A panel discusses the state of the arts in Maine during Creative Portland’s 5th biennial Arts & Culture Summit at Mechanics’ Hall in Portland on Tuesday. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer In 2024, Maine ranked 35th in the nation for public funding for the arts. That statistic might surprise those who associate the state with iconic paintings, historic artist colonies or performance venues that draw tourists from across the country.
But it was top of mind for many guests and panelists at Creative Portland’s biennial Arts and Culture Summit on Tuesday at Mechanics’ Hall and Space in Portland. All day, the conversation circled back again and again to the financial needs of a sector that was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and is still regaining its footing. Panels touched on how to secure more state funding for the arts, how to find rehearsal and studio space, how to deal with the rising cost of living in the state and how to reinvigorate business in the largest city’s arts district.
Guests spanned government employees, nonprofit directors, individual artists and real estate developers. Here are four takeaways from the all-day summit. Maine ra nks among the lowest in the country for public funding for the arts.
The Maine Arts Commission runs on a roughly $2 million budget. Only three states – Kansas, Wyoming, and Idaho – have a smaller budget for their arts agencies. Half of that money comes from the Maine Legislature, and half comes from the National Endowment fo.