The Maine Art Gallery receives $19,200 in grants for building restoration

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.