The Gulf of Maine is warming three to four times faster than the global ocean average. Sea levels are rising and extreme storm events are becoming more frequent, as exemplified during the winter storms of 2023 and 2024 in Portland, South Portland and communities up and down the coastline of Maine. Last year, coastal and inland flooding set record high tides, caused significant damage and prompted costly recovery efforts that are still ongoing. Mainers, however, are no strangers to historic storms and have a long history of recovering, rebuilding and reimagining. 

The Envision Resilience: Designs for Living in a Changing Climate exhibition series builds on that spirit. It serves as a call to action, inspiring residents of Portland, South Portland and the Casco Bay Islands to reimagine the future of their neighborhoods, working waterfronts, public parks, housing stock and existing infrastructure in a more hopeful, resilient way.

Curated by local artist Brian Smith, each exhibit features the innovative architectural and landscape designs by students participating in the 2024 Envision Resilience Portland and South Portland Challenge accompanied by a collection of visionary art by local artists.