Press Releases

ROCKLAND — For its fifth year, the annual Artists & Makers Conference will feature a new location and expanded offerings tailored to meet the needs of Maine’s artists and makers and offer practical tips and strategies to help start and grow arts-related businesses in Maine. Hosted by Archipelago and the Island Institute, the conference is open to all artists and makers who live and produce work in Maine.

ROCKLAND, ME — Have you ever thought about gaining a new source of income through growing mussels, oysters, or seaweed? The Island Institute is now accepting applications for its 2018 Aquaculture Business Development program. In its third year, the program helps fishermen and those from fishing communities gain the tools they need to diversify and launch their small-scale aquaculture businesses.

ROCKLAND, ME – The Island Institute will host a special evening conversation with chef and author Barton Seaver, and Rob Snyder, PhD, president of the Island Institute, discussing Barton's new book, American Seafood: Heritage, Culture & Cookery from Sea to Shining Sea, and the heritage and future of American seafood. The event will take place at the Island Institute with a cocktail reception and book signing to follow in Archipelago, the Island Institute’s store.

ROCKLAND, ME – Rob Snyder, President of the Island Institute, joined Congresswoman Chellie Pingree on Thursday, November 2nd at 10:00 a.m., to testify before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans on behalf of Pingree's bipartisan bill, HR 1176, the Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act.

ROCKLAND— Celebrate autumn colors and the changing seasons with a new selection of paintings and local works of art at Archipelago. The Island Institute’s store and gallery will host an opening reception for its fall gallery show on Friday, November 3rd, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., during Rockland’s First Friday Art Walk. The show, which highlights the work of printmaker Kathleen Buchanan, painters Claudia Diller and Helene Farrar, and fiber artist Anne Walker will be on display through the Winter.

MONHEGAN ISLAND, ME — On Monday, August 21st, state and federal representatives, island leaders, and community partners joined the Monhegan community at a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of a comprehensive upgrade to the island’s energy systems. The culmination of countless hours of hard work, the project enables the community-owned Monhegan Plantation Power District to power the island with cleaner burning diesel-fired microturbines and a solar array, improving reliability and safety of service on the island.

ROCKLAND, ME – Maine is known around the world for the iconic lobster boats that dot the coast and are the primary vehicle for the state’s renowned fishing industry. Now Portland, Maine-based photographer Mark Fleming has developed a new perspective on these boats by using a drone to capture them in an innovative yet classic fashion.

ROCKLAND, ME – On Wednesday, August 2 at 10:30 a.m., the Island Institute will host a panel discussion on women’s views and voices in Maine’s island communities. The talk, “Making it Here: Women’s Views, Women’s Voices,” will be led by island residents and writers, Barbara Fernald, Courtney Naliboff, and Sandy Oliver, and moderated by Tom Groening, editor of "The Working Waterfront."

ROCKLAND, ME – The Island Institute’s Island Fellows Program was recently recognized as the 2017 Outstanding Program by the Community Development Society, a national professional society for practitioners of community development. The annual award is presented in recognition of superior programming that exemplifies and positively influences community development practice. 

ROCKLAND, ME – The Island Institute will host a free lecture series this summer that will feature authors, artists, and experts sharing insights into life on the Maine coast, as well as their perspectives, reflections, and solutions to the challenges of making it here.