Our Mission Statement

Boats and balls float together in the stream.

Our Organization

The Museum & Theatre is a significant and valuable community asset, offering a broad and diverse array of educational and cultural enrichment opportunities especially developed for children ages 0-10 and the adults who accompany them.

2008-2009 Annual Report
2007-2008 Annual Report
2006-2007 Annual Report

Learn More About the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine

Long Range Focus
After careful study of community needs, available resources, and capacity, we established four areas of focus:

Science Education

Early Childhood Education

Multicultural Education

Arts Education

Population Served

Our work within the Museum reaches children 6 months to 10 years of age, as well as their families and caregivers.

Our Theatre productions include cast and crew members ages 7 to 16. Shows are enjoyed by audiences of all ages

Our outreach and programming serve students and educators throughout the state, in classes from Pre-K through 5th grade.

Recognition

Winner of the Nickelodeon's Parents' Pick Award for the Best Museum in Portland (2009)

Awarded Museums for America grant from Institute of Museum and Library Sciences in support of We Are Maine, a multicultural exhibit reflecting the diversity of our local community (2006)

Ranked #14 on Child Magazine's list of top children's museums in the country (2002)

Selected by Eastman Kodak as a host site for an ongoing Camera Obscura exhibit; one of fewer than 20 in the United States (1996)

Exhibit Highlights: 2008-2009

In May 2009, our latest Environmental Exhibits Collaborative (EEC) exhibit, DinoTracks opened in the Big Gallery.

Our Town, the bustling center of our first floor, underwent extensive renovations, including new facades and signs for Toddler Park, a tractor for the farm, and several safety upgrades.

Due to popular demand, our physical science exhibit, Have A Ball! reopened in our front gallery.

Local artist Patrick Corrigan hand painted colorful new signs for our stairwells and lobby. These signs, along with a spinner featuring Museum & Theatre destinations, help visitors find their own path.

Education Highlights: 2008-2009

Since our merger in November of 2008, we have successfully produced 5 plays in our Dress Up Theatre.

Every week, the Museum & Theatre's education staff, youth staff and volunteers led at least 50 programs and activities for our visitors - that's over 2,600 per year!

The Youth Ranger program continues to employ high school students as environmental science educators, with recruitment focused on minority youth.

People: 2008-2009
In the last year, we welcomed over 103,000 visitors!

More than 1,600 families purchased memberships.

Nearly 4,900 visitors enjoyed the Museum & Theatre free of charge, taking advantage of Free Fridays and donated passes distributed by local social agencies, and 50 families in need received scholarship memberships.

Over 150 volunteers came individually and in groups, donating more than 2,000 hours of time to helping the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.

Nearly 2,000 children and adults took part in educational outreach programs.

Partners: 2008-2009

We received generous support from 12 major corporate sponsors of exhibits and educational programming, and nearly 20 sponsors of special events.

30 businesses joined us as Corporate Members, supporting the Museum's mission and enjoying free passe and other benefits for employees.

The Museum was awarded 12 foundation and government grants, totaling over $60,000; these grants supported programming, outreach, general operations, and more.

DinoTracks opened in May in our Big Gallery, featuring a mix of fossils, models, and interactive games. This is a continuation of the work we have been doing since 2006 in partnership with five other science and children's museums as a member of the Environmental Exhibits Collaborative (EEC).

Thank you for visiting.

We hope to see you at the Museum & Theatre very soon!