Western Maine Passport to the Arts

REGION -- For only $20, a passport entitles you to see plays, attend musical and other theatrical events, purchase art and other goods, eat at a variety of restaurants and stay at one of several inns in and near Oxford and Franklin Counties, all at a discount.

With a single passport, you will receive one time discounts and incentives between 10 and 30 percent that are valued at more than $300. Your passport also entitles you to attend performances and purchase art at 22 venues and galleries as well as to stay, eat or purchase goods at 17 accommodations, restaurants and other associated businesses in and near Oxford and Franklin Counties.

Besides offering great deals the passport is a beautifully designed booklet that is the size of a passport. It includes a two page spread for each participating performance venue and gallery and a briefer listing for tourist related businesses. It also has a map of the region in it that delineates the location of participating businesses and advertisers.

Passports may be purchased online (http://www.maineartspassport.org/) and at participating performance venues, galleries and businesses.

In the Bethel and River Valley areas, passports are available at Artistic Endeavors, Bonnema Pottery, Elements Art Gallery, Mahoosuc Arts Council, Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, Bethel Inn, Good Food Store, Smokin’ Good BBQ, River View Resort, Rooster’s Roadhouse, Ruthie’s Boutique, 49 Franklin, The Outlook Studio and True North.

In the Oxford Hills passports may be purchased at Celebration Barn, A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm, Brick Church for the Performing Arts, Denmark Arts Center, Frost Farm Gallery, Harvest Gold Jewelry Gallery, Painted Mermaid Gallery, Art Moves Dance Studio, 76 Pleasant Street, Books N’Things, Harvest Moon Produce, King’s Hill Inn, Restaurant Maurice, Square Root Natural Foods and Tucker’s Pub.

In southern Oxford County, passports can be purchased at Edge of Maine Art Gallery & Frame Shop, Gallery 302 Inc., Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center at Fryeburg Academy and the Oxford House Inn.

In and near Franklin County passports are available from Skye Theater Performing Arts Center, Wilson Lake Inn, Art Institute for Western Maine, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Crossroads International Celtic Festival and the Kingfield Pops.

A grant from the Maine Tourism Partnership Program provided the seed money to develop the passport.