top of page

Center for Arts and Ecology

at Desert of Maine

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.

Desert_ecowalk.jpg

Our Connection to the Desert

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.

Thank you for a wonderful and successful 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!

partners.png
2025_partners_logos.png
Olga_plants_horiz.png

The Desert of Maine is a unique place for reflection on how we, as humans, can create sustaining relationships with nature and one another. Over the millennia, this land comprised an essential part of unceded Abenaki territory. Only in its most recent history, European-style farming in the 1800s led to soil erosion, uncovering a “desert scape” of sandunes now in the process of regeneration.

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.

Educational Programs

The unique landscape at the Desert of Maine is a living, breathing classroom and an endless source of creative inspiration. We host school field trips, homeschool and afterschool programs, and arts and ecology workshops for both children and adults.

Support Us

Consider making a tax deductible donation today. You'll be helping to support local artists, arts organizations, and ecology education. Our EIN number of 86-3917461

FOLLOW ALONG
FB.png
CENTER FOR ARTS & ECOLOGY
at DESERT OF MAINE
KEEP IN TOUCH

Subscribe for email updates about educational, community, and arts programming at the Desert of Maine:

SUPPORT

Your gift supports educational and

arts programming for

all ages:

95 Desert Road

Freeport, ME 04032

info@desertofmaine.org

(207) 250-2550

Copyright 2023  Center for Arts & Ecology at Desert of Maine

bottom of page