The Maine Arts Commission announced Tuesday it had committed $75,000 in cultural development funding to Lewiston-Auburn to help develop public art programs and policies.

The Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce was awarded a Creative Communities=Economic Development Implementation Grant on behalf of Lewiston and Auburn.

The grant, according to the Maine Arts Commission, “supports and stimulates initiatives in Maine’s arts and culture sector.”

The $75,000 will be distributed over three years.

The Maine Arts Commission said the L-A chamber of commerce,, with the assistance of L/A Arts, Arts and Culture LA and the municipalities of Lewiston and Auburn, will use the funding to “develop public art programs and policies in the Twin Cities.”

“The LA Metro Chamber is eager to pull the people of the Twin Cities together to pursue the ambitious programs of Cultural Plan LA, beginning with the exciting installation of public artworks,” said Rebecca Swanson Conrad, president and CEO of the LA Metro Chamber.

The CCED grant will also provide $75,000 to Main Street Skowhegan, a nonprofit organization that focuses on the revitalization of downtown Skowhegan.

“Both of these regions have worked so hard to get here,” said Julie Richard, executive director of the Maine Arts Commission.

“Their Cultural Plans are wonderful guides to move their work forward and we anticipate that the projects they have chosen to work on will provide excellent catalysts for economic success for their communities.”

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net