About/FAQs

When are you open?: Memorial Day through October
Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday, 1-4 pm
Closed Monday.

Winter Hours
Thursday – Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday, 1-4 pm
Closed Monday – Wednesday.

Where are you located?: Our visiting address is 162 Russell Avenue, Rockport. For your convenience, we have provided detailed directions in the “Visiting” section of our website. Rockport is located approximately two hours South of Bar Harbor and one and a half hours North of Brunswick, and between Rockland and Camden, just off Route 1.

Do you charge admission?: No. CMCA is a nonprofit, however, and donations are gratefully accepted to further our mission to advance contemporary art in Maine.

Who works there?: CMCA is run by a small professional staff working closely together to ensure that it remains a central component in Maine’s vibrant contemporary art scene. Every employee is deeply and personally committed to the mission of the Center for Maine Contemporary Art.

How did CMCA get started?: In 1952, The Center for Maine Contemporary Art began as Maine Coast Artists, a small Rockport artists’ cooperative. Since then, it has evolved into the state’s leading institution for the advancement of contemporary Maine art. We changed our name and logo to reflect the statewide scope of our activity. By making new connections and keeping old ones, CMCA has built a strong base of supporters spanning generations and interests. This makes our institution the diverse and respected place it has come to be.

Do you have a permanent collection, like a museum? Or do you represent artists, like a gallery?: We do not function exactly like a museum or a gallery. We do not have a permanent collection and do not represent individual artists. Instead CMCA is purely based on showing temporary exhibitions. These are either curated or juried and reflect the choices of trained art professionals without commercial considerations. Art work is shown based on its relevance to curator, Britta Konau’s, latest idea for an exhibition. Our shows are meant to nurture public understanding of both traditional and nontraditional artistic expression, and to provide exposure for emerging and well-established artist alike.

What kind of art do you show?: Our specialty is contemporary art of all media made by artists who were either born in Maine or live part-time or year-round, have studied, or have other connections to the state. However, we also include work by artists without a connection to Maine in group exhibitions where it makes sense. Many of our exhibitions broaden notions about what art is, and break established boundaries between different forms of artistic expression.

Do you sell art?: Yes. While we are a nonprofit institution and the choice of artwork to be displayed is unencumbered by commercial interests, we provide artists with the opportunity to sell the art that is on view in CMCA’s galleries. In return, we retain a small commission for every successful sale to support our busy programming.

I’m an artist. How do I submit work for review?: We review unsolicited submissions twice a year. To be considered, please include a CD with images of recent and older work, as well as a resume and artist’s statement. These materials will not be returned to you and you will have to be patient in awaiting a response.

Mail submission to:
CMCA
P.O. Box 147
Rockport, ME 04856

In addition, we send out Calls to Artists a few times a year for selected exhibitions. These are not for juried exhibitions but rather for an already existing exhibition concept for which the curator wants to expand the range of artists represented in an exhibition. You can receive Calls to Artists by subscribing to our free e-News or by periodically checking the Opportunities for Artists on our website.

How can I show my support for CMCA?: Visiting our gallery and telling others about your experience is an easy and valuable way to show your support. We also appreciate contributions in the form of memberships, donations, or volunteered time. You can find more information on ways to contribute on our "Support," "Membership," and "Opportunities" pages. A fun way to show your support and let others know about our great institution is by walking down the street in a CMCA T-shirt or sipping coffee from a CMCA mug, available in our Gallery Shop, located in the Main Gallery. The shop is open whenever the galleries are open.

How can I volunteer?: The “Volunteer” section of this website has information on how to sign up to volunteer at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. We need volunteers to operate our front desk and gallery shop, help with exhibition openings and educational events, and assist with mailings and many other integral aspects of CMCA.

What are the benefits of becoming a member?: There are many benefits to membership. Please check our “Membership” page on our website for more information.

Visit: Get Directions
Find out our hours
Volunteer: CMCA has many volunteer opportunities. If you would like to volunteer complete this form or call 207.236.2875.