The Maine Arts Commission supports all efforts to promote learning in the arts and through the arts.
Arts education is a major focus of the Maine Arts Commission and a nationwide movement aiming to provide all students with opportunities to learn in and through the arts (dance, music, theater, visual arts and creative writing). Methods for reaching this goal include providing discipline-specific, sequential learning opportunities; integrating the arts into all curricular content areas; programs in institutions and detention centers; programs in child care centers; and after-school programs.
The Maine Arts Education blog provides useful information for arts educators, those interested in arts education and students. Visit the blog at to subscribe and receive notifications for the daily post.
Arts Education Funding Opportunities
The Arts Learning Grant is a program that provides grants up to $5, 000 to assist schools, arts institutions and community arts organizations, to develop arts education projects in conjunction with artists for PK-12 students. Click this link for more information.
Ticket to Ride is a program that provides funding to defray the cost of travel for Maine schools wishing to visit Maine arts based venues and events as part of a well rounded curriculum. Any PK-12 school in Maine is eligible to receive support of up to $300 each school year and any PK-12 school in Maine with a documented free and reduced lunch student population of 50 percent or greater is eligible to receive support of up to $500 each school year. Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as long as there are remaining funds. The funding is non competitive and the only criteria is need. Click this link for more information.
The Teaching Artist Program is being established to assist artists as teachers. The Maine Arts Commission is committed to providing professional development opportunities for teaching artists and the creation of a Teaching Artist Roster. Efforts to address these areas of need are underway and will grow over time. Professional development is being offered for artists who work with PK-12 learners in a variety of school and community educational settings. Click this link for more information.
Maine Youth Excellence in Art (MYEA) utilizes the Maine State Capitol Complex as a gallery for exhibiting exemplary two-dimensional visual art created by PK-12 students from all regions of the state. Click this link for more information.
Poetry Out Loud is a national program organized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation and administered at the state level by the Maine Arts Commission. It encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. Prizes are awarded at the state and national level with a $20, 000 in scholarship awarded to the National Champion. Click this link for more information.
The Congressional Art Competition is a national contest that seeks one piece of high school student artwork from each Congressional District in the United States to be hung for one year in the U.S. Capitol Building. Each winning student is flown to Washington, DC for the official opening of the show. Click this link for more information.
