A nationally-recognized public liberal arts college, the University of Maine at Farmington is a welcoming, close-knit community of learners located in the heart of Greater Farmington, just a five-minute walk from the downtown. Rooted in a tradition of teacher preparation, UMF offers top quality programs in the arts and sciences, teacher preparation, and business and pre-professional studies. The birthplace of public higher education in Maine, UMF enjoys a 150-year tradition of providing a quality academic experience combined with the personal attention and close student / faculty collaboration that help prepare all students to be successful.
Cultural events abound in Farmington. The University of Maine at Farmington bustles with the excitement of traditional, new media, musical, literary and performance art.
The keystone for the arts complex on the UMF campus is the Emery Community Arts Center, an innovative, experimental venue for the arts in Western Maine. It features an exciting 160-seat multipurpose performance space with dynamic vertical foldaway doors that open onto an outdoor performance area and a Flex-Space gallery for new media, performance and traditional exhibits.
UMF’s Nordica Auditorium— in historic Merrill Hall, and Alumni Theater—a contemporary black box theatre, provide impressive venues for a rich offering of musical and theatre performance. The UMF Art Gallery, located at the back of the University’s Admission building, is a teaching gallery dedicated to bringing contemporary art and artists to campus and the regional community.
A Farmington theatre company dedicated to giving back to the community, Sandy River Players boasts a long history of professional-quality theatre performance. Performers typically include students, faculty and a full spectrum of community members. Active since the 1960s, the company presents two to three productions a year that span the theatrical genre from large cast shows of classic plays and musicals to small cast contemporary shows and readers’ theatre. A long-standing affiliation with the University of Maine at Farmington has established UMF’s Alumni Theatre as the Sandy River Players’ “home” stage, but the company also performs in the on-campus Emery Community Arts Center and venues around the community.
Located prominently on the University of Maine at Farmington campus at 238 Main Street, the University Store is the principal place to purchase UMF merchandise. Serving the campus and the community, the University Store stocks required college course materials and art, school and office supplies. In addition, they offer a wide selection of UMF apparel, gifts and accessories for adults and children. The store is open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, please call 207-778-7325.
Abbott Park, a natural scenic area on the University of Maine at Farmington campus, is a beautiful spot that offers relaxing walking paths, graceful stone bridges, and picturesque Rollo Pond—the sight of the town’s annual spring fishing derby. The park property was first developed in the mid-1800s and includes the original site of the Abbott School for boys, which opened in 1844. The school’s last commencement was in 1918, after which it was purchased by the Farmington State Normal School, now UMF. The location of the original Abbott School would eventually became the sight of the UMF Roberts Learning Center, a University classroom building named after Gwilym Roberts, a much-loved and respected professor at UMF.
