RUMFORD – The Western Oxford Foothills Cultural Council held its first meeting as a certified nonprofit on March 16.

The council’s mission is to support cultural activity in all its forms, which was reflected in the varied nature of participants and presentations.

The meeting had many purposes, said Executive Director Toni Seger. “We brought together community leaders from all over western Maine who are active in the creative economy, but weren’t aware of each other.”

Becky Welsh of River Valley Healthy Communities talked about the positive effect of Pennacook Gallery on Rumford’s downtown and how its success is transforming the appearance and attitudes of Rumford residents.

“Two new restaurants have opened because of the gallery and, more importantly, people in Rumford have discovered there are talented artists living among them. It’s really given us a new sense of pride,” she said.

Henry Hamilton, manager of the Maine Wildlife Park, Route 26 in Gray, talked about developing a wildlife gallery at the park this summer. “We had over 112,000 people visit the park last year. No conventional gallery could ever achieve that traffic. Here’s an opportunity to offer something new at the park and, at the same time, draw people into art who would never encounter it, otherwise,” Hamilton said.

Chandler also described a new and inexpensive opportunity for artists’ studios at the Blake House, the original parsonage of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Main Street, Norway. Chandler conducts art classes there and has arranged for other studios as well as space for art therapy. For more information, phone 743-8033.