Blog: New at CMTM

A series of watershed aquarium tanks has been raised by crane to the third floor science center as the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine transitions from construction of its new 30,000 square foot facility to installation of exhibits. When the new facility opens in spring 2021, it will collectively contain a 100-seat state-of-the-art theatre, a 10,000 sq. ft science center, an entire floor devoted to arts, culture, and community, and over a 1/2 acre of outdoor play area.

The one-of-a-kind periscopic camera obscura owned by the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine was carefully raised by the Cote Crane Company onto the roof of its 30,000 square foot facility at Thompson’s Point today. This marks the beginning of the installation of hands-on, family-centered exhibits at the Museum & Theatre which are scheduled to open in Spring 2021. When complete, the new facility will contain a 100-seat state-of-the-art theatre, a 10,000 sq ft science center, an entire floor devoted to arts, culture, and community, and over a 1/2 acre of outdoor play area.

The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine was awarded $15,000 by the Maine Arts Commission. The partnership with MAC to make the arts more accessible is developing during an ideal time - our transition into the new building at Thompson’s Point. The new 30,000 ft2 facility will provide greatly expanded arts and culture exhibits and programming and theatre experiences to twice as many children and families each year, estimated to reach as many as 250,000 annually.

The Museum & Theatre was invited to serve as one of the Portland Public School’s “trusted community partners” who could provide a childcare hub after school. The Free Street building is currently hosting two pods of children who alternate their days spent in discovery and play with Museum & Theatre educators in the afternoons. Supported by over $25,000 in CARES ACT funding, this will continue until mid-December, contingent upon the course of the pandemic.