Waterfall Arts recently brought Giff Jamison of Harpswell on board as Executive Director of Operations. Giff comes to Waterfall Arts with 24 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Before joining WA, he was employed by Tedford Housing in Brunswick, Maine and served for the past five years as its Housing and Resources Director. During his time there, he helped grow the organization into a comprehensive network of supportive housing projects for people experiencing homelessness.

“We are pleased to be able to hire someone of Giff’s experience and skills to help WA grow and expand,” says Linda Buckmaster, Board President. “He has a strong understanding of what it takes to sustain and build a nonprofit. His fundraising success, strategic planning and facilities development experience, and ability to work with diverse groups of people will be a real addition to Waterfall Arts. ”

Giff moved to Maine in 2003 from Minneapolis, MN. There, he served as Executive Director of Simpson Housing Services for five years. He has served on a number of boards, and currently is President of the United Voice Community Land Trust, in Bath. Giff received his MA in Human Development from St. Mary’s University in 1997. As an artist and musician, Giff has performed as a singer/songwriter/guitarist in Maine and Minnesota and enjoys watercolor painting, scratchboard etching, and photography.

Bland Banwell, Jan Owen, Gail Savitz and Dominic Mercandante, all of Belfast, recently joined the Board of Directors at Waterfall Arts. They bring a wide range of experience to the organization.

Banwell is a fabric artist and musician, who served as president of the Camden Conference for the past two years. She will be chairing WA’s committee for its 2nd Annual Art + Nature Symposium to be held in November.

Jan Owen, who has served on the board of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and the Bangor Region Arts Council among other organizations, is a well-known calligrapher and book artist. She joins WA’s Programs Committee.

Savitz is a ceramic artist and has been involved with other local non-profit groups. She is a member of the program committee and is working on a fall auction. Mercandante, a Belfast-based architect and singer, has served on a number of non-profit boards, including the Blue Hill Concert Association. He is the new Board Secretary and serves on the Finances and Facilities committees.

“We are fortunate to have such talented people join the group,” says Buckmaster. “They will be key in helping us take our arts organization to the next level in its development and to build our long-term stability. Waterfall Arts is committed using the arts to help sustain the environment through the strong connections between art, nature and community.”

Waterfall Arts is now taking registrations for its 8th summer season of programs for adults and children at both its Montville Kingdom Falls and Belfast locations. For more information on all programs stop by 256 High Street, call 338-2222 or visit www.waterfallarts.org.