Youth Playwriting Festival brings Maine kids’ ideas to life onstage

A favorite pastime for some children is writing plays, often gathering their parents in the living room for theatrical performances or directing their friends in the newest skit at recess. On Saturday and Sunday, the stage got a little bigger for eight Maine children as they saw their plays performed at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.

The Youth Playwriting Festival showcased eight stories — four each day — written by children under 17, whose play topics ranged from normalizing the experience of occupational therapy to imagining a unicorn sleepover party.

Imagination Ball gives Children’s Museum a financial and emotional boost

Having covered nonprofit fundraisers weekly for the past 13 years, I have seen hundreds of auctions where ordinary people raise their hands — and their bid numbers — to protect the organizations and initiatives that matter to them. Never is that impulse stronger than when they feel that something they love, like the Children’s Museum & Theater of Maine, is threatened.

Portland Press HeraldHannah DalyMay 29, 2025News

Maine nonprofits try to navigate funding cuts, unclear rules and an uncertain future

The staff at Victoria Mansion in Portland found out about the loss of federal funding in degrees.

First came the news that President Donald Trump had signed an executive order declaring the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary federal support for libraries and museums nationwide, was “unnecessary.” Then the entire staff of the federal agency was placed on a 90-day leave.

Finally, Timothy Brosnihan, executive director of the mansion, got a short email last week saying the organization’s grant from the IMLS “is no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States and the IMLS Program.”

Portland Press HeraldHannah DalyApril 29, 2025IMLS

2025 Governor’s Conference for Tourism keeps business owners optimistic about summer season

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Over 300 stakeholders gathered at the Cross Center in Bangor for the 2025 Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

Gov. Janet Mills surprised business leaders in the state at the conference with a speech.

“Hopefully, we’ll be successful in attracting high numbers of tourists from all countries including Canada to the state of Maine because we want them here,” said Mills.

Small businesses in Maine account for 99.2% of operations.

WABI 5Hannah DalyApril 18, 2025IMLS, Tourism

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The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine in the media

At the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM), we set the stage for every child to imagine & learn through play.

CMTM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Give to support our work and open the door to wonder.