Art fans will continue to have free access to the art museum in downtown Bangor next year. University of Maine Museum of Art director and curator George Kinghorn announced Monday that the museum has acquired a sponsorship for free admission in 2016 and 2017.
“I’m pleased to announce that Deighan Wealth Advisors has made a wonderful gift to this community, providing access for all community members to enjoy the museum through their sponsorship of free admission in 2016 and ’17,” Kinghorn announced at a news conference Monday.
Jean M. Deighan, founder and CEO of Deighan Wealth Advisors, was present for the conference and expressed the company’s commitment and connection to the arts.
“Deighan Wealth advisors is absolutely delighted to sponsor free admission to the University of Maine Museum of Art for the community at large,” Deighan said. “It was important to us that the University of Maine Museum of Art be available to everyone and as free as the air we breathe.”
Free admission to UMMA was made possible in 2015 by Penobscot Financial Advisors. UMMA has offered free admission to the museum through local sponsorships since 2008. Their first corporate sponsorship was from Machias Savings Bank.
“All of these individuals or these organizations have taken a turn in that spot, and they continue to be supporters of the museum as our community partners,” Kinghorn said.
Museum attendance has increased over 250 percent since 2007, according to Kinghorn. He attributed this increase over the years to the introduction of free admission. Last year, the museum had 14,447 visitors.
“We’re certainly going to surpass that this year,” Kinghorn said.
Deighan Wealth Advisors has made it their mission to support arts within Greater Bangor. Deighan’s personal connection to the arts made the sponsorship of Deighan Wealth Advisors that much more important to her.
“I’ve always been inspired by arts,” Deighan said.
As a child, her father, who came from a lower middle class Irish family, attended free exhibitions at museums in order to learn more about art.
“This was an opportunity for him to get exposure and for him to aspire to something different,” Deighan said. “Even though he’s no longer here, his name is on the wall and he would be proud.”
The University of Maine Museum of Art advances the university’s mission of service to the citizens of Maine through educational and exhibition programming that changes frequently throughout the year.
Its current exhibition features a group of images by Traer Scott, selections from the Bruce Brown collection and a series of interactive light sculptures by Paul Myoda. A new exhibition is scheduled to open Jan. 15 and will feature a series of wall-based assemblages by Dan Dowd, sculptures by Richard Whitten and collage compositions by Jon Davis.
“The opportunity for the museum to provide free admission allows Maine people to come in and enjoy the resources at [UMMA],” Kinghorn said.
Deighan echoed that sentiment.
“This is a very good thing and we must keep it going,” she said.
UMMA is located at 40 Harlow St. in downtown Bangor and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
