L/A Arts Minerva Award

2010 Minerva Award

Presentation Ceremony & Reception

Over 100 guests joined us on Thursday, December 30, 2010, at L/A Arts Gallery 5 when Mike and Dennis Barriault of Central Distributors announced the recipient of this year's Minerva Award - Eric Agren!


all photos taken by Daniel J. Marquis

2010 Presentation Speech

The 2010 L/A Arts’ Minerva Award goes to a person who has made the inseparable connection between economic development and the arts—and more specifically the culinary arts and the visual arts. It is the textbook model of how Maine's Creative Economy has brought vitality to the downtown with a new restaurant, art gallery and living space and with more to come.

We are pleased to honor, with this year’s Minerva Award, Eric Agren, whose vision of a dynamic and vibrant downtown has sparked a renaissance along Lisbon Street that has caused a ripple effect throughout the greater Lewiston-Auburn community.

Eric has demonstrated a commitment to the arts. Eric partnered with L/A Arts in the creation of Gallery 5 three years ago. It is because of Eric that all of our lives have been enriched with this wonderful space. Since the opening of Gallery 5, other galleries have opened in our community. Eric is fundamentally responsible for these new arts opportunities coming to our downtown. Because he believed and acted, so have others. The success of his restaurant Fuel and its “sassy little sister,” Marché, have generated opportunities for other hospitality ventures.

It’s no exaggeration to call Eric a visionary. He understands that the “creative economy” means more than buying a piece of art or attending a performance, although those things are important. Instead, he sees the creative economy as making good business sense and the arts as a catalyst for creating spin-off businesses and opportunities.

The creative economy works when business supports the arts and the arts support business. The bold leadership displayed by Eric is emblematic of this philosophy.

Minerva Award Background

Named after the Greek Goddess for the Arts and Sciences, The Minerva Award was initiated and created by L/A Arts, the designated Local Arts Agency for the Twin Cities of Lewiston & Auburn, Maine. Recognizing the need to emphasize how the arts are being used to address social, educational, and economic development issues in our community, The Minerva Award was conceived in the spring of 2009 as an annual award to be given to an individual or group that has utilized the power of the arts to enrich and enhance the lives of those in the Lewiston Auburn Community. Residency in the Lewiston Auburn area is not required.

The Selection Panel for the 2010 Minerva Award consisted of: Sandra Marquis, L/A Arts Chairperson, Amanda Theberge, Director of Sales, Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch, Josh Shea, Editor, LA Magazine, and Jim Handy, L/A Arts Interim Executive Director.

While the award ceremony is planned in advance, each year's award recipient is initially announced at the award presentation.

In October 2009 the first Minerva Award was presented to a performing artist who has ties to both LA (east) and LA (west) - actor and philanthropist Patrick Dempsey.

Minerva Award 2009