UNE's Center for Global Humanities and Creative Portland form partnership to promote humanities programming as part of vibrant cultural community

UNE's Center for Global Humanities, in its fifth year, and Creative Portland have announced a partnership to promote the Center's forum designed to introduce students and members of the public to the exploration of the great issues facing humanity.

"UNE's Center for Global Humanities has filled a much needed gap in the cultural life of the greater Portland area as well as the whole state of Maine," said Anouar Majid, UNE's founding director of the Center for Global Humanities and vice president for Global Affairs. "We are proud to partner with Creative Portland to enhance the quality of life in our city. We offer our programming free to folks wherever they may be. The issues we highlight are of crucial importance to the health of our planet - that's why our videos are watched nationally and globally. I invite all to be part of this unique experience."

Creative Portland Executive Director Jennifer Hutchins said: "As centers of ideas and innovation, universities are vital contributors to a strong creative economy and vibrant cultural community. We are delighted to partner with UNE's Center for Global Humanities in promoting Portland as a city that offers and values intellectual and cultural opportunities."

Events are held on UNE's Portland Campus, and many are also broadcast live at the Cary Library, Houlton. For more information and upcoming lectrues, visit www.une.edu/cgh.

Year's First Lecture

The first of this year's lecture series begins on Monday, September 16, 2013 at 6 p.m. when the Center hosts Jacqueline Vanacek, vice president and cloud computing evangelist with SAP, the largest enterprise software provider in the world.

The event will be held on UNE's Portland Campus in the WCHP Lecture Hall in Parker Pavilion. A reception will be held at 5 p.m. prior to the lecture in the UNE Art Gallery.

The University of New England is an innovative health sciences university grounded in the liberal arts, with two distinctive coastal Maine campuses and unique study abroad opportunities. UNE has internationally recognized scholars in the sciences, health, medicine and humanities, and offers more than 40 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs.

Creative Portland is a nonprofit organization founded by Portland City Council in 2008 to grow and support the creative economy and is heading this initiative as part of the City's Economic Development Vision & Plan (2011). Major programs include LiveWork Portland, 2 Degrees Portland, and the First Friday Art Walk, among others.