Congresswoman Chellie Pingree at Recent Memorial Day Observance
Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts is scheduled to visit Maine on Wednesday and Thursday to see how the creative economy has helped revitalize local communties. He was invited by U.S. Representative Pingree. In his two day visit, beginning tomorrow, he will visit Portland and Rockland.
For many in Portland, the highlight of the event will be a meeting with over 275 artists, community and civil leaders at Portland Stage, 25 Forest Avenue beginning at 5:00 pm. On Thursday am, Landesman will ake a walking tour of Portland’s Arts District, starting at 1 Longfellow Square and including visits to Portland Museum of Art, SPACE, Salt Institute and other art venues. Later on Thursday morning, he will meet with Marty Pottinger (City of Portland) about Art at Work, which received NEA funding. Landesman will see performances of a play written by Portland police officers and then hear poetry written by city employees.
The NEA is the nation’s largest arts organization and is an independent government agency chartered by Congress. It gives out millions of dollars in grants to support art nationwide and its budget for this year is over $150 million.