Eastport was the cultural center for the area during the 1800s and early 1900s. Professional performers from Boston and New York as well as amateurs, made theater, operas, and musical performances commonplace here. In the late twenties and thirties, George Pierce Ennis ran a summer branch of his famous New York City Grand Central School of Art in Eastport.
After a long period of economic struggle for this historic sea coast community, that cultural tradition has re-established itself. In 1985, a small group of local artists opened a gallery in downtown Eastport, occasionally offering concerts and films. Artists, both visual and performing, began to move to town, and in 1990, Stage East's community theater was born. Artists and people wishing to live in a culturally rich community continued to make Eastport their home, and the Eastport Arts Center was incorporated as an umbrella organization for these and other newly forming and innovative programs.
In early 2005, the Eastport Arts Center purchased a permanent home, an 1837 church, formerly known as the Washington Street Baptist Church. Its 9,200 square feet houses six of the nine constituent arts organizations as well as space for community use. With great excitement, we at the Arts Center feel that we have embarked upon a venture that will provide a place where the arts can flourish and continue to enrich the lives of individuals and our community.
| Eastport Arts Center Organizations |
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ARTS BLOOMThe educational arm of the Eastport Arts Center. |
THE CONCERT SERIESA series of memorable performers presenting music from classical to folk.
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DANCE EASTPORTA variety of dance experiences, including Contradance, Folk Dance Lessons, and Vacation Dance Camp. |
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THE EASTPORT GALLERYA 30-member collective gallery of fine regional artists since 1985. |
EASTPORT PUPPETRY COLLECTIVEPresenting the Art of Puppetry through performances and educational experiences. |
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EASTPORT STRINGSA small string orchestra of talented young people from Washington County holding weekly rehearsals and occasional concerts. |
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MYSTI is summer youth theater at University of Maine Machias. |
NORTHERN LIGHTS FILM SOCIETYShowing films both classic and contemporary from around the world that are beautiful and provocative. |
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STAGE EASTSometimes traditional, sometimes contemporary, often challenging, but always a fine community theater of eastern Washington County, Maine. |
The Eastport Arts Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community arts organization.
ITS MISSION: "To stimulate and nurture an appreciation of the visual and performing arts and the creative process, and to provide a home and an environment within which they can prosper." |
SummerKeys in
Lubec, Maine
SummerKeys Ferry to Lubec begins June 25, 2008, and continues each Wednesday this summer. The Ferry will leave the Eastport Breakwater each Wednesday at 6:30 PM and return following the concert. All concerts begin at 7:30 PM. Season passes (10 trips) are $120. Single tickets, in advance: $14; on the boat: $17 (depending on space). Season passes and single tickets may be purchased at the Sylvina W. Beal ticket office or on the boat.
The Eastport Arts Center prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities
on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, and disability.
| Last modified: 30 January 2008 |
Copyright © 2005-2008 Eastport Arts Center |