umAINE aRTS iNITIATIVE
A transformative and coordinated community of researchers and educators that in partnership with community collaborators and other stakeholders are dedicated to societal wellbeing and its advancement in Maine and beyond, through all forms of the arts and creative activity, from visual and fine arts, to music, creative writing, and performing art.

UMAI Seed Grant Funding Available
New seed grant opportunity. Applications due December 15, 2025. Additional information is available online.
About
The University of Maine Arts Initiative is a collaborative of faculty, administrators, staff, and students committed to the principle that the arts play an integral role in public research institutions. We seek to increase resources and support for the arts in order to reinforce their significance and enhance their visibility on campus and beyond. Through innovative and interdisciplinary collaborations we seek to build a diverse, inclusive, sustainable, and equitable community of art researchers, practitioners, supporters, and promoters.
Our steering committee is made up of representatives from the visual, literary, and performing arts and University of Maine’s museums, galleries, and performing arts venues.
Mission
The University of Maine Arts Initiative advances the integral role of the arts in enriching the lives of individuals and communities through the creation, experience, research, and enjoyment of the arts.
Vision
To make the University of Maine a leader in promoting and supporting the arts and arts research.
Goals
Arts in the News
- Scholars, journalists and fans have always yearned to know what drives a given author’s creative process — how they shape nebulous ideas into best-selling books […]
- This story originally appeared in the MAINE Alumni Magazine, published twice yearly by the University of Maine Alumni Association. Ron Lisnet and Julie Arnold Lisnet’s […]
- Lord Hall Gallery at the University of Maine is opening the Department of Art’s 2026 Student Exhibition. It will run from April 6 through May […]
- The Bangor Daily News, WABI (Channel 5 in Bangor), the Portland Press Herald and The Boston Globe reported on actor and Class of 2001 alumnus […]
- From anatomical portraits to water lilies, science has been brought to life through paintings, sketches and sculptures for centuries. Leonardo Da Vinci wasn’t only an […]
- WABI (Channel 5 in Bangor) reported on a concert at the University of Maine that featured more than 200 high school chorus students from across […]
Questions?
Email research@maine.edu.
