Published: October 20, 2025
The new Crewe Center for the Arts saw its official ribbon-cutting on October 3rd, officially opening its doors to everyone. While students had access to the building before the event, this was the first time an event was held in the center, and over 500 people attended. Complete with free catering, free books, and plenty of other free items to take home, the event had something for everyone who walked into the building. There was art on display, various activities to participate in, and some high-profile guests, including Governor Janet Mills and USM Graduate/Actor Tony Shalhoub, who gave speeches and participated in the ribbon-cutting.
The building was named after songwriter/producer Bob Crewe and his brother Dan Crewe. Dan’s “Crewe Foundation” donated $6 million towards the construction of the center. Inside the building are 31 studios, hundreds of instruments, and numerous facilities for students or for others to rent out and utilize. The official facilities in the building are the Osher School of Music, the Kate Cheney Center for Book Arts, and the Great Hall Gallery. The goal of the new center is simple and important: the arts deserve better. Since the early 1900s, the Gorham campus has been home to Corthell Hall, the original location of the Dr. Alfred and D. Suzi Osher School of Music. This was the only art-focused building across USM’s campuses. It wasn’t much, but plenty of people have studied the arts there and gone on to be successful, like Tony Shalhoub. However, this new center has revitalized the importance of the arts and brought a far more equipped all-in-one center for young artists. Additionally, the Gorham campus will receive a new art building in a few years, with approval for the project granted this past summer. Artists and art programs everywhere have seen low funding and criticism for a long time, but the Crewe Center for the Arts proves that artists aren’t being forgotten.
