RUMFORD – The Foothills Arts Center invites community members to participate in fall songwriting workshops and the Continental Harmony Community Chorus and Youth Chorus.

The “Songs and Stories of the Foothills” project is designed to bring people from area towns together to make friends as they create, sing and perform. Beginners and all levels of experience are welcome. The workshop leaders and chorus conductor are experienced, professional musicians who enjoy stimulating the creativity of adults and youth of all ages.

People from any town can join any combination of workshops and the choruses in the list below. The ages listed for each workshop and the choruses are flexible. For information about fees, for details and to sign up, contact director Anne Geller or assistant Helen Gray at 778-0448 or www.foothillsarts.org. Scholarships are available.

In celebration of its 15th anniversary, the center is opening an office in downtown Farmington as the first step in establishing a community arts center.

The Songs and Stories Project is a celebration of all that the people of Western Maine have created in Foothills’ programs over the years. The Continental Harmony Choruses will sing songs from past Foothills’ original musicals as well as new songs that people write at the workshops.

The center is a nonprofit community organization that brings together children and adults, artists and audiences of Western Maine to share the arts in an atmosphere that encourages learning, exploration and collaboration.

Since the writing of its first original musical, “Voices of the River,” in the Jay area in 1994, the center has become known for leading community members in workshops, rehearsals and performances that tell the stories of local people and events through musical styles as varied as country and jazz.

The Songs and Stories of the Foothills project is funded in part by the Maine Community Foundation Western Mountains Fund.

Events are as follows:

Rumford, Sept. 8, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: River Valley History-in-Song Workshop. For adults and youth ages 13 and up, at Scrappers Domaine, Canal Street, downtown. Turn local history into song, led by singer/songwriter Martin Swinger.

Farmington, Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m.: songwriting workshops, “Songs of Personal History.” First in a four-week series, Foothills Arts Center, 138 Pleasant St., Suite 2. Turn thoughts and stories into rhyme, rhythm and melody. Instructor, singer/songwriter Martin Swinger. For adults and youth ages 13 and up.

Jay, Saturday, Sept. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m.: “French Storytelling and Songwriting,” for adults and youth ages 8 to 18. French speakers and non-French speakers welcome. Grandparents are encouraged to bring their grandchildren to share the celebration of Franco-American culture. Instructors Steve Muise and Rob Sylvain of the Franco-American band, Boral Tordu.

Jay, Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon: “Songwriting for Kids, ” ages 3 to 7. Songwriting, musical games. Instructor, Sara Condit Dean, St. Rose Parish Hall, Church Street.

Farmington, Thursday, Sept. 23, from 6:30 to 7 p.m.: First rehearsal of Continental Harmony Youth Chorus (grades four to eight), and from 7 to 9 p.m., Continental Harmony Community Chorus (adults and youth grades four and up). Conducted by Dan Woodward. First rehearsal at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church. Weekly rehearsals to alternate between there and Jay-Niles Library, North Jay. Concerts will be in Jay, Rumford and Strong Nov. 19 to 21.