Rockport-based Story Bank gets federal help to collect the stories of more Mainers
 
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that the National Endowment for the Arts will help a Rockport organization collect and document the personal stories of more Mainers by allowing it launch a new effort in Brunswick.
 
“So many important pieces of Maine’s history and culture aren’t written down—they’re kept in memory and stories told for generations,” said Pingree. “Collecting these stories is critical to preserving our state’s culture, and listening to the great way Maine people tell them is really captivating. ” 
 
With a $15,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant, Story Bank Maine plans to expand its efforts to record Mainers’ stories by training volunteers with the Five Rivers Arts Alliance in Brunswick to interview Mainers in the area.
 
Inspired by StoryCorps, a national effort to audio record people’s stories, Rockport-based Cultural Resources Inc. has been training volunteers to interview fellow Mainers for the last three years. They have collected dozens of stories featuring unique parts of Maine history and lifestyle, including ones about cutting hay, growing up Jewish in Maine, and farming life in Bowdoinham.  You can hear these stories at www.cultural-resources.org <http://www.cultural-resources.org> .
 
“Storytelling is such an important part of Maine’s culture,” said Cultural Resources Executive Director Kathleen Mundell. “Mainers appreciate it when these stories are highlighted and they love hearing about the places that are close to them.”