AUGUSTA – The Maine Arts Commission has announced that 11 arts organizations from across the state will share $190,500 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts for the fiscal year 2009. The funding includes Access to Artistic Excellence and Challenge America Fast Track grants.

Grantees are Alice James Poetry Cooperative, the Bangor Folk Festival, Bates College, Brunswick Area Arts and Cultural Alliance, Friends of Art and Film in Central Maine, Portland Concert Association, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Stage Company, the Abbe Museum, the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and the Farnsworth Art Museum.

Alice James Poetry Cooperative of Farmington was awarded $35,000 to support the publication and promotion of books of poetry. The selected poets will also read from their works at venues around the country.

Bates College received $20,000 to support artists residencies as part of the 2009 annual Bates Dance Festival. Bates Dance Festival Building a Global Dance Community will include the Bebe Miller Company, Battleworks, Tania Isaac Dance, Kate Weare Company and Camille Brown.

The Brunswick Area Arts and Cultural Alliance received $10,000 to support the promotion of arts and cultural activities in southern midcoast Maine. The Five Rivers Arts Alliance will work in partnership with the Maine Office of Tourism and cultural organizations such as Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Chocolate Church Arts Center and Maine Fiberarts to promote cultural activities in the region’s 12 midcoast Maine communities.

Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture Inc. was awarded $15,000 to support a residency program for emerging visual artists. Artists will be provided a private studio, full room and board, and weekly private and group critiques by a faculty of leading professional artists.