Year-End Giving 2022
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Mayo Street Arts
10 Mayo Street
Portland, ME 04101
A Letter from MSA’s Executive Director
December 2022
Dear Friend of MSA,
This past year has been a season of growth at Mayo Street Arts, both in terms of the sheer volume of activity as well as the depth of our engagement within the community. As we expand our efforts, we have taken care to do so with guidance from the families, artists, and audiences we serve.
Our regular performance series and gallery exhibitions remain the core of our Visual & Performing Arts programming. This season we’re delighted to feature performances from international artists like Symbio, one of Sweden’s most prominent new bands, and a solo show by Nicolas Boulerice from Québécois superstars, Le Vent du Nord. From music to puppetry to showcases of local emerging artists, MSA’s Program Manager, Katie Page, has come into her own to curate an incredible season for us all to enjoy.
This past summer and fall, we planted seeds for not one but TWO new performing arts festivals!
Produced in collaboration with East Shore Arts, the Portland Theater Festival engaged with works from female, BIPOC, and trans playwrights, directors, and actors. The three challenging works presented at Mayo Street Arts and Mechanics’ Hall garnered attention in both local and national publications.
In September, we welcomed audiences from across New England (and beyond!) for the inaugural Puppets in Portland (PiP) Festival. Over six action-packed days, four renowned puppet troupes representing five countries performed and taught workshops at three venues across Portland. A parade by Portland’s own Shoestring Theater kicked-off the festival and brought out the entire neighborhood for an impromptu dance party with The Ideal Maine Social Aid & Sanctuary Band.
While welcoming performers and audience members from far and wide, we have also doubled-down on our commitment to serving families in our Kennedy Park neighborhood with free, no cost Community & Youth programs.
- MSA’s flagship RAD! (Reading! Art! Dance!) Summer Youth Program served over 40 students ages 6-13 with free arts-based literacy activities and local field trips.
- Students join us for 3-4 days a week of After School Arts clubs including hip hop dance, circus arts, puppetry, and visual arts.
- This school year, our Partnership with East End Community School and the EECS PTO will bring three different artists from across the U.S. to Portland for performances and workshops both in-school and at MSA.
- We are delighted to continue to collaborate with Portland Adult Education, who offer a free, multi-generational Family English Class program to non-English speaking parents and young students from our neighborhood.
Lastly, the Traditional Arts Network is expanding in scope. Following a successful gathering near the end of 2021, the network received support from the Maine Arts Commission that allowed us to award artists $500-$1,000 in micro grants through the creation of a TAN Fund. Upcoming workshops in 2023 will provide traditional artists with one-on-one grant writing assistance and the creation of professional marketing materials.
Suffice it to say, Mayo Street Arts is abuzz with activity these days!
Our staffing has increased commensurate with these blossoming programs to support the cultivation of new relationships and opportunities. Your support today is essential to make this growth sustainable.
Please consider making a one time or monthly tax-deductible contribution to help us continue all of this impactful work in the coming year.
With gratitude,
Ian Bannon
Executive Director
Give now!
Click the “Donate” button below to give instantly through Paypal
or make a check out to “Mayo Street Arts” and mail to:
Mayo Street Arts
10 Mayo Street