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Emery Community Arts CenterInvigorating the Arts in Western MaineThe construction of UMF's new Emery Community Arts Center is expected to begin later this year. ECAC is a visual representation of UMF’s distinctive, integrated arts mission as it deepens the University’s partnership with community arts organizations such as the Arts Institute of Western Maine, Farmington Public Library, and Sandy River Players. ECAC, along with Nordica, Alumni Theater and the UMF Art Gallery, creates an impressive arts complex, offering strong economic opportunities and benefits to western Maine. ECAC is currently being designed by designLAB architects of Boston and is made possible through a $5 million gift by a generous benefactor. Since the current economic crisis has substantially lowered construction costs, now is the ideal time to build Emery Community Arts Center. The total will not exceed the $5 million mark. ECAC is designed to complement Nordica Auditorium in Merrill Hall and Alumni Theater, creating a cultural center for the town and a welcoming doorway to the UMF campus. The 14,000 square foot new facility will greatly enhance all through flexible, multipurpose spaces for both campus and community arts organizations. ECAC will feature a 100-seat, multipurpose performance space; two smaller, flexible exhibit/performance spaces; two lobbies which double as exhibition spces, and an outdoor arts quad. The barn doors in the large performance space can be open for large indoor/outdoor installations or closed for more intimate performances. This flexibility opens up new possibilities for various theatre and music performances that can be staged for outdoor theatre.
The corridor that connects ECAC with the rest of the campus is an attractive throughway that invites pedestrians to enjoy art exhibited in the former window openings of the Alumni Theater while getting a glimpse of performances and rehearsals in the multi-purpose performance space. The proximity of the smaller and flexible performance spaces encourages those walking through the corridor to pause and take a look at the exhibits and installations. The smaller, flexible spaces in ECAC break down the traditional barriers between performer and audience or artist and the public. For example, a fiddling workshop or an electroacoustic performance can have all the participants playing together, an improv theatre group can have the surround audience as part of their performance and a sculpture installation could have participants walk through for interactive responses. Barriers are also broken down across the traditional disciplines within the arts as UMF students, faculty and staff bring together the visual arts, creative writing, literary arts, theater, dance and music. The flexible spaces enable collaborations where art can be hung in the same space that a poetry reading is taking place, a video installation can be shown simultaneously as music is performed and sound art installation can be coordinated with dance movement. UMF has been a leader in building environmentally-responsible LEED certified facilities. Like the University’s new Education Center, ECAC will be constructed using advanced climate control systems and other environmentally-responsible technology. |
