Dover, NH (Friday, February 13) – The Director of the non-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, Jane Bard, was honored by the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce with their 2026 Community Arts Champion Award. Jane was nominated by the Dover Arts Commission, and accepted on behalf of the entire staff at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire.
“Even though my name is on this award, I want to acknowledge that at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, we truly work as a team and share a passion for bringing the joy of the arts to the community and supporting local artists,” shared Bard during her acceptance remarks.
Jane, who recently celebrated 31 years at the Museum, shared that if she were to comment on all the ways the Museum has committed to building community through the arts, her Gala remarks would go on all night. Instead, she shared her top 10 favorite Museum art memories and initiatives:
10. Every visit to the Children’s Museum of NH includes a new daily free art activity inside the Muse Studio exhibit. https://childrens-museum.org/exhibits-2/muse-studio/
9. Partnering with a former museum Artist in Residence, metal sculptor Nate Walker and Dover Middle School Students to design and create the orange octopus bike rack that is installed in front of the Museum.
8. Hosting live performances every month that are free with admission – from music and dance, to storytelling and puppetry.
7. Collaborating with Dover Adult Learning to offer “We All Belong” arts programming for first generation immigrants and their children to help them build connections in the community.
6. Curating and exhibiting the work of local artists and artisans in the Museum’s Gallery 6 – currently featuring beautiful ocean-themed quilts created by the Cochecho Quilters Guild. Gallery 6 is free and open to the public, even adults without children, during our open hours.
5. Welcoming Gallery 6 artists to the Museum to share, create and inspire the next generation of artists with hands-on workshops.
4. Hosting the NH Maker Fest—an annual all ages show-and-tell celebration of makers of all kinds. June 6, 2026 will mark the museum’s 16th Fest! https://childrens-museum.org/programs/nh-maker-fest/
3. Hiring local artists to create immersive exhibit environments, most recently Karen Holman of Barrington to paint detailed murals depicting a New Hampshire Farm. https://childrens-museum.org/exhibits-2/little-farmers/
2. Collaborating with the city of Dover to shepherd the artistic elements in the Dover Adventure Playground such as the Alewife fish and whale’s tail sculptures as well as the musical instruments. https://childrens-museum.org/dover-adventure-playground/
1. And last, but not least, another Nate Walker project—bringing the Blue Crab—now known as Leonardo DiCrabrio—to downtown Dover!
