A walking conversation co-presented with Maine Irish Heritage Center and Maine Public as part of the Jane’s Walk ME festival.
Doors open at 10:30 AM at Mayo Street Arts with free coffee compliments of Tandem Coffee Roasters!
Arts and culture organizations are vital to Maine’s economy and what makes it a special place to live. Maine policy makers at all levels support this because it makes each of us, both individuals and communities, stronger. Nowhere is this more evident than in the City of Portland, where the most recent City of Portland’s Local Economy Report states that “a vibrant arts and culture community is essential to the City’s economic well-being.” Yet a recent and novel interpretation by the City of Portland’s Tax Assessor has put many of these vital community anchors at risk.
Join us for a walk through the City’s neighborhoods to understand the important contributions – and significant structures – that make Portland a special and vibrant community.
We’ll start at Mayo Street Arts, formerly St. Ansgar Danish Lutheran Church (circa 1890) and now a vibrant space for music, art, and theater, located in the most ethnically diverse, densely populated square mile in the state of Maine.
Next, we’ll visit the former Portland Public Market building, where we’ll hear Maine Public Broadcasting’s vision to build studios, production facilities and a community event space while providing an economic revitalization engine; a plan that is now in serious jeopardy. Finally, we’ll stroll down State Street, pointing out arts and culture gems along the way, ending with a tour of the Maine Irish Heritage Center, a landmark in Portland’s iconic West End Historic District.
The MIHC serves as a vibrant community center that provides a wide array of cultural resources and programming that is a draw for both the local community and visitors alike. The transformation of the stunning Neo-Gothic St. Dominic’s Church is a stabilizing force for the neighborhood, preserving its historic character while celebrating and sharing the contributions of the Irish in Maine. It is a destination that tells a compelling story about the history of both Portland and Maine.