Our Community
Lincoln Street Center for the Arts
Community Statement of Support
I support the Lincoln Street Center for the Arts (LSCA) efforts to permanently preserve and protect Lincoln Street Center as an arts and performance community space.
Located in Rockland's historic high school at 24 Lincoln Street, Lincoln Street Center is the city's only artist building, the largest in our region, and home to one of the oldest, still-standing theatres in the nation. Lincoln Street Center is a beloved building and creative gem.
The arts are deeply woven into Rockland's character and economy—integral to its identity and future vitality. Without artists, there is no art. It is critically important that we preserve the more than 30 studio spaces housed here and ensure that the 300-seat theatre and event space that it is home to is not lost to development.
“To me, Lincoln St. Center is about Louise Nevelson,
and what I call, the "Creative Womb."
“Lincoln Street Center is an integral part of my work life and creative community.”
“Lincoln Street Center is one of the last affordable art studio buildings in Maine’s art capital. What makes Rockland such a rich cultural place are the many people that live and create here. The loss of Lincoln Street Center would be a devastating blow to the Mid-coast’s art scene and creative community.”
“Having a studio is absolutely vital to my art practice. I would not be able to make the work that I make without my studio. I have two large paintings being shown in the CMCA biennial this fall that were made in my Lincoln St studio and would not have been possible without it.”
“I just loved the fact that a large group of wonderful artists had a communal space and their own studios in an accessible, downtown building. That old school lends itself perfectly to that use and it's a great boost for our community to have that sort of space for us all to use!”
I’ve always understood art to have a solitary component. It seems to me there’s no getting around that. But having a studio at LSC, I’m part of a community. A balance is struck.
And that is wonderfully sustaining.
“I have had several memorable experiences there with my family, enjoying art, music, and other performances. I also have friends who have studios there. It is a wonderful part of the creative fabric of this area."
“A place that invites wide-open creativity! High ceilings, huge window, incredible light, and true camaraderie.”
The Lincoln Street Center is an incredible space that I am so grateful to be a part of. A vibrant community of artists. The only affordable studios in the area and a source of inspiration. Within the walls of the building exists mystery and possibility that fuels my creative practice. As a kid, growing up in this area, I was fascinated by this building and the artists who inhabited it. And now I get to be one of them which is a real dream come true.
I believe this space is a critical part of what makes this community of Rockland and midcoast Maine so special.
Lincoln street Center is a vital and connective force in Rockland. I've attended numerous art classes there as a middle school student, participated in plays, danced at strange yet wonderful dance parties in the gym, and as an adult attended the phenomenal yet short lived Salt Stage. I have friends with studios there now, and if I still lived I would long to have a studio there myself. Preserving a community centered space with affordable studios for artists is crucial to creating a connected and burgeoning arts culture that Rockland longs to be. In a time when third spaces are difficult to find, Lincoln Street Center proudly stands out as a cornerstone of the Rockland and Midcoast experience.
Among the tenants at Lincoln Street there have been Guggenheim fellows, attendees invited to world-renowned artist residencies, small business owners and makers . If Rockland hopes to continue to be the “Art Capital of Maine” it is of the utmost importance that there continue to be spaces these types of artists to experiment.
I remember running around backstage as a kid. I was a lost boy in the Peter Pan production. I learned about clay, painting, photography, performance, costuming and more in that building. I've helped friends with art projects in their studios, attended other events, sold some of my own wares, and generally have love for this building and what it offers for artists.
It is the essence and core of the engine of Rockland’s art economy and a dynamic center of creativity with significant yet to be realized potential to support generations of artist, creators, performers, and people of all ages
I believe very much in the power of community and as an arts community Lincoln Street Center in integral to Rockland. As the city grows and evolves, Lincoln Street is a beacon for the creative endeavors of this community.
Cultural recognition does not go hand in hand with financial success. In the 7 years that I’ve lived in Rockland, I’ve watched Lincoln Street Center be an incubator for artists that went on to start popular local bars and distilleries, performances that were on view in Montreal and New York City, and exhibitions across the world. This all would not have been possible without the low-rent offered by the building’s manager.
