Mission & History
Our Mission
The mission of Meetinghouse Arts is to cultivate Greater Freeport as a vibrant center for arts and culture by fostering creative collaborations, expanding access to arts and cultural resources, and amplifying the arts and culture as tools to economically strengthen, educate, and connect community.
Our History
The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Freeport (ACAF) was incorporated in June 2015. The board of directors includes representatives from arts groups and the business community, individual artists in various disciplines, and advocates for the arts and culture from the community at large.
2015
Following a year of interviews, research, and public meetings about Freeport’s needs and interests in the promotion, enhancement of, and access to arts and culture, the Freeport Arts & Cultural Alliance was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization. This would soon become Arts & Cultural Alliance of Freeport (ACAF) and, seven years later, Meetinghouse Arts.
2016
A website, newsletter and Facebook page dedicated to supporting the arts and promoting arts activities in Freeport were launched. Locations for a black box theater and possible gallery space were considered
2018
With the guidance of a consultant, hired with funding from both private donations and the Town, we created the Freeport Cultural Plan. Consistent with the findings in the Plan we continued to consider the possibility of creating an arts and cultural center with a stage and gallery.
2019
We began negotiations to lease the historic First Parish Church on Main St. and, enabled by an extensive capital campaign and major financial support from the Town, undertook an extensive project to update and preserve the 1895 Freeport meetinghouse structure. The remodeled space, called Meetinghouse Arts Gallery & Stage, now houses an art gallery and performance hall.
2021
On June 25, Meetinghouse Arts Gallery opened to the public with the debut show titled “A Community of Artists.” The show featured local visual artists working in a variety of media, a fitting start for this community-driven venue. Meetinghouse Arts Stage, a 182-seat performance hall, officially opened four months later with a gala opening weekend of events to showcase the new facility and thank all who had made it possible.
2022
In July 2022, ACAF officially changed its name to Meetinghouse Arts, adopted new branding and, thanks to a generous sponsorship from Bath Savings Institution, began work on a new website. The Gallery and Stage hosted local and touring visual and performing artists and cultural organizations to present, exhibit, learn, educate, and engage with residents and visitors to Freeport. A full season on the Stage, in the Gallery, and throughout town is scheduled for 2023.