2025 Maine Expansion Arts 

Purpose

Maine Expansion Arts grant program supports arts organizations in Maine focused on an underserved geography or population with limited access to arts programming including dance, music, theater, visual, and/or traditional arts.

Criteria

All applicants must meet the Maine Community Foundation’s grant eligibility requirements and non-discrimination policy. Please read our eligibility and grant guidelines and non-discrimination policy before submitting an application.

Your organization must:

• Be located in Maine,defined as your organization has a Maine address
• Have an organizational mission or purpose focused on the arts, defined as dance, music, theater, visual and/or traditional arts
• Have most recent completed fiscal or financial year expenses BELOW $500,000
• Expand access to the arts for an underserved geography or population
• Engage the people served in the design, delivery, and/or evaluation of the work

Municipalities, K-12 public/private schools, higher education institutions, and faith-based organizations are not eligible to apply for this grant program.

Priorities

Priority will be given to organizations that:

• Collaborate with local artists when possible
• Demonstrate local support (financial or in-kind donations) for the proposed work

Types of Funding

General support grants for flexible funding of any type such as new/expanding/ongoing programs and operational needs including capital expenses. Your organization’s mission or purpose must be focused on dance, music, theater, visual and/or traditional arts.

Please reach out to Erica McCrum emccrum@mainecf.org with any questions or if you are unsure if your organization is eligible to apply.

*NOTE: Answers to general support application questions should focus on your organization’s work (not a specific project) and how your organization meets the grant program criteria because general support awarded to an organization is for any purpose, not restricted to a specific project.

Background

The Maine Expansion Arts Fund, a permanent endowed fund held by the Maine Community Foundation, is the result of a collaborative effort of the National Endowment for the Arts, Lillian M. Berliawsky Charitable Trust, Maine Community Foundation, and Maine Arts Commission to strengthen and ensure the future of artistic traditions in Maine. Additional funding has been provided through the Elizabeth Laughlin Anderson Memorial Fund at the Maine Community Foundation and a significant gift in 2021 from MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett.