PMA | AMP
Temporary Open-Air Pavilion
Opening to the public on Friday, October 2, 2026
Located at the center of Portland’s Arts District, the community asset will preview the spirit of PMA’s future expansion – a bold reimagining of a campus grounded by place, nature, and art.
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For the community
The free and publicly accessible pavilion will host rotating installations, performances, workshops, PMA Films screenings, and additional programming designed to augment the Arts District and Congress Square.
The space also features a site-specific mural painted by Portland artist Jenna Pirello.
Beyond its architectural vision, the pavilion will serve as a new hub for public programming and civic activity in the Arts District. Planned activations include artist commissions, participatory workshops, outdoor installations, performances, youth-led projects, and seasonal community events.
PMA | AMP is made possible by
- Douglas and Sharyn Howell
With special thanks to the Campus Advancement and Planning Committee for their vision behind this space.
- Kyo Bannai
- Anne-Marie Blatchford
- Paige Carter
- Eileen Gillespie
- Cyrus Hagge
- Erik Hayward
- Leeann Leahy
- Dimitri Michaud
- Paul Peck
- Clayton Spencer
- Jack Soley
- Stewart Strawbridge
The mural is generously supported by Sarah J. Foshay Carpenter & Family.
The pavilion represents an early preview of the vision for PMA’s broader expansion:
A more open, people-centered institution that strengthens the connection between the Museum and the city around it. With its central location, both the pavilion and forthcoming expansion will link the energy of the Arts District, Monument Square, and the Old Port into a single, living expression of what a museum campus can become.
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“We saw an opportunity to create a space that is welcoming, experimental, and immediately useful for the community.
This pavilion reflects the spirit of PMA’s future. It’s open to all, deeply connected to Portland, and designed to bring people together to prove that art can be woven seamlessly into daily life.”
Mark Bessire
Judy and Leonard Lauder Executive Director at the Portland Museum of Art
Designed by LEVER Architecture
The 4,200-square-foot structure is designed by LEVER Architecture – the same firm designing PMA’s upcoming expansion – in collaboration with project manager Urban Projects Collaborative. The team partnered with Maine based-design build firm Woodhull and WholeTrees – who operates a timber mill and fabrication facility in Ashland, ME – to deliver a pavilion where sustainability and reuse are central to the design.
Built using largely Maine-sourced timber and regional materials, the structure is intended to be fully deconstructed, relocated, and repurposed once construction begins on the museum’s permanent new wing. The project reflects the PMA’s broader commitment to environmentally responsible design and long-term stewardship while also investing directly back into Maine’s local economy and creative industries.
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“From performances and workshops to coffee, conversation, and connection, the pavilion will be a place for people to come together, feel part of the life of the city, and connect with the energy and creativity of Portland’s Arts District.”
Lizzy Jones
Executive Deputy Director at the Portland Museum of Art
