By Stephanie Grinnell
Staff Writer
   

Scarborough’s Fiddlehead Center for the Arts plans to expand its artistic and musical programs to Biddeford’s North Dam Mill this summer, said Director Mary Jo Marquis.
    As many Biddeford families already attend classes at the Scarborough location, a satellite location for the program came about through discussions with the Biddeford school department when Marquis worked with the department to apply for a federal education grant to help fund after school non-academic programs, Marquis said.
    Fiddlehead Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization and its goal is to promote “appreciation for the arts and increase education and participation in the arts and sciences in a safe and inspiring environment,” according to the Web site www.fiddleheadcenter.org.
    The Scarborough location opened in 2005 as a satellite of the first Fiddlehead Center in Gray-New Gloucester, Marquis said.
    “As we’ve gotten established here, we’ve looked at surrounding community needs as well,” she said.
    The Scarborough and Gray locations offer piano, voice, violin and guitar lessons in addition to after school programs such as film making and animation, Lego robotics, Spanish and yoga, Marquis said. There is also a preschool featuring children’s yoga, Spanish and an introductory music program for young children at both locations. Marquis said the program is starting to outgrow its current location at Saint Nicholas Episcopal Church on Route 1 in Scarborough.
    “We are looking for our own space and to find our own identity,” she said, adding she has signed a letter of intent for a new, larger location in Scarborough, and she hopes to move into the new building by fall.
    She said there seems to be a surplus of space in Biddeford in addition to a need for musical and artistic programs, such as the ones Fiddlehead offers. She said she hopes to establish a permanent location in Biddeford, depending on how the summer programs go. She said the space in North Dam perfectly suited the needs of the programs.
    The Biddeford location will feature programs for children ages 3 through 12 years old during five weeks this summer beginning the first week in July with Art Camp for ages 6 through 9 years old. The next week is Musical Theater followed by Claymation, Lego Robotics and Adventures in Art, Movement and Song. Each camp focuses on a different age group and was selected based on Biddeford’s needs, Marquis said. A full schedule of summer programs for all three locations may be found at www.fiddleheadcenter.org, along with applications and fee listings.
    For parents who are not able to afford the fees, Biddeford Savings Bank donated money for scholarships, Marquis said. The scholarships will be need-based, she said.
    The summer camps at North Dam are not the first time Fiddlehead students will have their artwork on display in the city. Marquis said students participated in Biddeford’s monthly art walk in April, displaying their work at the Foot Oasis on Main Street.
    “I’m really excited about seeing how this goes,” she said. “I felt like [Biddeford’s] arms were wide open.”
    Marquis said she heard about North Dam and owner Doug Sanford’s work to transform the former textile mill into a multi-use space.
    “I was very impressed with the revitalization efforts,” she said. “And he [Sanford] made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
    North Dam Director of Marketing and Development David Versel said he is hopeful Fiddlehead will establish a permanent location in Biddeford.
    “Fiddlehead Center for the Arts will be a great addition to North Dam Mill. Arts and culture have been at the heart of our vision from the beginning and we are very excited to host such high quality programs for children,” he said.
     For more information, visit www.fiddleheadcenter.org.