Waterville, Maine — Waterville Creates!, a non-profit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs and institutions in Waterville, Maine, announces a gift in the amount of $100,000 from Kennebec Savings Bank (KSB) in support of the community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center. In recognition of their leadership gift, one of the cinemas in the new building will be named the Kennebec Savings Bank Screening Room.
Designed to bring together under one roof some of Waterville’s most beloved arts institutions, including the Maine Film Center, Common Street Arts, and a new gallery of the Colby Museum of Art, the Paul J. Schupf Art Center will be constructed on the current site of The Center building at 93 Main Street, directly adjacent to the Waterville Opera House and City Hall building and downtown’s central green space, Castonguay Square. Waterville Creates! and Colby College are partnering on this transformative project, which will create a distinctive hub for visual arts, performing arts, arts education, and film for children and adults. In addition to enhancing Waterville’s reputation as a destination for arts and culture, this new facility will add vitality to downtown Waterville during both the daytime and evening hours and serve as an economic driver for the region.
“Our roots run deep in Waterville, and we recognize just how important this new arts center will be to the region,” said Andrew Silsby, president and CEO of Kennebec Savings Bank. “We are proud to support and be a part of a collective vision to make Waterville a premier arts and culture destination.”
Kennebec Savings Bank’s gift was pledged in contribution to the $2 million community capital campaign led by Waterville Creates! as part of the overall fundraising goal of $18 million for the project. A lead capital campaign supporter of the Head of Falls RiverWalk project, Kennebec Savings Bank continues to play a key role in the revitalization of downtown Waterville.
“Kennebec Savings Bank has consistently been a strong champion of the arts in our community through their sponsorship of the Waterville Opera House, the Maine International Film Festival, Waterville Rocks!, and more,” says Shannon Haines, president and CEO of Waterville Creates! “We are so thankful for their ongoing contribution to local arts programming and now for this incredible gift to our community capital campaign.”
About Kennebec Savings Bank
Kennebec Savings Bank is a $1.1 billion state-chartered community bank, part of a mutual organization with a team of 135 employees and offices in Augusta, Waterville, Winthrop and Farmingdale, as well as “KSB Anytime” 24-hour electronic banking centers in Augusta, Farmingdale, Freeport, and Manchester. The bank is proud that its involvement in the community as an employer, a business and as a contributor has led to many other successes besides its own. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
About Waterville Creates!
Waterville Creates! connects artists, cultural organizations, and the public with arts and cultural events and programs happening in our community. We firmly believe that art and culture have the power to enrich lives, strengthen community bonds, and serve as an economic engine. We promote and support arts education, exhibitions, theatre, film, music, and dance that is accessible to all residents and visitors. By helping to build a creative economy, Waterville Creates! is leading the effort to make Waterville an exciting cultural destination and a thriving, vibrant community. Learn more at https://www.watervillecreates.org. For more information about the ongoing community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center visit http://www.downtownartscenter.org.