Our Mission

At the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, we set the stage for every child to imagine and learn through play.

You Belong

Every child belongs at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.

Our Values

Belonging

Everyone belongs at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine. We believe each person has value and worth; we celebrate what makes each of us unique and what binds us together as a strong community.

Play 

We embrace the power of play to build resilience, spark creativity, and ignite a child’s imagination. Play inspires our work, our physical spaces, our storytelling, and our learning experiences.

Community

We center community in all we do. We strive to be an inclusive partner and resource in order to build strong, lasting relationships.

Curiosity

We believe curiosity inspires children to explore, build empathy, and connect with others. Learning fueled by curiosity leads to a deeper understanding of self and the world around us. 

Trust

We provide safe, inclusive experiences and spaces to ensure that the community’s trust is earned and upheld in all that we do.

Strategic Plan

In the fall of 2022, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) embarked on a year-and-a-half-long journey to realign our mission, values, and priorities with our new building and begin to paint the picture of who we want to be for ourselves, our visitors, and the community — today and tomorrow. The entire CMTM board and staff devoted themselves to two retreats as well as hundreds of hours of discussion and work groups to contemplate and define our priorities and plan for the future. We also sought community feedback through focus groups comprised of children, caregivers, corporate and foundational partners, educators, advisory councils, and community leaders. Additionally, a community-wide survey garnered more than 400 responses.

Drawing upon insights from all these stakeholders and guided by our strategic planning team at Reflector Lab, our partners in this process, CMTM crafted a revised mission statement, values, and strategic plan to steer our path for the next three years and beyond.

With a blueprint for our future, CMTM is committed to ensuring that every child, irrespective of their abilities or financial circumstances, can visit, play, and experience love, recognition, and celebration within our institution’s embrace.

Special Initiatives

The Suzanne Olson Scholarship Fund

This initiative opens our doors to hundreds of children and families each year. A lack of financial resources is the most significant barrier preventing many families from becoming members and fully benefiting from our services. Trusted community partners assist CMTM in disseminating information about this program. Once families receive their memberships, partners help them utilize their memberships by addressing transportation needs, breaking down language barriers, and providing additional support. Scholarship funds are raised annually and are donated by individuals, families, and foundations. This program has been central to our access, inclusion, and diversity goals for over fifteen years.

Museums for All

CMTM is proud to participate in Museums For All supported by the Lunder Foundation. Through Museums for All supported by the Lunder Foundation, those receiving SNAP, WIC, EBT, or MaineCare benefits, admission is reduced to $1 per person for anyone over 12 months of age. Simply present a valid card at the point-of-purchase. CMTM partners with the Institute for Museums and Library Services (IMLS) and the Association of Children’s Museum (ACM) on this initiative.

Play Your Way

Play Your Way is a special playtime for anyone who would benefit from a quieter, low-key play session at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM), designed for families affected by Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Down Syndrome, or other challenges.

Play Your Way offers families the opportunity to explore the Museum & Theatre, meet other families with similar experiences, and see if CMTM is the right fit for you and your family.

Visitors to Play Your Way can expect a less crowded environment, modifications to age-restricted areas, and a welcoming space with supportive CMTM staff.

Play Your Way is a free event series made possible through generous support from the Pond Family Foundation and the Judith Glickman Lauder Foundation.

Special Occasion Initiatives

The Beautiful Blackbird Children's Book Festival

The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is proud to partner annually with Indigo Arts Alliance, I’m Your Neighbor Books, Diverse BookFinder, and other statewide collaborators for The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival—a joyful celebration of Black and Black Immigrant children’s books and their creators.

Each year, the festival reaches families across Maine through free book giveaways, engaging media and activities, and vibrant community events. CMTM is honored to serve as one of the festival’s host venues, offering a full day of storytimes, art-making, and more.

To ensure accessibility for all, admission to CMTM is just $1 on the day of the festival.

Named in honor of legendary artist and author Ashley Bryan and his iconic picture book Beautiful Blackbird, the festival carries forward his legacy of storytelling, artistry, and inclusion.

Learn more about CMTM’s Beautiful Blackbird exhibit, accessible on the 2nd floor, here.

Belonging Report

Each year, CMTM publishes a comprehensive report reflecting on our belonging initiatives and the impact of our programs. This annual review highlights both targeted belonging efforts and broader programming that together contribute to over half a million dollars in annual subsidies—helping to ensure that all children, regardless of the barriers they face, can access and benefit from everything CMTM has to offer.

Explore past reports here.