THE 1932 CRITERION THEATRE AND HARPER HOUSE MUSIC FOUNDATION (HHMF) ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH MAINE ACADEMY OF MODERN MUSIC (MAMM)
$50,000 INITIAL GRANT FROM HHMF LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR EXPANDING MUSIC ENRICHMENT OFFERINGS FOR YOUTH ON MOUNT DESERT ISLAND AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
BAR HARBOR—The 1932 Criterion Theatre, Bar Harbor’s beloved Art Deco cultural landmark, and Harper House Music Foundation (HHMF) have announced a substantial new grant from HHMF supporting the Portland, ME-based community-led Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM). The $50,000 multi-year grant will lay the groundwork for expanding music enrichment offerings for youth on Mount Desert Island and surrounding communities. HHMF’s grant will fund an area-wide music landscape scan, including interviews with local community leaders, musicians, parents, and other key stakeholders, to identify potential partners and build grassroots support for future offerings. The outreach will culminate this spring with a community mixer on MDI to recruit local musicians, sponsors, and other potential partners. In addition, the grant will also fund an MDI tour stop on MAMM’s Spring 2026 Amplify Tour, which brings Maine rock bands to perform for over 1,000 attendees at venues across the Pine Tree State. A pilot session of MAMM’s “Rock and Roll Little League” coaching program will be held on MDI over the April school vacation week, with the goal of having participants perform as an opening act at the Amplify Tour event.
HHMF’s grant to MAMM follows the announcement late last year of Courtney Sale as the Criterion’s new Executive Director. Sale, who began her new role on February 1st, will lead the continuing revitalization of the historic theatre while focusing on advancing its programming across music, theatre, film, dance, and lectures.
“HHMF’s stewardship of the Criterion has a broader purpose beyond our ongoing commitment to the Theatre’s sustainable future,” says HHMF Founder Stephen Sullens. “Our intention is to provide philanthropic leadership in developing the music community and education infrastructure in Downeast Maine. MAMM is an ideal partner for Courtney and the Criterion team to initiate these efforts, and one whose work we hope will inspire others to participate and support.”
“We are grateful for HHMF connecting MAMM and the Criterion in a dynamic partnership,” says Courtney Sale, executive director of the 1932 Criterion Theatre. “Our collaboration will ensure young artists have mentorship, resources, and access to a world-class venue. We believe the arts have the power to transform lives and connect people across their differences. There is no better model for young people than three vibrant organizations partnering in true reciprocity.”
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with HHMF and the Criterion Theatre to expand access to contemporary music education across rural eastern Maine,” says Jeff Shaw, executive director of MAMM. “By building a more meaningful connection with the Mount Desert Island music and arts community, this effort will help strengthen and grow our programs in Bangor and throughout Downeast Maine, while deepening our commitment to creating inclusive, community-driven opportunities for young people.”
ABOUT THE 1932 CRITERION THEATRE:
The 1932 Criterion Theatre has been a vital artistic cornerstone of the Mount Desert Island community since first opening in 1932. One of only two remaining Art Deco theaters in the state of Maine, the Criterion is the only one to have maintained its original auditorium, including its iconic floating balcony. 2025 saw the Criterion renew its long-term commitment to MDI and the surrounding communities with the transfer of all assets to Harper House Music Foundation (HHMF), a nonprofit public charity focused on supporting music communities and arts education. Founded by longtime Bar Harbor summer residents Stephen and Allison Sullens, HHMF pledged $1 million in operational, programming, and preservation support while also announcing plans to partner with local stakeholders to steward the Criterion’s future as a vibrant, community-centered performing arts venue. In addition, HHMF will seed the “HHMF Criterion Theatre Preservation Fund,” a donor-advised fund established with the Maine Community Foundation to accept donations to support the iconic venue and further its community and music initiatives.
The Criterion Theatre’s upcoming season includes live performances from such nationally known artists as The Wallflowers (May 24), Punch Brothers (July 22), Rhiannon Giddens (July 28) and Melissa Etheridge (August 30), with many more summer announcements in the coming weeks. For upcoming shows and events, please visit www.criteriontheatre.org/events. In addition, the Criterion will continue to screen an eclectic variety of classic and contemporary films. A complete schedule and showtimes are available HERE.
ABOUT HARPER HOUSE MUSIC FOUNDATION (HHMF):
HHMF seeks to be an agent of change by facilitating efforts that help artists share their work, lead stable and healthy lives, and preserve their unique legacies. As a public charity centered on grantmaking and strategic investments, HHMF addresses infrastructure and funding gaps while supporting a diverse music landscape.
The foundation has collaborated with vital music non-profits, including the Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie Centers, Americana Music Foundation, Backline, Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, and Newport Festivals Foundation, as well as notable artists such as Natalie Merchant, T-Bone Burnett, Rosanne Cash, Rhiannon Giddens, and Jim James. For more information, please see harperhousemusicfoundation.org.
ABOUT MAINE ACADEMY OF MODERN MUSIC (MAMM):
Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM) is a community-led 501c3 non-profit school of music founded in 2007. MAMM offers classes, lessons, camps, and ensemble experiences in contemporary genres. It primarily serves young people ages 8 to 18, with a target population of those struggling at home or in school due to language, cultural, social, learning, and/or income barriers. MAMM also provides early-education music classes for 0 to 5-year-olds and instruction for adult bands to reconnect with their enthusiasm for music.
MAMM is based in Portland and also offers programming in Augusta, Waterville, Bangor, and Washington County, reaching over 2,000 students, the majority of whom receive scholarships or participate free through partnerships with community-based organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and the Maine Seacoast Mission. MAMM reaches an additional 20,000 people annually through concerts in the communities where it operates.
MAMM recently announced a major expansion of its programming into Downeast Maine, building on years of grassroots partnerships and community engagement in the region. This effort will include new Rock Camps designed to give students hands-on experience forming bands, writing original songs, and performing live; community concerts that showcase young musicians while strengthening connections between families, schools, and local businesses; and partnership-based programming with regional schools and arts organizations to ensure sustainable, long-term impact. On Thursday, April 2, MAMM will host a mixer at the Criterion Theatre, 35 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, to share more about the partnership. The event begins at 6 pm with an open mic following at 7 pm.
For more information, please see www.maineacademyofmodernmusic.org.
CONNECT WITH THE 1932 CRITERION THEATRE
CRITERIONTHEATRE.ORG | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE
CONNECT WITH HARPER HOUSE MUSIC FOUNDATION