Denmark Arts Center Provides Outlet for Local Talent

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Denmark Arts Center Provides Outlet for Local Talent


Denmark Arts Center, in Denmark, Maine at heart of community
Nestled in the shadow of Pleasant Mountain and along the shores of Moose Pond sits the quaint village of Denmark, Maine. The Italianate Victorian Style building, today known as the Denmark Arts Center, was originally built in 1884 to serve as the Odd Fellows Hall. For a century it served this function. Following the death of the last member of the Lodge, Raymond Hale, the town purchased the fraternal hall and used it for town meetings. In 1984 the town offices were moved to the converted village school and town meetings have been held there ever since.

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At the 1991 town meeting, it was decided that the Odd Fellows Hall should be sold rather than demolished. Henry Banks, a local building contractor, submitted the winning bid. With the help of others, he began to restore the building to an arts center. The Denmark Arts Center formed as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization in 1994 and Henry signed the deed over.
When I walk inside this building at 5o West Main Street I feel as if I’ve slipped back  to a time when small town halls were the focal point of our New England villages and hamlets. The Denmark Arts Center is an outlet for local talent and artistic expression. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed coffeehouse performances, Chewonki presentations, historical talks and children’s craft workshops here.
Programs during the year include Singers’ Workshop, Maine Stage Readers Theatre, One Act Plays, Arts-in-Education programs, Children’s Summer Program and  Artists’ Exhibits.
These all meet with the mission “to further the understanding and appreciation of arts and local crafts and to provide a focal point and place for community activities.” Dances, movies and other events also occur at the arts center.
Other events held here include the annual Sheepfest and Pleasant Mountain Fiber Arts Workshops. The April Sheepfest brings together spinners, flock owners who use the services of a master shearer, plus local folks who sell knit and felted items, yarns, tools for wool processing, books and magazines. Sheep receive their summer “haircuts” and have their hooves clipped. The fiber workshop, held each June, offers classes in rug hooking, standing wool rugs, basket making, felting, spinning, crocheting, shawl pin making, felted jewelry, silk painting and more.
The Denmark Arts Center truly is at the center of this quaint New England community. This is a place where music, theater and visual arts are valued and displayed. And local traditions and skills continue to thrive.
Other forms of recreation also abound in Denmark, including mountain hiking and biking, skiing, boating, fishing, hunting and snowmobiling. Besides Moose Pond, you can also find prime lakefront property on Hancock, Sand (Walden), Long and Granger Ponds.

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