City of Bangor’s Commission on Cultural Development to Host a Workshop for Artists/Writers on Grant Writing and the Application Process

Bangor, Maine - The City of Bangor’s Commission on Cultural Development will host a free workshop for artists and writers on grant writing and grant application processes on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Story Room of the Bangor Public Library. The Story Room is located on the ground level off the Children’s Room.

Panelists Kathy Ann Shaw, Cathy Melio, Stephanie Harp, and Tom Avila-Beck will make short presentations and then entertain questions about identifying and applying for grants.

Kathy Ann Shaw joined the Maine Arts Commission staff in 1988 to serve as Museum and Visual Arts Associate, moved up to Contemporary Arts Associate, and has held the position of Senior Director for Grants and Arts Accessibility since 2007. She oversees the management of the agency's grants liaison with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Cathy Melio is a Program Officer for the Maine Community Foundation. Cathy oversees grant
making through the Hancock, Washington, Knox, and Waldo County Funds. She also manages the Maine Expansion Arts Fund, the Maine Charity Foundation Fund, and others.

Stephanie Harp has for nearly thirty years worked in journalism, creative writing, arts administration, and is a professionally trained researcher and interviewer. She holds a master's degree in history. Through HarpWorks Writing Services, she offers writing, editing, grant writing, publicity, and research.

T. (Tom) Cashman Avila-Beck has spent the last twenty years working with nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. He is currently the Senior Stewardship Specialist for Greenpeace in the U.S. where he serves as part of the major gifts and foundations team, and is a member of the City of Bangor's Commission on Cultural Development.

This workshop is second in a series that will address the professional development needs of artists in our community. Other workshops will include:

·               Publishing One's Work (Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at Launchpad Gallery, 89 Central St.)

·               Businesses Partnering with the Arts Community (Wednesday, May 6, 2015)

·               Grant Writing and the Application Process  (Wednesday, September 2, 201

·               Marketing, Representation, and Networking (Wednesday, Oct 7, 2015)


In effort to help us estimate the number of attendees, please register by phone (207) 992-4234 or email culturalcommission@bangormaine.gov. For more information, please visit the City of Bangor website section for the Commission on Cultural Development.

Earlier in the day, the Maine Arts Commission will be hosting its second annual Arts Iditarod from 1 to 3 p.m. at the University of Maine Art Museum. The agency will go over the new grants, review the agency's ongoing grant programs, share the simplified guidelines, and demonstrate our new electronic grants application and review system. For more information please contact Kathy Ann Shaw, Senior Director for Grants and Arts Accessibility, at (207) 287-2750 or kathy.shaw@maine.gov.

The Commission on Cultural Development enriches and advances Bangor as a vibrant city of arts and culture. Its mission is to support art and culture through funding, marketing, advocacy, and education to benefit citizens, visitors, and the economic and cultural vitality of the city. The Commission values all of Bangor’s artistic and cultural community, and warmly welcomes artists to attend.

The City of Bangor, Maine is a service center community of 33,039 residents and is the county seat of Penobscot County.  Bangor is the major commercial and cultural center for much of northern and eastern Maine.  The City is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.  For information on City projects and news, see www.bangormaine.gov.