PMA News: Maine Arts Commission awards major grant to the PMA
by Brian Arundel, Senior Manager of Grants, Foundations, and Government Relations
We’re excited to share that the PMA has been awarded a $15,000 Partnership Grant from the Maine Arts Commission.
The funding is unrestricted, which means that the museum may allocate it where it will make the most impact. Unrestricted grants and gifts are great ways to ensure that the PMA has the resources it needs to sustainably grow for years to come, and we’re grateful to the Maine Arts Commission for realizing the impact of their support.
The Maine Arts Commission is a dynamic state agency supporting Maine arts and culture through their grants and services. If you are not already familiar with the MAC, I encourage you to visit their website. It’s been a trying year for all of us, and the MAC realizes how vulnerable the arts are in a time of staying at home, prioritizing public safety, and encouraging civic responsibility.
The PMA will be using this grant to support our Art for All mission, working to build a more inclusive, welcoming, and accessible museum for all. You’ll see this grant at work in things like PMA Classroom, our digital education portal for schoolchildren and educators launching this October. You’ll see its impact through the more diverse didactic materials we’re collaborating on with community members across the state and country. You’ll even feel it as you walk through our galleries, supported by our new Department of Museum Experience and Safety, thanks to the trainings it will provide our staff. No matter how you PMA, the Maine Arts Commission Partnership Grant is going to be there, and we’re grateful for the opportunities it provides.
We at the PMA believe that our commitment to bringing people together through the transformative power of art is more important today than ever. As we all cope with these challenging times, the PMA will continue to be a cultural beacon for the Maine community and an inclusive and welcoming institution for all.
A native of Washington, DC, Brian Arundel worked for 15 years in the publishing industry and lived in 10 different states before transitioning to the nonprofit sector and settling in Maine in 2014. His writing has appeared in numerous publications that include the anthologies The Practice of Creative Writing, Best of Brevity and Contemporary Creative Nonfiction. An avid trail runner and ultramarathoner in denial of aging, Brian lives outside of Portland with his wife, Manuela.