AUGUSTA – The Maine Alliance for Arts Education and the Maine Community Foundation have announced the Maine Arts Teachers Fellowship Program, which supports personal artistic development of Maine kindergarten through grade 12 teachers in all arts disciplines.

The alliance anticipates awarding eight $5,000 fellowships for 2007.

It will accept preliminary project proposals until Nov. 17, after which selected applicants will be invited to apply for a fellowship. Application information for the fellowships is available at www.maineartseducation.org.

Through the program, theater, music, dance, visual art and creative writing teachers will have the opportunity to interact with professional artists in their fields.

“We hope to attract teachers who need to spend time and energy on their own artistic growth,” said Carol Trimble, alliance executive director.

The Surdna Foundation and individual MCF donors have provided the financial support to launch the program.