The Crewe Center for the Arts
Update
10/16/23
USM Breaks Ground on New Crewe Center for the Arts
Last week, the University of Southern Maine celebrated the official groundbreaking of The Crewe Center for the Arts, the new performing and visual arts facility being built on the Portland campus. The name of the Center, announced by award-winning actor and USM graduate Tony Shalhoub ’77, recognizes the generosity and commitment of Daniel Crewe ’22H, a longtime champion of the arts and Chair of USM’s just-completed Great University Campaign, which raised a record-breaking $50 million.
The $63 million, 40,000 square foot Crewe Center will have state-of-the-art facilities for music teaching, learning, and performance, and establish a Portland presence for USM’s theatre, dance, and visual arts programs. The Center’s key spaces include the 200-seat Performance Hall that can accommodate smaller ensembles, opera, and dance performances; the multipurpose Arts Lab for recitals, rehearsals, and other events; the Great Hall Gallery exhibition space; and the Visual Arts Studio, home to the Kate Cheney Chappell ’83 Center for Book Arts. Outdoor spaces are planned for concerts, a sculpture garden, and visual arts terrace.
When completed in 2025, the Crewe Center for the Arts is expected to boost enrollment at USM’s Osher School of Music, attracting talented students from Maine and throughout the northeast. The Osher School has a 60-year legacy as a premier program and training ground for musicians and teachers and its influence can be felt all over the world. Distinguished and award-winning graduates include Grammy winners, Metropolitan Opera singers, nationally known soloists, and music entrepreneurs. The school is also the backbone of K-12 music education in Maine, with choral and band professionals leading programs across the state.
Photo: Consigli Construction
