September from 5:00-8:00 PM
- Expands this year to the City of Auburn for an even bigger and better event!
Maine Writes Poetry Slam – March 2016
2016 L/A ARTS MAINE WRITES POETRY SLAM – March 2nd, 2016
Please note: This program is not open to the general public. Press is welcome!
Last year’s Maine Writes students from Edward Little High School pose after taking the top three honors in a live, on-stage poetry slam against Bronx & Brooklyn students in New York City last spring.
(Photo by L/A Arts)
L/A Arts Poetry Slam Competitions: Wednesday, March 2nd, 10 a.m.
Locations: Farwell Elementary School, McMahon Elementary School, Edward Little High School (Judging)
| 10:00–11:00am: Poetry Slam
● 9:45‐10:00am: Introductions ● 10 a.m. – Team McMahon (Aldrich‐Capen) ● 10 a.m. – Team McMahon (Steingesser‐O’Brien) ● 10 a.m. – Team Farwell (Steingesser‐Bilodeau) ● 11 a.m. – Wrap‐up |
LEWISTON/AUBURN. L/A Arts is pleased to announce that the fourth annual Maine Writes poetry slam will take place at area schools on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016. This competition is the culmination of a ten-week residency program at public schools in Lewiston (Farwell and McMahon Elementary schools) and Auburn (Edward Little High School).
The Maine Writes slam competition will take place live via videoconferencing between schools. Seven students from each competing class (chosen by their peers and teachers) will make up their team, five of which will perform their poems for the slam. The poems will be judged by a panel of students for the quality of the writing and performances. Farwell and McMahon Elementary School students will compete and be adjudicated by students from Edward Little High School. The high school team is scheduled to return to the Bronx, New York City in the spring of 2016 to be part of a live poetry slam competition. All participating students will receive a special commendation for their work.
The residencies were team taught by an L/A Arts professional poetry teaching artist and a public school classroom teacher. During the work, students enhanced their literacy skills studying the form of poetry, and applied their understanding by writing and performing their own original pieces. The poems are based on themes and topics from their lives and community that have importance to them. The program is possible from the generous support of foundations, the Lewiston School Department and local corporate sponsors and in partnership with the New York City based performance / technology organization Global Writes and the Bates Museum of Art. This year, guided visits to visual arts exhibitions at the Bates Museum of Art served as generative launching points for student writing.
Last year’s Edward Little students took the top three honors in a competition with students from the Bronx and Brooklyn. We can’t wait to see what this year’s students accomplish!
Thank you Arts in Education 2015-16 sponsors:
- Lewiston Public Schools
- Maine Arts Commission
- Mechanics Savings Bank
- Auburn-Lewiston Breakfast Rotary Club
- Helen & George Ladd Foundation
- Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust
THANK YOU LEWISTON/AUBURN!
ICE FESTIVAL
2016 WAS A SUCCESS!
Thank you Ice Fest L/A 2016 sponsors!
Underwriter
Founded in 1870, Androscoggin Bank is an independent community bank that is committed to delivering smarter banking to all of the communities we serve. Our mission is simple – Androscoggin Bank excels every day to earn relationships and foster our clients’ prosperity.
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Partners
Bates Mill LLC
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- Dining Services
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Media
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Ice Bars
Southern Wine & Spirits‘s mission is to leverage leading approaches and tools to provide tailored business solutions that drive growth and value for our customer and supplier partners through superior consolidated ownership, customized trading partner relationships, and national scale efficiencies; state-level share, market intelligence, sales effectiveness, and brand-building expertise; and investments in our people, recognized and reward tangible results.
Founded in 1947, Federal Distributors employs over 70 full time employees, with an annual sales volume of 2 million cases of product; offers over 200 SKU’s of beer and pre-mixed cocktails and over 200 SKU’s of non-alcoholic beverages.; and are recognized as the premier beer wholesaler in our territory with a market share of over 60%.
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Family Day
Family Day Underwriter
ReEnergy Lewiston envisions a greener, cleaner earth with abundant energy that is produced using waste and biomass fuels. To that end, they pledge their experience, their innovation and their advanced technologies. ReEnergy Holdings LLC, a portfolio company of Riverstone Holdings LLC, operates in five states as it owns and operates facilities using forest-derived woody biomass and other wood waste residues to produce homegrown, renewable energy; as well as facilities that recycle construction and demolition material.
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Geiger
Hilton Garden Inn
KeyBank
Lisa Laliberte – State Farm Agent
TD Bank
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Blizzard-Level Sponsors
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Storm-Level Sponsors
Ouellette & Associates, P.A.
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Squall-Level Sponsors
AmeriGas
Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce
Austin Associates
Champoux Insurance Agency
The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing
Geiger
Great Falls Insurance Company
Kaplan University
Mechanics Savings Bank
Oxford Casino
Patti Gagne Agency – Allstate Insurance
Performance Foodservice NorthCenter
Rancourt & Co.
SymQuest