GARDINER - The Maine Crafts Association's new Center for Maine Craft is recruiting Maine craft artists interested in selling, exhibiting or promoting their craft work.

The center is a 2500-square-foot retail, exhibition, education and tourism space for Maine Craft, being built by the Maine Turnpike Authority at the new West Gardiner Travel Plaza on the turnpike and interstate.

The Maine Crafts Association, a nonprofit arts organization promoting Maine craft for more than 25 years, has a lease to operate the center. It will be open in November.

"The goal of the center is to show the public the high quality and variety of Maine craft, encourage travel to artists' studios and galleries throughout the state, and increase recognition of Maine's world renowned craft education institutions, like Haystack Mountain School of Crafts," said Tracy Michaud Stutzman, executive director of the Mine Crafts Association.

Craft work will be purchased for resale at the center, some craft artists will be offered consignment arrangements, and others will be offered demonstration and promotional opportunities.

Artists working in all craft mediums and at all price levels are encouraged to contact the MCA and sign up for a jury session in order to take advantage of the opportunity. Jury sessions will be:

Saturday June 7, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern Maine Development Corp., 40 Harlow St., Bangor.

Friday June 13, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Maine Arts Commission, 193 State St., Augusta.

Saturday June 28, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Maine College of Art, 522 Congress St., Portland (tentatively).

For more information or to sign up for a jury session, contact www.mainecrafts.org, info@mainecrafts.org or 564-0041. Jury sessions are free to MCA professional members, $10 for MCA general members and $65 for nonmembers. Juries will take place in person on a first-come, first-serve basis.