One of Maine’s oldest food cooperatives, the Belfast Community Co-op, has reached fifty years serving the communities of the Midcoast and beyond. The downtown Belfast store is celebrating this anniversary with special programs and events, including an exhibition of Co-op-related art and memorabilia that will be on display at Waterfall Arts in winter 2027. 

In the spirit of community, the Co-op is seeking loans or donations of objects to include that will be displayed alongside materials from its own archives. They invite the public to offer treasured Co-op ephemera such as vintage tote bags, news stories, buttons, etc.

The store is also looking for works of art – drawings, paintings, prints, photography, old signs, etc. – that portray the Co-op from its history or present incarnation.

"Both existing and new pieces are most welcome, so artists of all ages and mediums are welcome to create new works that depict aspects of the Belfast Community Co-op experience," said the Co-op, in a news release.

Items will be curated by Co-op member-owner and museum scholar Willa Bywater with help from Program Director Amy Tingle at Waterfall Arts. Submissions for display will be selected based on uniqueness, relevance to the Co-op’s history, and ease of display. The deadline for submission is August 20, to ensure time to review submissions. Anyone interested in loaning pieces to the exhibit are asked to send an email to art50@belfast.coop describing their item(s). Photographs of items are helpful and can be attached to the email.

“We know our community is full of creative folks who love the Co-op, as well as loyal Co-op shoppers who may have wonderful treasures about our store in their attics,” says Jamie Cermak, the Co-op’s Marketing Manager. “We’re very excited to see what might come out of the woodwork to help tell the story of the Co-op in this fun upcoming exhibition at our local art museum.”

Note that the Co-op is asking for loans or donations, not purchasing objects, according to the news release. Donors and the artists will be recognized and thanked in the exhibition. Submissions will be returned to the artist or donor in original condition at the end of the show or on a timeline negotiated, or can be donated to the Co-op in perpetuity. 

To find out more, contact Jamie Cermak and Willa Bywater at art50@belfast.coop.