RUMFORD – The Maine Arts Commission will host a regional meeting for community arts leaders in Western Maine at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, at the Rumford Public Library.

Community arts leaders, regional business owners, municipal representatives and interested members of the public are all welcome.

The discussions are designed to provide local community arts leaders with an opportunity to learn more about the Maine Arts Commission’s new program for building the capacity for the arts in Maine communities. Agency staff will also discuss plans for a statewide local arts conference in the fall.

Keith Ludden, community and traditional arts associate at the Maine Arts Commission, will discuss the outline of the new capacity building program, highlighting its goals, guidelines and reviewing results from the first round of applications.

Ludden will distribute some examples of successful applications that serve to demonstrate models likely to succeed in the application process.

The Maine Arts Commission seeks input on needs and topics to be covered during workshops at the statewide conference. A portion of the meeting will be devoted to discussing the role of the arts in social and economic community development strategies.

There is no fee for attending. Persons interested in attending can contact Ludden, 287-2713 or [email protected].

The Maine Arts Commission is a state agency, building Maine communities through the arts. The agency conducts all of its programs in accessible spaces.

Those who require special accommodations to participate should call 287-2724 voice or 287-2360 TTY.