Waterville Creates! has received $1.5 million in grants from the Harold Alfond Foundation that will “help establish Waterville Creates! and support work of Waterville Creates! partners,” increasing arts and culture programming in the city, according to a news release from the city arts organization.

“Waterville Creates! has become the city’s hub of art leadership bringing together all of Waterville’s major arts organizations,” said Greg Powell, chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation, in a news release announcing the grants Friday. “This funding confirms our commitment to supporting the Waterville Creates! mission to lead the marketing and programming efforts on behalf of the Waterville’s arts and cultural institutions.”

Nate Rudy, director of Waterville Creates! speaks in front of the Common Street Arts gallery near in downtown Waterville last year about the continuing potential for artistic enterprises. The organization received a $1.5 million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation, it was announced Friday. Staff file photo by Michael G. Seamans

The chairman of the Waterville Creates! board, Larry Sterrs, said in the release that the award will “help ensure ongoing efforts to increase the collaborative programming of Waterville Creates! partners — the Colby Museum of Art, Maine Film Center, Waterville Main Street, Waterville Opera House, Waterville Public Library and Common Street Arts.”

“This effort has already increased recognition of the importance of these organizations to the vitality of central Maine and helped to continue the Waterville renaissance in benefit to its citizens locally and regionally,” Sterrs said.

Waterville Creates! is a collaborative consortium that, with its partners, works to enhance the arts and cultural institutions in the city.