The University of Maine at Farmington, and indeed, the greater Farmington area, is considered the cultural center of the region. With an active local and campus community of artists, musicians, dancers, poets, writers, and improv comedians, the University has hosted readings by Pulitzer Prize winning poets; performances by nationally and internationally known dance troupes, musicians, and comedians; and art gallery exhibits by renowned artists.

Music
UMF’s historic Nordica Auditorium is home to the biggest musical performances in western Maine: from classical music and opera to world music and Delta blues. It’s also the main stage for the Arts Institute of Western Maine’s outstanding — and wide-ranging — musical offerings.

Our students participate in many of the local performing groups and can attend on-campus concerts for free. The student-run Program Board and campus radio station, WUMF, often bring to campus live bands of all kinds and DJs from Portland and Boston. And the on-campus Landing regularly hosts open mic nights, student acoustic performances, karaoke nights, and more.

Art
The University has a spacious and airy, three-story, on-campus art gallery which hosts work by well known artists, photographers, sculptors installation artists and more. Lectures and workshops often compliment the exhibits and opening receptions give you an opportunity to meet the exhibiting artists and discuss their work.

Each year, the UMF Art Gallery also showcases the talent of our art students — drawing visitors from across the state who come away inspired by the creativity of our students. And the student club, the Art Renegades, creates thought-provoking art and also attends exhibits, discusses and learns about art.

Theater
Theatre UMF, the on-campus theater organization, presents three major productions and two groups of one-act plays each year. Students participate in many different ways: acting, costume design, lighting, set design, marketing and more. UMF’s Alumni Theater is also home to The Sandy River Players, a community theater group that welcomes the talents of Farmington students.

And for some irreverent fun, the wildly popular student comedy improv group, The Lawn Chair Pirates, puts on several outlandish performances each semester (always to packed houses) and each semester they hold auditions for new co-conspirators.

Dance
The UMF Dancers, the student dance company, typically presents their imaginative and thought-provoking performances each semester. The group routinely collaborates with local schools of dance and dance companies from other colleges and also travels around New England — participating in workshops and performing at events.

Creative Writing
At Farmington, we definitely consider the written word as an art form. In fact, the campus has carved out an amazing niche in the northeastern U.S. as a writer's school.

Since 1994, UMF has been home to Alice James Books, the nationally-known independent poetry press — it's located right on campus. Alice James Books offers UMF students on-the-job experience (and college credit) in all areas of book publishing — from manuscript selection to book design and marketing. Alice James Books also brings to campus award-winning poets to read from their work and to work one-on-one with our students.

The UMF Humanities Department also hosts a wonderful Visiting Writers Series and produces several student-written publications including Apropos, The Sandy River Review, and Eclectica. You'll also have the opportunity to write for the school yearbook, Dirigo, and the student newspaper, The Farmington Flyer.