The Frances Perkins Center and Heart of Ellsworth are co-hosting an AWTT exhibit, Twelve Maine Women, from August 6 through September 25, 2026, at the Heart of Ellsworth’s gallery space, 16 State Street, Ellsworth, Maine.

The portraits include the first female member of the U.S. Cabinet, Frances Perkins; ten-year-old peacemaker Samantha Smith; historian Heather Cox Richardson; indigenous leader Sherri Mitchell, Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset; Somali American state legislator Deqa Dhalac; and U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith.

The show will open with a free public reception at The Heart of Ellsworth on State Street, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 6.

Additional events in conjunction with the exhibit (with more details to follow) include:

August 11, 5:30-6:00 special access with portraits 6:00-8 p.m. – Panel discussion

September 15, 6:00 – 8 p.m. – Historic talk

September 19, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Intergenerational Workshop

The Frances Perkins Center is a nationally recognized cultural institution and the official philanthropic partner of the new Frances Perkins National Monument in Newcastle, Maine. Their mission is to inspire current and future generations to understand and uphold the government’s role in providing social justice and economic security for all.

Heart of Ellsworth, a Main Street America Community, is dedicated to supporting downtown Ellsworth’s economic and cultural vitality through concentrated efforts in the areas of design, organization, promotion, and economic revitalization while protecting the city’s unique and historic character.