As Maine finds creative ways to adapt to the pandemic, members and friends are asking, "Is the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine open?" The short answer is that our 142 Free Street facility in Portland, Maine is closed to the public currently; the long answer is that our programs and staff remain lively in the community. Here's how.
Read MoreThe Museum & Theatre’s new home is a beautiful example of a community’s collective endeavor to build a better future and ensure that all of our children and families have an inspiring and safe space to play and learn. We could not be more grateful to all of our wonderful donors and construction team for their unwavering generosity and partnership. Remember that moment after the press conference In February when we stepped up to the steel beam, signed our name, and thought about how that beam would become part of the new roof some day? This has already become reality.
Read MoreIndigo Arts Alliance, an organization committed to cultivating the artistic development of artists of African descent, launches the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival— in homes across the state. The event was created to honor legendary children’s author and illustrator Ashley Bryan whose award-winning picture book Beautiful Blackbird is a celebration of Blackness. Indigo, in partnership with I’m Your Neighbor Books and the Diverse BookFinder, will use the festival to celebrate children’s books and their creators from across the African diaspora.
Read MoreThe Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine has premiered a kids news program that is by kids and for kids in Maine. Published on the Museum & Theatre’s youtube channel, WCTM Newscast: By Kids For Kids features 8-15 year-olds as the news anchors, reporters, and often as the protagonists of news stories. The premiere episode covers news about Animal Refuge League adoptions, a Girl Scout troop’s research on the history of women’s suffrage, and a mysterious poll that encourages neighbors to vote on the street with rocks.
Read MoreThe one-of-a-kind periscopic camera obscura on the roof of the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine was disassembled and carefully lowered by crane to street level today as the first phase of its move to the Museum & Theatre’s new facility at Thompson’s Point, a 30,000 ft2 building which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2021. After imaging the Free Street neighborhood for nearly 30 years, the camera obscura will now go into storage until later this summer when it will be reinstalled on the roof of the new building
Read MoreThe Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine has established a “Community Fund” that helps meet the needs of under-resourced children and families in Maine. It ensures access to all of our services and educational programs. This includes free online programs that started running during the pandemic closure.
Read MoreWe are excited to announce WCMTM Presents: By Kids For Kids Newscast, a news program celebrating kids, community, and the positive news happening around the state during this time of social distancing. Spotlighting kids as helpers, organizations that are helping kids, and the great things neighbors are doing for each other, each episode of By Kids For Kids Newscast brings a healthy dose of good news to Mainers.
Read MoreSometimes when things feel entirely upside down, you can come back to the basics and remember what is most important. For us, this means revisiting the power of play.
Read MoreIn our first month, we've launched free-of-charge online educational programming and reached nearly 30,000 children, families, and teachers at home. Our community's response to this programming has been astounding. I'm really proud of what we accomplished in a short amount of time, but this closure has not come without serious challenges.
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