PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Wintergreen Arts Center has received a grant that will allow it to pay for a new art director to take over at the 149 State Street facility, following the departure earlier this year of Lara Cannon, the center’s founder, president and first director.
Cannon’s departure came about as the result of her family’s decision to move from the area.
“Wintergreen Arts Center has received a grant in the amount of $25,000, awarded by the Quimby Family Foundation, which will go toward the salary of our new executive director of the center, Wendy Gilman Zubrick,” said Robbin Sawyer, vice president, who’s been serving as interim executive director.
Sawyer said officials with the local art center are honored to be selected to receive the grant.
“We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Quimby Family for its generosity to Wintergreen, in particular, and the arts, in general. This grant and the hiring of Wendy will enable us to continue to expand our programs and fulfill our mission of bringing affordable art to Aroostook County residents of all ages,” she said.
Officials initially had no idea how they were going to fill the void left by Cannon, since she had volunteered her services and the nonprofit organization did not have the funds necessary to pay someone full-time.
“As you will remember, Lara Cannon, founder of Wintergreen Arts Center, president and volunteer executive director, moved from the area this past spring. We were able to hire Wendy, with the hope that fund-raising and grant writing efforts would procure the monies for her salary, which they now have,” said Sawyer.
The new director assumes her role this week.
“Wendy will officially begin at Wintergreen on Monday, Aug. 15, with regular business hours during August of Monday-Thursday, 9-11 a.m. and 12-4 p.m.,” said Sawyer, inviting the public to “visit Wintergreen, meet Wendy, and keep your eye on Wintergreen Arts Center as we increase our current programming and offer new, affordable classes.”
For more information, visit www.wintergreenarts.org and sign up for the free monthly newsletter, featuring new information as it becomes available, or call 762-3576.
