The Foothills Arts Center is a vibrant hands-on learning and display place. The Center stimulates and celebrates the creativity of our Western Maine citizens and visitors and gives them opportunities to learn and laugh together.

This is a place of music, poetry, theater, painting, pottery, and drawing, as well as quilting, knitting, and dancing. It is an exciting place to take classes or to give them. Here we showcase area talent and help people discover talents they never knew they had.

People make new friends as they interact in rehearsals, workshops, and informal gatherings. Our programs nurture the uniqueness of individuals of all ages and walks of life.

Gallery, Shop, Studios
Plans are for the Foothills Arts Center to house a community art gallery and a retail shop of items created by local artists and artisans. Studio and workshop areas will be available for rent to individuals and groups.

Economic Development for the Region
The Foothills Arts Center will collaborate with the region’s businesses to bring economic activity into Wilton and the surrounding towns. The biggest economic development project will be our plan to provide incubator space and training for people in trades from quilt-making to black-smithing. This initiative will be a partnership with regional economic development institutions, career centers, adult education, and community colleges.

Professional Staff
The Center’s staff, with vast experience in community arts, works with professional artists, bringing them into schools and communities, where they interact with teachers, students, and townspeople to provide new ways to learn and think.

Location
The Foothills Arts Center is centrally located to serve Western Maine, in downtown Wilton, on the first floor of the Bass-Wilson Building (the historic Bass shoe factory, on Wilson Lake).