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The Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) was founded in 1973 and incorporated in 1980. Through a creative network of teachers, parents, artists, organizations, and community supporters, the Alliance works at the state level and in local communities to strengthen educational excellence in visual art, music, dance, drama, and creative writing. MAAE is a member of the national Kennedy Center Alliances for Arts Education Network, which has recognized the MAAE for its exemplary work on the local level and in advocacy. MAAE has created innovative regional initiatives, encouraging arts education in many of Maine's most isolated and under-served communities. These pilot efforts have launched two highly successful arts programs: LINC,Arts, which matches talented high-school students with mentoring arts professionals; and Building Community Through the Arts, a high-school residency program which received its fourth round of funding from the NEA this year. Both programs teach the arts in ways that encourage imagination, inspiring students to purse their dreams and achieve their best, while helping schools to improve arts education in the curriculum. The Board of Directors of the MAAE includes arts education advocates from communities around the state, educators, arts specialists, school administrators, business people, legislators, and advisors from the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Department of Education. MAAE's Honorary Chair is First Lady Karen Baldacci. The MAAE staff includes Executive Director Carol Trimble, Education Director Susan Potters, Special Projects Coordinator Caroline Budney, full-time AmericorpsVISTA volunteer Hilary Cline, and others contracted for specific tasks such as program coordination and bookkeeping.