Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, one of Maine’s leading arts and cultural organizations and a key driver in making the city a vibrant arts and cultural destination in central Maine, has been selected to sponsor EmcArts’ Arts in Complex Community Change program in Waterville. The series provides unique capacity-building support for arts organizations and their partners across the social sector working on complex community challenges. These workshops are opportunities to slow down, reflect, and learn how to make real progress in changing the dynamics of complex systems through the arts. The workshops will begin in October and will include a diverse array of organizations throughout Waterville.
Waterville is one of three communities in the country selected by EmcArts to participate in the innovative programs supporting community change through the arts. These programs are made possible through the generous support of the Kresge Foundation. “EmcArts is excited to work with Waterville Creates! to help community members navigate the complex dynamics of a community undergoing revitalization and change. We expect to find that this intimate community has many shared bonds, strengths, and challenges that will inform the collaborative work among the participants,” said Liz Dreyer, Senior Program Manager at EmcArts.
“We are incredibly excited about this opportunity and the capacity-building impact it will have in our community,” said Shannon Haines, President and CEO of Waterville Creates! “In this time of unprecedented investment and rapid change here in Waterville, these workshops will provide an opportunity for a variety of organizations to come together and explore new ways of working together.”
In the workshops, teams from up to 15 community organizations will learn new strategies for addressing complex community challenges and how artists and arts organizations can play a bigger role in those discussions. Participants will identify the issues they face in their work and develop new tools and techniques—providing creative solutions to real community challenges.
About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! promotes increased awareness of cultural opportunities and events while supporting enhanced programming and operations for its community partners and audiences. Waterville Creates! provides marketing, administrative, and development services to arts and cultural institutions in the greater Waterville area. Learn more at https://www.watervillecreates.org