About Aroostook Creative Network: The Aroostook Creative Network provides micro-grants up to $500 maximum to individual artists who live and work in Aroostook County, Maine. Artists may use micro-grant funding to help create new or existing work, enhance their artistic skills or abilities, participate in opportunities that will benefit their career, and improve their ability to share their art with the public. Funding is made possible by the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. The program is administered by the Wintergreen Arts Center.
Micro-Grants for Artists
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Applications Open: March 20, 2025
Deadline: May 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Maximum Award: $500
Required Match: None
Award Cycle: July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026
Grant application here or scan the QR code
Aroostook Creative Network provides micro-grants up to $500 maximum to individual artists who live and work in Aroostook County, Maine. Artists may apply for micro-grants to help create new or existing work, enhance their artistic skills or abilities, participate in opportunities that will benefit their career, and improve their ability to share their art with the public. This grant program has limited funds.
The micro-grant program is administered by Wintergreen Arts Center. Applications will be reviewed by a review panel of community-based artists and arts/cultural advocates from southern, central, and northern Aroostook County. Funding was made possible by the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
CRITERIA
- Applicants must be 18 years or older.
- Projects must take place between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
Ineligible Expenses:
- Debt or loan repayment
- Equipment purchases over $5,000
- Home office or home studio rent and expenses
- Activities and courses for which undergraduate or graduate level education is given
- Projects that support or oppose a particular political party or candidate for public office
- Projects that are exclusive to members of a particular religious faith group
HOW TO APPLY
For information and help with applications, contact Dottie Hutchins, Wintergreen Arts Center at wintergreenarts@gmail.com or 207-462-1313. DEADLINE for applying is MAY 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Supporting Material
To include images, sound, videos, or writing samples to support your application, please send the following:
| Uploads | File Type | Format and Tips | How Many? |
| Images | JPG, PNG, PDF | No larger than 3MB Images will be viewed digitally and not printed | Up to three images |
| Audio | MP3 | Include only material intended for panel review | Up to three audio files |
| Writing Samples | 12pt, Times New Roman font | Up to three writing samples |
For Videos – Please upload only (MP4, WMV, YouTube, Vimeo), 3-5 minutes max. in length.
REVIEW PROCESS
Submitted applications are first reviewed by staff for completion, eligibility, and funding guidelines. Applications are then reviewed by a panel of arts and culture professionals from all parts of Aroostook County. Panelists will review, discuss, and score each application.
AWARD PROCESS
If your application is funded, you enter into a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with Wintergreen Arts Center. You must comply with all requirements stated in that agreement. Your award money will be mailed to you by late July 2025. You may need to pay costs upfront with your own money and then be reimbursed when you receive payment.
All applicants are notified, whether approved or declined, by email. If you receive an award, you will also receive future emails with next steps.
REPORTING
Awardees are required to submit a report on how your grant helped you and any additional details you’d like to share with us. Questions will be sent to awardees. The final report date is May 15, 2026. A final report is a requirement to apply and receive funding for the next round of micro-grants.
PROCESS TO CALCULATE SCORES
Criteria
- Merit and Impact – 50%
How the project will support and positively impact the artist’s goals and practice in meaningful and clearly identified ways. As expressed through the answers to question #4 and question #5.
- Artistic Excellence – 25%
As demonstrated in skills and techniques, the artist’s creative process shows a unique vision or perspective, and the work is meaningful and has clearly identified ways to an intended audience. As expressed through the answers to question # 2, question #4, and supporting uploads.
- Planning – 25%
How it relates to the proposed project, partners/collaborators involved, the budget, and goals with clear descriptions and details of the outcome. Plus, details provided that helps make a convincing case that this project will succeed. As expressed through the answers to question #1 (a and b) and question #3.
GRANT APPLICATION
“It has been exciting to witness Aroostook County artists of all disciplines come together as a result of this micro-grant program. Now in its third year offering micro-grant opportunities, the Aroostook Creative Network is such a success in engaging and supporting Aroostook County artists.”
Sheila Jans of Madawaska, regional development director for the Maine Arts Commission
