Maine Art Museums Welcome Visitors for Summer 2021 Season Brenda Bonneville, editor May 31, 2021 The nine members of The Maine Art Museum Trail announce plans for opening to the public for Summer 2021. Summer in Maine will, once again, include in-person visits to the state’s nine collecting art institutions, the members of The Maine Art Museum Trail. Due to COVID-19 each museum was forced to close its doors for part of–and in some cases all of–2020. “Museums throughout Maine are ready and eager to welcome back summer visitors and year-round residents alike. While a few of us have been able to keep our doors open with strict COVID-19 procedures in place, having the full membership of The Maine Art Museum Trail with plans to open feels like the cultural fabric that unites Maine–from Kittery to Bangor–is back and stronger than ever,” says Farnsworth Art Museum Director Christopher Brownawell. “Though we have been fortunate to remain open for students, faculty and staff at Colby, we have dearly missed those occasions to also gather, in person, with our broader communities. ‘Free and open to all’ is our motto, and I am thrilled to open our doors wide to everyone on June 4,” said Jacqueline Terrassa, Carolyn Muzzy Director of the Colby Museum. The following museums are currently open to the public: Zillman Museum of Art (Bangor), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), and Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland). Other Museum Schedules Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville) will be open to the public June 4, Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston) on June 14, and Monhegan Museum of Art & History on June 24. The Abbe Museum (Bar Harbor) and Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick) will have details forthcoming about their public openings. COVID-19 protocols are in place at each museum according to the recommendations of the Maine CDC and individual institutions may have additional requirements for visitors. To engage art enthusiasts and motivate visitation plans for the Summer 2021 season, The Maine Art Museum Trail hosted a Spring 2021 Digital Program Series that explored the notion of “making a home” and what that means for institutions and the communities they exist within, bringing to light the stories that have not been told and reflect on the changing museum field. In addition to guest speakers like Maulian Dana (Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador) and Zoe Sahloul (Founder and Executive Director of the New England Arab American Organization), the Executive Directors of each member institution spoke on the topic. Recordings will be available on www.maineartmuseums.org. About The Maine Art Museum Trail Follow the trail that has the best views in Maine! The Maine Art Museum Trail offers an art-guided journey throughout Maine. With more than 80,000 works of art—from ancient artifacts and world-famous masterpieces, to contemporary Maine artists and unique, awe-inspiring installations—the 9 collecting art museums of Maine showcase an impressive diversity of artists, subjects, and media. There is something for every art lover at every stop along the trail. Members of The Maine Art Museum Trail include: Abbe Museum (Bar Harbor), Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Monhegan Museum of Art & History (Monhegan Island), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and Zillman Art Museum (Bangor).
