Baldacci Renews Maine Media College Certification

ROCKPORT, Maine – Governor John Baldacci signed bill LD 1506, An Act to Authorize Maine Media College to Confer the Degree of Master of Fine Arts, into law on Monday 8 February at the Maine State House in Augusta.

Legislation submitted by Rep. Joan Welsh, D-Rockport, that would continue Maine Media College’s ability to confer the degree of master of fine arts was approved by a unanimous vote of the Legislature’s Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs in January, and passed the legislature unanimously earlier this month.

Established as Rockport College in 1996, the academic arm of Maine Media Workshops (then The Maine Photographic Workshops) was required by the Maine Department of Education to renew its degree-granting certification after the school’s name change to Maine Media College in 2008. The school transitioned to non-profit status in 2007, and subsequent fundraising efforts have helped to establish the organization’s financial stability for the past three years.

Governor Baldacci graciously welcomed a group of representatives from Maine Media College, including Welsh who serves on the school’s board of directors, Maine Media President Charles Altschul, and College Dean Elizabeth Greenberg. The Governor recognized Maine Media’s contributions to the development of the State’s creative economy and the school’s importance to the midcoast region’s cultural community.

Maine Media College offers one-year Professional Certificate programs and a low-residency Master of Fine Arts Degree program in the fields of photography, filmmaking, and multimedia.

“This is an exciting time for Maine Media,” says Altschul, “The Workshops continue to thrive as a world-renowned industry training center, and now we’re taking steps to strengthen and grow the College programs. What began as a summer photography school over 36 years ago, is now a year-round, international, media education center.”

For more information about Maine Media, it’s Workshops and College programs, visit www.mainemedia.edu, email info@mainemedia.edu, or call 877.577.7700.