BETHEL – The Mahoosuc Arts Council and the Maine Arts Commission are hosting a creative economy forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 31. The forum will take place in the Trustees Auditorium of the McLaughlin Science Center on the Gould Academy campus in Bethel.

The event is free and open to all, including artists, musicians, sculptors, photographers, craftspeople, artisans, representatives of municipalities, chambers of commerce, economic development directors, businesses, nonprofits, the general public or any other interested stakeholders.

The Bethel forum is one of many being held regionally. The forums are being used to present the creative economy concept and to collect input from communities that will help inform the May 2004 Blaine House House Conference on the Creative Economy scheduled for May 6 and 7 at the Bates Mill Complex in Lewiston.

It will include open discussion about the promotion of creative economy initiatives in western Maine – how communities can forge links between art, culture, commerce and community to develop thriving creative economies. There will also be a showing of the film “Downside Up?” that documents the transformation of North Adams, Mass., as the state turned a large mill into a contemporary art museum.

For more information or to register – space is limited to 60 – contact Conni St. Pierre at 824-3246 or the Mahoosuc Arts office at 824-3575.