Arts, ecology, and place-based learning
Our Mission
Through education and immersive arts and ecology programming, CAE's mission is to inspire people to engage with the complex history of the land, the awe-inspiring resilience of nature, and the power of a present and engaged community.
The Ecology Walk: dunes regenerating after a century of erosion at the Desert of Maine.
The Place
The Desert of Maine landscape is vibrating with life and stories that span thousands of years. The Desert tells the story of the slow motion ebbs and flows of geological time that take place on a grand, planetary scale. It tells the story of human folly, but within the context of the social norms and ancestral practices that are handed down to any individual group of people. It tells the story of a local man who saw opportunity in what for others was tragedy and loss. It tells a story of people who spun meaning and a livelihood out of a patch of land that was otherwise irredeemable. It tells a story of the triumph of creativity.
We want to help continue the story of this place in a way that is healing and enlivening for the people who come to enjoy the Desert's beauty and wisdom.
On the Calendar
Woven from Land and Lineages is a series designed to explore the deep, entangled relationships between the ecological history of the land and our own personal and familial histories. Three distinct authors from different genres will share their process, guide participants through prompts, and provide feedback.
September 8, 1 pm to 4 pm
with Irene Drago
Irene Drago will take participants through her process of creating historical fiction, which includes immersion in images, written source materials, and active imagination. Participants will then have a chance to write their own historical fiction, inspired by the Desert landscape and history, historic photos, historic film footage, maps, and other primary sources.
Workshop · Woven Series
September 29, 10 am to 2 pm
with Jason Brown
Jason Brown is a Stegner fellow and creative writing professor at the University of Oregon. He is known for both fiction and nonfiction with work published in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Harper's, and Best American Short Stories. His writing has been described as a staggering portrait of inheritance and identity that burrows deep into the history of family and country. The workshop will give participants an opportunity to receive feedback and instruction from Jason Brown.
Workshop · Woven SeriesEquity in programming
We are committed to developing programs that center queer and BIPOC composers, voices that have been creating fantastic art for a long time, but have been excluded from the canon.
A wonderful Summer 2025
Since our founding in 2021, The CAE has held dozens of concerts and theater performances. We've partnered with some of the most esteemed local cultural organizations and we're just getting started!
In partnership with
Support the Center
Consider making a tax deductible donation today. You'll be helping to support local artists, arts organizations, and ecology education. Our EIN number is 86-3917461.
EIN 86-3917461 · A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Become a Member Today. Gain access to free monthly ecology events, discounted tickets to arts performances, and early registration for summer camp. Your membership proceeds will support local artists and educational programs.
Let us build a community of arts and nature lovers together.
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