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• Center ME Contemporary Art

Center for Maine Contemporary Art - Offering unique displays to art enthusiasts year-round

As you may have discovered, Rockland and surrounding Maine areas show a deep appreciation and love of art. One example is The Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA), located in the heart of Rockport (a short drive from Rockland), is a contemporary art scene that exhibits work from 300-400 living artists each year. This nonprofit organization is focused on establishing and sustaining a network for Maine artists, regularly offering exhibitions, educational programs and professional development workshops.

The CMCA began as the Maine Coast Artists, a small group of artists who came together for a small summer art exhibition in Rockport, Maine in 1952. Maine Coast Artists grew and evolved over the next fifty years, now resembling the Center for Maine Contemporary Art we know today. In present day, this unique facility is located at 162 Russell Avenue in Rockport, and welcomes more than 14,000 visitors each year.

If you are someone that appreciates a deep range of art styles and genres, this is the place for you. Since 1970, CMCA has offered a juried exhibition of artists with connections to Maine. Some example exhibitions include: “Work of the Hand” Crafts Show and Sale; “Just Look at Yourself!” (an exhibition exploring self-portraiture); Works by Karen Lewis; Annual Benefit Art Auction Preview; Works by Brenda Bettison; Photography of Thomas Peter Michelena; “Comic-al” (an exhibition exploring the aesthetic, stylistic and conceptual influences that comics have on art); and “On and Off the Midway” in which twenty-five photographers celebrated twenty-six annual Maine state fairs and festivals.

One key component of the CMCA is its incredibly active support of local educational institutions and its students. An example of this is the Camden-Rockport Student Exhibition that showcases work from seven local elementary, middle and high schools. They also offer an annual “Next Generation” show that is a juried exhibition of works by college-level junior and senior art majors in Maine.

If you are looking for a beautiful venue for a special event, CMCA offers its facilities for weddings, parties, reunions, and business events. With its combination of art and the scenic views of Rockport Harbor, it is a place that will be remembered by you and your guests.

General admission is $5 per person. Admission is free to Rockport residents, members, and children. The facilities are wheelchair accessible. The CMCA also offers different levels of membership (all with superior member privileges) and several levels are fully tax-deductable. For more information, contact the CMCA directly at 207-236-2875.