FAQ

Offices:

The administrative offices are open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, all year. When galleries are closed, please call before coming to ensure someone will be here: 207.236.2875.

 

Where are you located?

Our street address is 162 Russell Avenue, which is in downtown Rockport. For your convenience, we have provided detailed directions in the Visiting section of our Web site. 

 

Rockport is located approximately two hours south of Bar Harbor and one hour north of Bath. Downtown Rockport is between Rockland and Camden, just off US Route 1.

 

Do you charge admission?

Admission is by donation; members are free. CMCA is a nonprofit organization and donations are gratefully accepted to further our mission of advancing contemporary art in Maine.

 

Who works there?

CMCA is run by a small professional staff working closely together to ensure that it remains a central component in Maine’s vibrant contemporary art scene. Each employee is deeply and personally committed to the mission of the Center for Maine Contemporary Art.

 

How did CMCA get started?

In 1952, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art began as Maine Coast Artists, a small artists’ cooperative. Since then, it has evolved into the state’s leading institution for the advancement of contemporary Maine art. We changed our name and logo to reflect the statewide scope of our activities. By making new connections and keeping old ones, CMCA has built a strong base of supporters that spans generations and interests, making our institution the diverse and respected place it has come to be.

 

Do you have a permanent collection, like a museum? Or do you represent artists, like a gallery?

We do not function exactly like a museum or a gallery. We do not have a permanent collection and do not represent individual artists. Instead, CMCA shows temporary exhibitions that are either curated or juried and reflect the choices of trained art professionals without commercial considerations. Our exhibitions are meant to nurture public understanding and appreciation of traditional and nontraditional artistic expression and to provide exposure to both emerging and well-established artists.

 

What kind of art do you show?

Our specialty is contemporary art of all media made by artists who live or have lived in Maine, either part-time or year-round, or who have studied or have other strong connections to the state. Occasionally we include work by artists without a connection to Maine in group exhibitions, but only when doing so enhances the exhibition. Many of our exhibitions broaden notions about what art is and break established boundaries among different forms of artistic expression.

 

Do you sell art?

Yes. We are a nonprofit institution, not a commercial gallery, and the choice of artwork to be displayed is unencumbered by commercial interests, but we provide artists with the opportunity to sell the art that is on view in CMCA's galleries. In return, we retain a small commission for every successful sale to help support our programming.

 

I’m an artist. How do I submit work for review?

While exhibitions are determined solely by the director or visiting curator, CMCA welcomes materials from artists with strong ties to Maine for review. 

 

Submissions, which should fit into an envelope no larger than 9" x 12", should include the following materials:

 

Please mail your materials to:

 

Artist Submissions

CMCA

PO Box 147

Rockport, ME 04856

 

Unfortunately, we are not able to return materials because of the large number of submissions we receive, nor are can we be responsible for materials we receive. We will contact you if your work meets the needs of our exhibition scheduling. Thank you for not contacting us regarding the status of your submission.

 

In addition, we send out Calls to Artists for selected exhibitions. You can receive Calls to Artists by subscribing to our email newsletter for artists or by checking the Opportunities for Artists section on our Web site.

 

How can I show my support for CMCA?

Visiting our gallery and telling others about your experience are easy and valuable ways to show your support. We also appreciate contributions in the form of memberships, donations of cash or in-kind gifts, or volunteered time. You can find more information about ways to contribute on the Support, Membership, and Volunteer Opportunities pages of our Web site.

 

How can I volunteer?

The Volunteer section of this Web site has information about how to sign up to volunteer at CMCA. We need volunteers to operate our front desk and Gallery Shop, help with exhibition openings and educational events, and assist with mailings and many other integral aspects of CMCA.

 

What are the benefits of becoming a member?

There are many benefits to membership. Please check our Membership page for more information.