ArtWaves, our local community arts center

Our Vision:  Connecting our community with the power of art.
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Our Mission:  ArtWaves will serve as a center of learning, engagement, and community for individuals at every skill level to experience and create art.

Connecting our community with the power of art

 is a simple concept with boundless opportunity, art for everyone and in multiple forms. This is the foundation of ArtWaves, our local community arts center. Our mission is to provide residents and visitors of Mount Desert Island, and the surrounding area, with accessible, affordable, and dynamic art and movement curriculum. We are a center of learning, engagement, and community where those at every age and skill level can experience and create art throughout the year.

In 2015, local artist Liz Cutler brought this concept to life and the community embraced this idea.  ArtWaves soon outgrew her studio in the Bar Harbor Municipal Building and moved to a larger space just one year later.  In 2017 ArtWaves was again able to expand and is now situated on a four studio campus in Town Hill, budding with potential.    ArtWaves purchased the 1.75 acre campus in December 2019 thanks to Bar Harbor Bank & Trust and our benefactor.

Our Programs

ArtWaves is currently home to three visual arts studios where people of all skill levels can dabble, or hone their skills, in sculpture, figure drawing, or painting in a variety of media, learning techniques from some of the best working artists in the area. The state of the art dance studio offers a variety of movement classes for expression, fitness, and fun.   Currently ArtWaves is offering online classes and making plans to awaken the studios to continue our innovative programs.   A rich, vibrant and enlivened arts culture on Mount Desert Island, sustained through your support!

“The arts are not a frill. The arts are a response to our individuality and our nature, and help to shape our identity. What is there that can transcend deep difference and stubborn divisions? The arts. They have a wonderful universality. Art has the potential to unify. It can speak in many languages without a translator. The arts do not discriminate. The arts can lift us up.” – Former Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan

We would like to highlight and thank the businesses that support ArtWaves and the arts on the island.  We encourage you to support them as well.

Wendell Gilley Museum

Coastal Maine Realty

AB & JR Hodgkins 

Mount Desert Island Hospital

Compusult Work Smarter

Maine Humanities Council

Reel Pizza

In addition, ArtWaves would like to thank the following businesses for exhibiting banners this summer in support of ending domestic abuse as part of our collaboration with Finding Our Voices.

Bar Harbor

Jackson Lab Cafe This Way u Rosalie's PIzza  u Chamber of Commerce uBayside Liquor uAtlantic Brewing Company uRoyal Indian uMachias Savings Bank uChoco Latte uSherman's uYMCA uPatrick's By The SeauMy Darling MaineuAu Naturelle

True Value uBar Harbor Chamber of CommerceuYWCAuMt. Desert Bakery uCriterion uWindow PanesuSpruce & GussyuFirst National BankuCoffee Maker uCostin & McIsaacuCoastal Maine RealtyuBar Harbor SavingsuRasmussen GalleryuReel Pizza uTree of Life

Southwest Harbor

uSipsuSips 2.0uDavis AgencyuHarbor RestaurantuLS Robinson CompanyuRichard Bradford BuildersuHarbor BarberuCommon Good Soup KitchenuSawyer's Wine and Cheese

Northeast Harbor

FT BrownuShaw's uMcGrath'suIsland ArtisansuCopitauMain Street MarketuPine Tree Market