Colby Museum of Art

"Colby has quietly built one of the strongest contemporary and American art ecosystems in northern New England. The museum contains works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Winslow Homer, Alex Katz, and many other major American artists, but it also emphasizes experimental and rotating exhibitions. Unlike many academic museums, it feels deeply integrated into the life of the surrounding town rather than isolated on campus. Waterville itself has undergone a striking cultural transformation led largely by Colby’s investment in arts infrastructure. The museum works best when experienced together with the broader downtown arts district nearby. There is a seriousness to the programming here that feels much larger-city than you would expect in central Maine. "