Maine College of Art has many opportunities for its alumni. There are cost-saving benefits, MECA-only residency opportunities, alumni exhibitions, and preferred access to a variety of resources.
MECA degree-holding alumni are eligible for a suite of benefits including the following:
- 30% discount on MECA Continuing Studies classes
- Discounts on homeowners and auto insurance through Liberty Mutual Insurance
Company - Access to MECA-only residency opportunities
- Borrowing privileges at the Joanne Waxman Library
- Eligibility for alumni biennial exhibitions
- Inclusion in MECA’s alumni directory
- MECA email account
- Access to Career Resource Center
- Consideration for a half tuition matching scholarship at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
Grant
Belvedere Fund for Professional Development
Alumni working in the field of crafts who hold a BFA degree and have graduated within the last ten years are eligible to apply. Grants of up to $1,500 will be awarded through a competitive review process.
Residencies
Baie Ste Marie Artist & Family Residency
New Edinburgh, Nova Scotia CANADA
The family of Barbara Rita Jenny (MFA'02) established the MECA Baie Ste Marie Artist & Family Residency in 2008. Located in New Edinburgh, Nova Scotia, the Baie Ste Marie Residency is open to Maine College of Art alumni, current faculty and staff. This residency is not only distinguished by its incomparable location on the rugged Atlantic Coast of Canada, but because residents may bring their families to stay in the large house on site.
Stephen Pace House Residency
Stonington, Maine
Artist Stephen Pace and his wife, Palmina, gave their Indian Point home and studio overlooking Stonington Harbor to Maine College of Art in 2007 to be used as an artist residency and gallery. We are pleased to be able to offer Maine College of Art alumni, faculty and staff residency opportunities during the spring, summer and fall months at the Pace House.
MFA Alumni Residency
The MFA Alumni Residency is designed to bring a small group of alumni back to Maine each summer. Running congruent to the MFA Summer Intensive, alumni return to the MECA studios for 5 weeks to engage in an intensive on campus experience.
Don’t forget to review the Alliance of Artist Communities web site for other residency opportunities.
MECA strives to keep alumni apprised of opportunities for fellowships and grants. Follow the links below for resources, grants and fellowship opportunities.
Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
Alliance for Artist Communities
Biennial
The MECA Alumni Biennial takes place in September in the ICA at MECA every other year. This themed exhibition is curated by three distinguished jurors and features the work of three to five BFA and MFA alumni.
MECA Painters: 10 Years Later
Each January, Maine College of Art organizes an exhibition of work by alumni who graduated with a painting degree 10 years ago.
Print Project
Annual on-campus printmaking weekend open to all degree-holding alumni with printmaking experience
Holiday Sale
Annual sale of affordable handmade gifts, held in the Porteous Building.
Then & Now
A juried exhibition at Rose Contemporary featuring the work of students and alumni investigating furniture in all mediums or working sculpturally with wood, held in conjunction with the 2012 Furniture Society Conference hosted at Maine College of Art.
Maine College of Art’s Annual Art Auction raises essential funds for student scholarships through the sale of a diverse presentation of artwork and services donated by local and nationally known artists, MECA students, faculty and alumni.
For more information, please visit auction.MECA.edu.
A note to Alumni:
Over the years, Maine College of Art’s Annual Art Auction has raised essential funds for student scholarships through the sale of a diverse presentation of artwork and services donated by local and nationally known artists, MECA students, faculty and alumni. The Auction has become one of the most anticipated events of the fall.
In order to present the best possible event, over the last several years the Auction Committee has refined the process, moving from an open call for art juried by the Committee, to participation by invitation only. This has led to an improved balance of rotating artists and range of work, ensuring that the Auction continues to function as a successful fundraiser.
Our invitation list always includes many alumni, but in order to guarantee that all MECA alumni have an opportunity to be considered for this event, we are inviting alumni to submit work for review. The Auction Committee will review your submission and we will inform you if you are invited to participate in the Auction.
- Email 3-5 digital images (1MB or less per image please) and a resume with your complete contact information (PDF or Word format) to auction@MECA.edu.
- Please indicate in your email the general price range of your work, the size and if you would like your work added to our alumni archive as well.
- The Auction Committee will review your work and make decisions based on a range of criteria, which includes quality of work, appropriateness of work to the event, and space limitations (see enclosed).
- Work may be submitted any time throughout the year, but the review deadline for participation in the 2011 event is AUGUST 1, 2011. Submissions received after that date will be reviewed the following year.
The 37th Annual Art Auction will take place at the Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA on Saturday November 5, 2011.
MECA values its alumni and hopes you will be able to participate in this important fundraising event. Please contact Annie Wadleigh, Administrative Associate for Advancement, at awadleigh@MECA.edu or 207.699.5015 with any questions you may have about this process.