The arts never really shut down. Our local artists, artisans, and craftspeople have used this time of physical isolation to hone skills and explore the creative directions that were on the “when I have time” list. And many artists, arts venues, and cultural institutions have continued to share work via social media, on websites, and in virtual galleries.

Now we are beginning to move out of that isolation and explore what Phased Re-opening means for our arts and cultural spaces. Venues that have continued to offer arts events online are considering how to re-open for live performance. First out of the gate is Cadenza, who are ramping up their concert schedule for limited seating for those who want the in-person experience. Some of their concerts are being livestreamed for fans who aren’t quite ready or who waited just a little too long to get one of the coveted tickets to the live show.

Greater Freeport’s artists and cultural institutions are continuing to entertain us online.

• ACAF offers livestream events on select weeknights at 7pm. Visit us on Facebook to find out who is performing when.
• Desert of Maine has opened the dunes for self-guided tours with new signage, and their sand museum is open.
• RSU5 Community Programs offers remote learning opportunities with several of their dedicated instructors and facilitators. Visit their website to find out what classes are being offered and register to get secure login credentials. They have also launched a YouTube channel for all sorts of original, fun, and useful content. They need 100 subscribers to get a custom YouTube URL which will make it even easier for more people to find us. Subscribe today to help them hit that goal.
• Freeport Community Library has launched a new YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYv9RivTulOtV3eNaUAdO2w/. They are doing middle-grade book readings with Mary, Story Time with Ali, Book Reviews with Mary, and Meghan Recommends (adult fiction and nonfiction). They also have a new interim webpage, FCL Virtual Library (https://sites.google.com/view/freeportlibrary) to provide up-to-date information in this especially fluid time.
• Freeport Players has created a SI-FI (Stay In – Funny and Interesting) series, presenting classic radio sketches for your amusement. So far, Abbott & Costello and Burns & Allen have taken us on strolls down Memory Lane.

If you learn of an arts/cultural venue or activity that is re-starting as Maine re-opens, please tell us about it. We are keeping our ears to the ground and reaching out to folks to find out about things to put on the calendar, but we could use your help to keep us current!