Portland Ovations Receive Endowment from Center for Cultural Exchange

The Center for Cultural Exchange Foundation, has dedicated its endowment funds - approximately $290,000 - to support the mission, values and outstanding work of Portland Ovations.

Portland Ovations will use the income from the CCEF endowment to support programming that is aligned with the spirit and mission of the former Center for Cultural Exchange.

"We are thrilled. It is an honor to have this level of endorsement from one of Portland's most esteemed cultural organizations," said Aimée M. Petrin, Executive Director of Portland Ovations. "We've long respected CCE, which was also recognized nationally for its excellent work in promoting cultural awareness and access. It's a privilege to carry this mantel forward. It would not be possible without this remarkable investment in our programs."

Marcia Minter, President of the CCEF - and a member of the Portland Ovations Board of Directors - helped guide the collaboration. "The CCEF board feels that the work being done by Portland Ovations to present artists from around the world while enriching the artistic and educational experience in our community and creating diverse artistic conversations is in direct synergy with CCEF's goals. Portland Ovations is on a solid path toward sustained growth, so we're confident that this gift will truly keep on giving."

In 2006, the Center for Cultural Exchange ceased operations as a presenter and instead, as a foundation, turned its efforts and resources towards grant making. Since then, Portland Ovations has been a regular and grateful recipient of CCEF funding support. The decision to make the funds available to Portland Ovations came after much consideration by the CCEF board. Its goal was to align itself with an effective cultural organization whose work is consistent with CCE's original mission.

In 2010, Portland Ovations was awarded a nationally competitive two-year grant of $200,000 from Jane's Trust. The Maine-based Elmina B. Sewall Foundation and Sam L. Cohen Foundation have further supported Portland Ovations' efforts to increase access to the arts. These leadership gifts have helped spawn Innovators, a new family of Portland Ovations donors who share a dedication to connecting our diverse community with the arts in relevant and meaningful ways.

Portland Ovations will use the CCEF endowment distributions to continue to promote performing arts projects that increase opportunities for cultural and artistic expression for people of all backgrounds; foster dissemination and transmission of both new and traditional creative art forms; broaden audience involvement and access; and improve the livelihoods of artists and their opportunity to contribute to civic life.

About Portland Ovations
Each year since 1931, Portland Ovations brings a dynamic season of exceptional performing artists from around the world to Maine including classical music, jazz, dance, theater, and Broadway national tours. In addition to live performances, Ovations brings the exhilaration of the performing arts out into our community with season-long educational and outreach activities known as Ovations Offstage. A Maine-based non-profit, Portland Ovations contributes to the cultural, social and economic well-being of our community by presenting an array of high quality performing artists from around the world and creating diverse educational experiences that bring the enjoyment, energy and enrichment of the arts to all.

http://portlandovations.org/about/

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