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Sponsored by: Waterville Creates!
Updated: September 23, 2019 2019 Giving Guide

Waterville Creates!

2020 Goals

Having completed a successful merger with the Waterville Opera House and the Maine Film Center in November 2018, Waterville Creates! (WC!) is working to develop a unified brand and marketing plan for the newly merged organization. One of WC!’s other primary goals for 2020 is to increase and diversify sources of contributed income, including grant revenue, sponsorship, and contributions from individuals, by streamlining fundraising efforts through a combined annual appeal and membership program and comprehensive sponsorship packages for our business partners. Additional goals include cultivating new audiences through collaborative programming and comprehensive marketing initiatives and working with Colby College to advance plans for a new art center in the heart of downtown Waterville. All of WC!’s efforts are grounded in a shared vision to increase community access to and participation in outstanding arts and cultural programming.

Fundraising events/Opportunities

Waterville Creates! is leading a community capital campaign to raise $2 million in support of the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, a new, state-of-the-art facility that will include the relocation of the Maine Film Center’s Railroad Square Cinema with three film screening rooms and a permanent home for the Maine International Film Festival; the Common Street Arts gallery and clay studio; a new contemporary gallery of the Colby College Museum of Art; a rehearsal space for the Waterville Opera House that will also serve as a multi-purpose space for special events and receptions; a combined box office for the Maine Film Center, Waterville Opera House, and other arts institutions and partners; and flexible education spaces that can be used for film editing and new media, workshops, and lectures. There are numerous giving levels and naming opportunities available, and gifts may be made over a multi-year pledge period. More information is available at: www.downtownartscenter.org.

Giving Opportunities

Waterville Creates! works with businesses of all sizes to help them meet their community engagement goals through the sponsorship of arts and cultural events, like the high-profile Maine International Film Festival in July, which averages 7,000-9,000 admissions per year; the year-round theatrical productions and live performances at the Waterville Opera House; Waterville Rocks!, a free outdoor summer music series; and Art in the Park, a free outdoor artmaking program held in conjunction with the Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market. WC!’s latest sponsorship opportunity is a new, signature fundraiser, VARIETY!, a spectacular variety show designed to both highlight local talent and support the year-round programming of the Waterville Opera House, Maine Film Center, and Common Street Arts. WC! is also seeking sponsorship support for its unified arts education program for teens, SLICE (Students Learning Innovative Creative Endeavors), which highlights Waterville’s wide array of arts organizations and career paths in the arts and creative fields. Businesses interested in learning more about these and other opportunities are invited to contact Shannon Haines, president and CEO at shaines@watervillecreates.org or (207) 509-3367.

Volunteer Opportunities

Waterville Creates! and its partners offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, including opportunities for individuals to assist with exhibition installation, education programs, marketing initiatives, gallery sitting, research, and other special projects. WC! also welcomes business volunteer teams to assist with ticket taking, ushering, and other event management logistics.

Leadership

Shannon Haines: President & CEO
James LaLiberty: Board Chair; Partner, Jabar, LaLiberty, and Dubord, LLC

Board officers

Elizabeth Finch: Board Vice-Chair Lunder Curator of American Art, Colby College Museum of Art

Sno Barry: Board Treasurer; Principal, BerryDunn

Lori Roming: Board Secretary; Research and Program Officer, Unity Foundation


Board Members

Brian Clark: Vice President of Planning, Colby College

Donald Cragen: Professor of Sport Management and H. Allen Ryan School of Business Chair, Thomas College

John Dalton: President, Northern Light Inland Hospital

Buffy Higgins: Senior Director, Revenue Cycle, MaineGeneral Medical Center

Tammy Rabideau: Executive Director, Waterville Public Library

Larry Sterrs: Chairman & CEO, Unity Foundation

Debra Susi: Theatre Teacher, Maine Central Institute

At a glance

Established: 1996
Employees: 24
Annual revenue: $1,118,000

Top funding sources

Grants/foundations: 70%
Program income: 19%
Fee for service: 4%
Sponsorships/business contributions: 4%
Individual contributions/memberships: 3%

Contact

10 Water St. #106
Waterville, ME 04901
(207) 616-0292

www.watervillecreates.org
www.facebook.com/WatervilleCreates
www.twitter.com/WTVLCreates

Awards/Accolades

NEA Our Town Grant recipient: $75,000 for Castonguay Square redesign; one of three communities selected to participate in Kresge Foundation/EmcArts Arts in Complex Community Change workshops in 2018

Mission Statement

Waterville Creates! promotes, supports, and grows our community’s arts and cultural assets in order to strengthen Waterville as a vibrant creative center, increase access to creative opportunities for residents and visitors, and advance community and economic development goals.

Service Locations

Waterville and Greater Waterville area