Maine Humanities Council

05/29/2026

We made the papers! Check out this wonderfully written article by Matthew Glassman, Executive Director at Chocolate Church Arts Center.

"As Samaa Abdurraqib explains, 'It’s our hope that ‘Gather’ brings people to joy and connection. Some of the most beautiful and transformative avenues for cultural sharing are through food and music. When we gather to share meals and rhythms with one another, we have the opportunity not only to learn about different traditions, but also to discover where our own stories overlap.'"

Annual festival honors cultural heritage across the nation.

05/29/2026

Don't miss these films!

Enough people have signed up that our FILM NOIR MOVIE MARATHON is a GO! Come for whichever you want to see, whether that's one, two, three, or all four! We'll have snacks!

For titles and more information: https://scarboroughlibrary.libcal.com/calendar/events?t=g&q=noir&cid=19666&cal=19666&inc=0

These titles are from the Ten Essentials list from Shadows of Noir's Dan McQueen, our Maine Humanities Council speaker from last Tuesday! Whether you heard him speak or not, join us at the movies!

05/28/2026

Here's what to expect at our upcoming event, Gather: Folklives and Foodways on June 13 at the Chocolate Church Arts Center!

Join us right at 5pm for food, lovingly prepared by Katahdin Kitchen. At 6pm we'll hear from our three musical guests, Samuel James, Firefly the Hybrid, and the Al-Mashreq Ensemble. Then Jasmine Tintor of Katahdin Kitchen will join us for a panel discussion to explore Folklives and Foodways of Maine.

Get your tickets today!

--
Thank you to our Core Corporate Sponsor, HeadInvest Wealth Management.
--
This event is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

05/26/2026

05/23/2026

Last week we had some lovely folks from Maryland Humanities visit us! Thank you so much for sharing ideas, for the rich conversation, and for the smiles. We hope to see you again soon!

05/22/2026

We're hiring a Remote Office Administrator! This is a remote position with some in-person hours once a month. Head to our website for more info!

05/21/2026

You are invited to join us June 13th from 5-8pm at the Chocolate Church Arts Center!

How are folklives an expression of our place in the world? How do community traditions inform where we’ve been and where we’re going?

Buy your tickets today for this special public event celebrating the stories we tell through music and foodways, and what they say about our connections to the past and our hopes for the future.

The event will include a community meal, performances, dance, and a panel discussion. Guests will include Blues musician Samuel James , Al-Mashreq Ensemble: Music of the Arab East, Penobscot Nation performer Firefly the Hybrid, and Jasmine Tintor (Penobscot) co-founder of Katahdin Kitchen.

Music in this video provided by Samuel James.

***

Thank you to our Core Corporate Sponsor, HeadInvest Wealth Management.

***

This event is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (Smithsonian Folklife).

05/20/2026

Reserve your seat!

🍽️ Pull up a chair and join the conversation.

The first Shared Tables, Shared Stories community potluck supper takes place Wednesday, June 3 from 5:30–8 p.m. at The Clubhouse at Rotary Park in Biddeford.

Bring a dish to share and gather for an evening of food, storytelling, reflection, music, and connection as neighbors come together to reflect on the past, present, and future of the place we now call Maine.

Presented by Community Plate, Maine Humanities Council, thMaine Arts Commission, and the Maine Semiquincentennial Commission.

Free and open to the public.
Reserve your seat at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/biddeford-shared-tables-shared-stories-tickets-1987649678695?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/19/2026

You won’t want to miss this!

Coming up next week, we are beyond thrilled to partner with Maine Humanities Council Maine Speaks to bring you a talk about FILM NOIR with Dan McQueen.

We'll have door prizes for two lucky winners, register to enter: https://scarboroughlibrary.libcal.com/event/16431883

No registration required to attend. See you then!

05/18/2026

We hope you will join us for food, lovingly prepared by Jasmine Tintor and Katahdin Kitchen, at 5pm on June 13th at the Chocolate Church Arts Center!

Jasmine Tintor (she/her) As a Penobscot Nation member, Jasmine Tintor (Jazz) uplifts her community through food, culture, education, and nature. In addition to her work building resilience and food sovereignty, Jazz is co-owner of Katahdin Kitchen, Program Coordinator at Nibezun, and supporter of initiatives like Niweskok and Outdoor Equity Fund Workgroup.

Get your tickets now via the link in the comments!