BSO Receives $10,000 Grant from Maine Community Foundation

Bangor, ME — The Bangor Symphony Orchestra recently received a generous $10,000 grant from the Haskell-Stetson Fund for Penobscot County of the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) to support its first full season of programming at the Bangor Arts Exchange in the historic Nichols Block in downtown Bangor.

In September 2017, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra moved its administrative offices to 189-193 Exchange Street. In addition to new offices, the space has a grand ballroom and gallery for rehearsals, special events, and educational performances. Joined by local arts non-profits Launchpad and Bangor Ballet, the space is billed as the Bangor Arts Exchange, a new community arts and event center that will revitalize an important piece of Bangor history.

“Over the last 10 months, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and our partners have worked hard to move in and get this historic space up and running again” said Executive Director Brian Hinrichs. “This grant from the Maine Community Foundation now allows us to focus on providing exciting, accessible programming and explore new ways to serve the community out of this intimate, downtown venue.”

The BSO’s programming at the Bangor Arts Exchange will include free KinderConcerts targeting children ages 3 to 8, with the first of the season taking place on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 4 p.m. Performances and events throughout the year will also include holiday concerts in December; the Leonard Bernstein Centennial Film Series; a Valentine’s Day Cabaret; the BSO Deep Dives Lecture Series; a youth chamber music concert; and more to be announced.

The first activity supported by this grant is a community listening session on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 5:30 p.m., where the public is invited to share ideas for the future of the Bangor Arts Exchange and their experiences with the venue thus far.  The conversation will be moderated by Laura Mitchell, of LM Strategy and Starboard Leadership Consulting in Bangor.

With offices in Ellsworth and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation works with donors and other partners improve the quality of life for all Maine people. To learn more about the foundation, visit mainecf.org.

For more information about the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, please visit www.bangorsymphony.org or call (207) 942-5555.