Arts & Culture - Maine's MidCoast & Islands

A special place that has inspired artists for generations

The natural and rugged beauty of MidCoast Maine has inspired the world of arts, culture, theatre, and music for generations. As you travel the region it’s easy to see why the unique landscape and coast has drawn so many renowned American artists to work and live here. The sheer remoteness of the islands and woods that attracted Winslow Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Andrew Wyeth continues to be seen in the creative energy of a new generation of artists.

The Farnsworth Art Museum – Rockland

Many of America’s greatest artists are on display including N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alex Katz, Marguerite Zorach, and Louis Nevelson. Their artwork is contrasted with new work from many of today’s contemporary Maine artists.

Center for Maine Contemporary Art – Rockland

The CMCA is the leading contemporary art museum in Maine. Designed by internationally-known architect, Toshiko Mori, the striking, glass-enclosed space features the work of artists connected to Maine. The CMCA also has community ties through its work with local kids.

The Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) in Rockland, Maine — The CMCA in Rockland, Maine

Bowdoin College Museum of Art exterior, Brunswick, Maine — Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, Maine

Bowdoin College Museum of Art – Brunswick

Free to the public year-round, the museum has one of the most comprehensive art collections of any university in the nation. With rare antiquities, innovative media, and contemporary works by artists from around the world, the museum is a showcase for creativity and learning.

Historic Theatres

Check your calendar and plan on attending a performance or film at one of our historic theaters. The Boothbay Opera House hosts actors and musicians from around the globe and presents over 100 performances annually. The Maine State Music Theater “Brings Broadway to Brunswick” through a series of popular mainstage musicals and music concerts. In Rockland, the Strand Theater is a rare example of Egyptian Revival architecture, opened in 1923.

Boothbay Opera House exterior in Boothbay, Maine, photo by Frank Grace — Boothbay Opera House, photo by Frank Grace

Monhegan Island

Sitting just 10 miles off the coast, Monhegan is known for being home to a thriving artists’ colony. Big names in American art, like George Bellows and Edward Hopper, were among the hundreds who have painted the island’s rocky cliffs and omnipresent seagulls. Find local art on display at several galleries in the village, or visit the Monhegan Museum of Art & History , open seasonally.

There’s So Much To Do In The MidCoast