Design with purpose
Turn an idea into a plan, choose the right details, and make creative decisions with growing confidence.
Youth development through creative production
Life skills through the arts.
We help children ages 8–16 discover the work behind a creative project—from costume and set design to music direction—and build confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills they can carry for life.
For ages 8–16Behind-the-scenes pathways
We teach more than art.
Every project is a chance to practice the skills that shape a capable, connected life. The artistic project is the vehicle. The life skill is the lasting outcome.
Make something real
Turn an idea into a finished piece through patience, planning, and perseverance.
Work behind the scenes
Listen, communicate, adapt, and contribute to a shared creative goal.
Carry it forward
Reflect on what you learned and take those skills into school, work, and life.
Creative work has many roles.
Costumes, sets, sound, music, film, and writing all help bring a creative project to life. Young people can explore the people and skills behind the finished work.
01
Costume design
Detail · Imagination · Craft
02
Set design & building
Planning · Making · Problem-solving
03
Music direction & composition
Listening · Leadership · Creativity
04
Film & media
Planning · Technology · Collaboration
05
Visual arts
Creativity · Patience · Problem-solving
06
Writing
Imagination · Critical thinking · Communication
Where creative skills can lead
Behind-the-scenes work opens doors.
A costume designer could become the next fashion designer or fashionista. A set designer could become the next architect or carpenter. A music director could become the next composer.
Every role builds practical skills, creative confidence, and a sense of what might be possible next.
Where it began
A camp spirit, carried forward.
Our roots are in Camp Maranacook Arts, where the belief that creative experiences can build life skills began. We carry that spirit forward by giving young people a welcoming place to plan, make, collaborate, and grow.
Art is not an extra here. It is a way to practice the confidence, curiosity, empathy, and responsibility that help a young person meet the world.
Read our story
Fundraising goal
Help make room for possibility.
Your gift helps make creative experiences more accessible to young people—from a first sketch to a finished project shared with the community.
To donate
Email Donations@maranacookarts.org for donation information.
The people behind the work
A family story with room for a whole community.
Maranacook Arts is shaped by the care, imagination, and persistence of the Gunn family and the community around them.
- Libby Gunn (1932–2022)
- Karen Gunn
- Victoria Gunn-Saye
- Christian Gunn-Saye
In-kind support
Items We Need
We welcome community members who would like to support the practical side of creative programming.
Need the current list?
The supplied donation-items document could not be retrieved from its source, so we are not listing unverified items. Please email Donations@maranacookarts.org for the current list of needed donations.
Ask for the current listOur approach
The arts are the classroom. Life is the lesson.
We give young people a clear path from idea to finished work, with reflection built into every experience.
01
Learn
Discover a new artistic skill.
02
Plan
Turn an idea into a clear creative direction.
03
Make
Build, shape, write, arrange, or edit something real.
04
Collaborate
Work with others toward a common goal.
05
Reflect
Recognize the life skills developed through the experience.
Make room for possibility
There is room for your creativity.
Families, volunteers, donors, and community partners can help young people discover meaningful work behind the scenes.