The name Launchpad makes sense for the new arts venture Bangor resident and longtime arts supporter Meg Shorette started in early February. It’s intended to be a jumping off point for young Maine artists working in any and all mediums.
Launchpad is, as Shorette describes it, a nonprofit organization built to serve as a support network for young, up-and-coming Maine artists. Essentially, it will provide support for artists in the form of education, mentorship and use of studio space.
“At its core, Launchpad is a nonprofit arts incubator that seeks to build creative connections in Maine and beyond, through artist residencies, arts education and artist-led projects and events,” Shorette said. “Every program and initiative was created through open conversations with creatives, designers and makers to find out what they need to be successful and continue to create.”
Launchpad also will absorb the Central Gallery, the downtown Bangor art gallery and event space located at 89 Central St. The gallery originally opened as the KahBang Gallery in May 2014 with Shorette at the helm but transitioned to its current incarnation as the Central Gallery in the fall, after the KahBang Festival was canceled in Bangor. Shorette left the KahBang organization to start her own venture, which eventually became Launchpad.
The first major venture for Launchpad will be an initiative called Forward, a program designed to help high school students interested in pursuing the arts as a career.
“It’s designed to directly engage high school juniors and seniors in Maine to find their voice through creativity, and to view the arts as a feasible and realistic career path,” Shorette said. “Students who seek further counseling in post-secondary education options will receive it through Forward’s artist mentorship program, which pairs them with professionals working in various arts or other creative fields.”
Forward also will work with student artists from lower income families, assisting them financially with college application fees and other educational support.
To fund Forward, Shorette has launched a fundraising effort in the form of the 100×100 campaign, in which Launchpad will collect donations of original artwork or other creative work in any medium and sell them in an online auction. Each piece will be listing for a minimum of $100, which benefits Launchpad and the Forward initiative. Every dollar made beyond that $100 will go to the artists.
The online auction will run from March 15 through April 14 at wearelaunchpad.org, with the goal of raising $10,000 for the Forward initiative. A number of donations have already been received, including paintings, sketches and sculptures from artists including Lydia Rose Spencer, Steven Brooks and Kylee Locke; albums and merchandise from Portland record label Pretty Purgatory; and an antique clarinet donated by Sen. Geoff Gratwick. Donations will be accepted through Wednesday, March 11, either in person at the Launchpad administrative offices at 84 Harlow St., or by mailing it to the aforementioned address.
Upcoming events at the Central Gallery include a screening of “Groundhog Day” set for 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28; a Tipsy Art painting workshop, featuring wine and an art lesson inspired by abstract artist Sol LeWitt, led by artist Kat Johnson, set for 5:30 p.m. March 1 ($40, ages 21 and over); a beginner’s songwriting workshop with Jay Basiner of North of Nashville, set for 10:30 a.m. March 7 ($20); a screening of horror classic “Friday the 13th” at 8 p.m. Friday, March 13; and a screening of the seminal indie film “Boogie Nights” at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 21.
