Portland, Maine—The Creative Portland Corporation and the Portland Arts and Cultural Alliance (PACA) announce the appointment of Jennifer Hutchins as full-time executive director, serving both organizations as of December 1, 2010. The hire follows several years of planning by Portland businesses, cultural institutions, artists and city officials to invest in the development and promotion of the city’s creative economy.

“This announcement caps a very successful year for both organizations,” said Andy Graham, Creative Portland board president and owner of Portland Color. “By combining our resources, we want to promote and expand Portland’s creative community and attract talented, motivated people who want to live, work, and set up shop in this exciting, beautiful coastal city.”

Hutchins is currently the director of communications and external affairs for the USM Muskie School and is a co-author of the seminal study, “Maine’s Creative Economy: Measurement and Analysis,” conducted by the Muskie School for Governor John Baldacci’s inaugural Blaine House Summit on the Creative Economy in 2004. Previously, she has been marketing director of Portland Stage Company and an Artsave representative for People For the American Way in Washington D.C.

Since its start in 2008, Creative Portland—made up of representatives of Portland businesses, arts organizations, and independent artists—has raised private financial support from over 20 individuals, corporations, and foundations, won a “Bright Idea” award from Harvard’s Kennedy School for its Creative Economy Tax Increment Financing, and launched two websites — LiveWorkPortland.org and CreativePortland.me — designed to lure highly-skilled people and creative businesses to the city.

Now a subsidiary of Creative Portland, PACA organizes Portland’s nationally-recognized First Friday Art Walk and this year inaugurated summertime trolleys shuttling attendees to art spaces throughout the city. PACA has organized and supported many programs during its 25-year history, including Creative Conversations in collaboration with SPACE Gallery, and research initiatives with the Maine Arts Commission and Americans for the Arts.

“Hiring Jennifer really takes us to the next level,” said Alice Kornhauser, PACA board president and director of marketing and communications at the Portland Symphony Orchestra. “Volunteer support from artists, businesses, community members and organizations continues to be critically important, but a full-time executive director will allow us to focus our combined efforts in a whole new way.”

Creative Portland is a non-profit established by the City of Portland in 2008 to capitalize upon and grow Portland’s creative economy. More information is available at www.liveworkportland.com. In 1997, PACA was designated Portland’s local arts agency by City Council resolution. Its mission is to strengthen Portland by strengthening the arts. More information is available at www.portlandarts.org.

Board Secretary Virginia Rose commented, “With so many new venues across Portland, we are hoping to make travel between downtown and Munjoy Hill easier, and bring more art walk participants across the Franklin Artery in style.”

The trolley will run, free of charge, making stops along the following route: Longfellow Square, Congress Square, Monument Square, Washington Avenue & Congress Street, India Street & Middle Street, Exchange Street & Middle Street. For more information about Portland Discovery Land & Sea Tours, see their website: www.portlanddiscovery.com.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

A recent Portland Press Herald article shares some information about the initiative.

Read the Full Article Here

“This is a new frontier on how to use TIF money,” said City Councilor David Marshall. “The intent is to use it for the public good, and I really believe that using TIFs for arts and cultural purposes gets to the heart of the public good.” (Portland Press Herald)

April 13 @ 7pm – Spring Networking Event with Maine VLA
Location: Constellation Art, 511 Congress Street, Portland
Doors open at 6:30pm

May 11th @ 7pm – Marketing through Technology
Location: SALT
Doors open at 6:30pm

May 19th @ 6pm – The Creative Economy: Then and Now
Location: Maine Historical Society
Doors open at 5:30pm

June 6th @ Noon-2:30pm – Workshop for Artists
Location: Space
Doors open at 11:30pm

Creative Conversations is a way to connect creative individuals: to each other, to organizations, to information, to opportunities. Sponsored by the Portland Arts & Cultural Alliance and Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in partnership with Constellation Art, this meeting focuses on providing a networking opportunity for artists and members of the creative community. Additionally, Maine VLA’s Zeke Callanan will present an overview of the support available for legal needs of artists and creative businesses. Join us for this lively event moderated by MECA’s Jessica Tomlinson. Light refreshments will be served. Don’t forget to bring your business cards!

Creative Conversations takes place at SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St.; doors open at 6:30, event starts at 7 pm. This event is free and open to the public.  We look forward to seeing you there!

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Creative Conversations Schedule:

• September 23rd
• October 21st
• November 18th

Saturday, June 28, 2008
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Space Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland
Cost: $10 includes lunch for pre-registrants. Scholarships available.

A collaboration of the College Art Association, Maine Arts Commission, Maine College of Art, Portland Arts and Cultural Alliance and Space Gallery.