History
The beginnings of the organization started in the woods alongside–you guessed it–waterfalls.
As sometimes happens with beginnings, a combination of people, place, opportunity, and initiative just seem to connect at the right time, and a new surge of community energy begins.
The Arts Center began in the Kingdom neighborhood of Montville at the headwaters of the St George River alongside the three ponds and two converging streams that feed these waterfalls
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From around 1830 to the 1930’s, the ancient natural waterfall, as well as two man-made falls, powered seven mills here creating local livelihood and community on the northern slopes of Haystack Mountain. After the fallow years of the Great Depression, a group of young artists and craftspeople discovered the Kingdom’s exceptional beauty and energy and were inspired to found the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, which flourished here for a decade before moving to Deer Isle.
For Waterfall Arts, this phenomenon happened in the late 1990’s, when a fresh group of local artists gathered to share their affection for this special little pocket so deeply loved by one of Haystack’s founders and life-long Kingdom resident, the late Marni Sewell. In 1998, Alan and Lorna Crichton, moved by the Kingdom’s legacy and inspired by its future possibilities, purchased the property and began renovations. In 2000, they led that small and dedicated founding group to become the first Board of Directors of the Arts Center at Kingdom Falls, and a full summer program of arts education and events began.
The steady, renewable energy of rushing water had constantly called people to the Kingdom, and once again, the power of the arts began to renew a creative community. This long tradition of connecting natural and human history is at the heart of the Waterfall Arts’ original mission: To create community in harmony with nature through the transformative power of the arts.
Our founding group shared goals for the future: to create aesthetic experiences that enhance and inspire people’s creative abilities and transform their lives. Equally important, our goals were to reach people of all ages who had not had such opportunities before and to provide livelihood to local artists inspired to share their skills with both adults and kids.
In 2006, the arts center moved to Belfast’s iconic, 80-year-old Gov. Anderson School and broadened its name to Waterfall Arts in honor of those powerful flowing inspirations. This year we celebrate our first twenty-five years as “Waldo County’s year-round community arts center with a global appeal.”
During this time, the Founders, Board, and Staff have changed and evolved creatively, developing hundreds of activities for thousands of visitors and participants. Arts exhibits, music and dance concerts, a thriving Kids and Families Arts Program, education in all creative media, exciting events that support and nurture artists, farmers, life-long learners, and the economy; all with the intention to increase ability, expand awareness, and strengthen community.
This Waterfall of Art has flowed fast and true for 25 years. Our pride and love for everyone involved is enormous and unceasing. YOU have made Waterfall Arts what it is! Thank you so much! —Alan and Lorna Crichton, Founders
In a world of flimflammery and hypocrisy, Waterfall Arts helps build a culture of honesty, imagination, joy, and community.
Robert Shetterly