With Deep Gratitude to Our Founding Donors
The Wyeth Foundation
Morris David Dorenfeld Foundation
Gloria Stein
Gary Briechle
Carol Sloan
Louise Turan
Henry Fasoldt
Peter Mecklenborg
Ron Crusan
Cindy Lucas
Nina Poole
Laura Waller
Janet Heimlich
Kathleen Florance
Amy O’Donnell
Lee Humphreys • Mary Fairfield • John Lane • Emily Ingwersen • Lee Hazelton • Amy O’Donnel • Gianna Bird • Christine Cluff • Hadas Almagor • Marissa Sanzone
We are grateful to Lake City Holdings and Developers Collaborative for recognizing the community benefit or our building and making this opportunity possible.
We are thankful to the many in our community who are rooting for our success and who would like to see Rockland’s Historic High School permanently protected and preserved as a creative performance and arts community center.
Would like to add your name to our list of supporters? Click here to add your name.
Lincoln Street Center Tenants
Lizzie Lombardo
Tyler Weeks
Cig Harvey
Gianna Bird
Katherine Ferrier
Jarid Del Deo
Santa Staffa
Ella Simon
Vincent Carducci
Kathleen Florance
Amy Files
Amelia MacDougal Fleming
Susan Beebe
Sarah Szwajkos
Gianna Bird
Emma John
Nina Poole
Alison Cekala
Gary Briechle
Laura Waller
Claire Perry
Amy O’Donnell
Jonathan Frost
Nate Luce
Meghan Brady
Lena Schmid
Sam Levine
Ellis-Beauregard LSC Alums
Barbara Sullivan (A, W, F, C, O)
Local Artists
Nate Shacklett (SA, O, G)
Amanda Fagan (A, W, C, O, G, T)
Chip Dort (A, O, T)
Ariela Kuh (A, T)
Sam Finkelstein (A, O, G, T)
Abigail Nash (A, M, F, C, O, T)
Nina Lichtman
Local Businesses
Caldbeck Gallery
Triangle Gallery
Lake City Holdings
Robin's Nest Recording
Three Left Hands
Sammy’s Deluxe
Scrap Dogs Community Compost
Trillium Catering
Unison Architects
Trout Lily Collective
Rockland Residents
Michael Ruddy (O, F, C)
Tim Avirett (O)
Carolyn Bobola (O, G, T)
Beatrice Weinand (F, C)
Eller Chalmers (SA, G, T)
Adam Lachman (M, F, C, O, G, T)
Amanda Fagan (A, W, C, O, G, T)
Annette Naegel (W, O, G, T)
Midcoast Residents
Nicaela Giglia
Heather Ellsworth (M, O, LB, G)
Clare widdicombe (O)
Tia Gregory (SA, G)
Kiesha Evans (W, G, O)
Nancy Davis (O, G, T)
Seth Bournival (A, LB, O, G, T)
David Allen (A, LB, O, G, T)
Rebecca Glaser (A, W, O, T)
Kendra Finnegan (O, G, T)
Marie Finnegan (O, G, T)
Louise Turan (W, F, C, O)
Ashley Vissers (O, G)
Ariel Burke (C, O, G)
Maeve O’Regan (O, G)
James Kinnealey (C, F, T, O)
Jeff Boulet (F, C, O, G, T)
Cindy Lang (F, C, O, G, T)
Tara Gardner (C, O)
Jane Farthing (O, G)
Ashley Jardim
Lisa Milette (Ac, O)
Sam Richman
Sarah Post (O)
And Away…
Liv Carver (G, T)
Emmalyn Sullivan (A, O, T)
Karen Lombardo (SA, O, G, T)
Robin Lane (A, M, O, T)
A = Artist
Ac= Actor
C = CMCA Member
F = Farnsworth Member
G = Attended event at the Gym
LB = Local Business
M = Musician
O = Attended Open Studios
SA = School Alum
T = Attended event in the Theatre
W = Writer
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