The Maine Art Gallery has completed an exterior restoration project made possible by two Foundation grants awarded to match town funding in order to make necessary repairs to aging woodwork and shutters and completely repaint all exterior surfaces.
Maine Historic Preservation/1772 Foundation’s award totaled $10,000; the Belvedere Historic Preservation Program’s award totaled $9,200. The funds aided in the ongoing restoration of the historic 1807 “Old Academy Building” at 15 Warren St. in Wiscasset that houses the non-profit gallery owned by the town of Wiscasset.
These grants were just two of several grants for which the gallery has applied in order to address the important ongoing restoration needs of the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. A previous grant from the 1772 Foundation and Maine HIstoric Preservation supported the development of an historic condition assessment to prioritize restoration projects. Another earlier grant in 2021 from the Davis Foundation addressed water remediation issues, providing for the installation of a perimeter drain around the building.
This project was the first in a series of projects for which the Town of Wiscasset has authorized matching funds. These include the preservation and protection of the Old Academy’s windows and the repair, weatherproofing, and restoration of the cupola, both of which will aid in preserving the structure and enable the Maine Art Gallery to continue to provide a beautiful and healthy space for the community. Board members David Pope, and Jimena Guzman conducted MAG oversight. Maine restoration specialist Les Fossel provided consultation services, including completion of an Historic Condition Assessment on the building which identified priority issues to address. Additional assistance was provided by the Public Works Department and the Town of Wiscasset.
Founded in 1958, the Maine Art Gallery is a non-profit 501C-3 organization dedicated to the advancement of the visual arts through exhibitions and educational programs. The organization strives to be a catalyst for a thriving community of artists, collectors, educators, and an engaged public as a premier center for showcasing Maine art.
Dowling Walsh Gallery Opens 2026 Season with Solo Exhibitions by Artists Lauren Fensterstock and Jacob Bond Hessler
Sidle House Gallery in Freeport opens its 2026 season with “Anne Hebebrand: A World That Is,” a solo exhibition of cold-wax and oil paintings on view May 1 through June 13. An opening reception is May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition draws from seven years of Hebebrand’s work, which she describes as […]
Waterfall Arts in Belfast is showing “Make Your Mark,” an immersive, community-driven exhibition in the Clifford Gallery through May 29. The opening reception was held April 18. Conceived by program director Amy Tingle, the show draws inspiration from street art and the call-and-response nature of public creative expression. The exhibition features participatory installations including doodle […]
Centre Street Arts Gallery in Bath will hold its spring reception May 15 from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring work by the gallery’s 22 member artists. Centre Street Arts Gallery is at 11 Centre St., Bath. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Email centrestartsgalleryllc@gmail.com or call 207-442-0300 for more information.
Artemis Gallery in Northeast Harbor opens its 15th season with a group exhibition and reception on May 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. The show features work in stone sculpture by Obadiah Buell, woodblock print by Nicole Herz, oil paintings by Liddy Hubbell and David LaPalombara, photography by Parker Stewart and bronze sculpture by Rebekah […]
The Kittery Art Association, in collaboration with the York Public Library, presents “Eleven Views from Here,” on view May 2 through June 30 at the York Public Library, 15 Long Sands Road, York. An opening reception is May 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibition features selected works by 11 KAA artists representing the […]
The Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland will open “By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth” with a public reception on May 1 from 4 to 6 p.m. The exhibition runs May 2 through Oct. 16 in the Hadlock and Wyeth Study Center Galleries, with additional programming in the Wyeth Center from June 13 through […]
Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland is showing “5AM in the Pinewoods,” a solo exhibition of paintings by Joanna Logue, through May 9. Logue, a native of Australia who has lived on Mount Desert Island since 2017, takes inspiration from daily hikes in Acadia National Park near her home in Somesville. The changing colors of the […]
The Maine Crafts Association will present STITCH: Runway Show + Style Market on June 4 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Maine Studio Works, 170 Anderson St., Portland. The annual fundraising event celebrates Maine’s slow fashion designers, textile artists and makers. Six Maine-based designers will present original handcrafted wearable work in a live runway show […]
Receive news and information about Maine artists and events delivered right to your inbox.