Marsden Hartley Cultural Center

The Marsden Hartley Cultural Center, established in 2005, has helped to transform the perception of library for the citizens of our city from that of a passive repository of knowledge to that of a vibrant community center offering a diverse range of cultural programming and resources.

The center is named for Lewiston’s native son Marsden Hartley (1877-1943), a renowned artist/poet. Hartley is one of the top American painters of the 20th Century and his works can be viewed in museums around the world. In fond remembrance of his place of birth, Hartley gave one of his early Maine landscapes to the Library, where it now is displayed in our lobby.

The main focal point of activity for the Cultural Center is Callahan Hall. Located on the third floor, this former ballroom been elegantly renovated into a multi-use space designed to accommodate a variety of cultural enrichment activities: lectures, films, concerts, coffeehouses, dance programs and more, with many events of an interactive nature. The floor below offers a computer lab, which supports such activities as career exploration for teens and technology tutoring for senior citizens. On the first floor, adjacent to our Circulation Desk, is the Couture Room, which hosts a busy schedule of book discussion groups, meetings and seminars.