At The Francis, we believe in doing more than just welcoming guests—we believe in supporting our community. As one of the most distinctive Historic Hotels in Portland Maine, we’re committed to honoring the past while investing in the city’s future. From showcasing local artists and makers to preserving neighborhood landmarks, we’re proud to collaborate with the people who make Portland such a special place to call home.
Community Connection
Commitment to Portland, Maine History & Community
We Believe in Supporting Local
Community at The Francis Hotel
Our Partners
We’re proud to support a growing list of local creatives, organizations, and businesses.
Indigo Arts Alliance
A Black-led, Portland-based arts organization focused on supporting Black and Brown artists from diverse backgrounds to engage in their creative process. We’ve worked together on public art projects since 2020 and are proud to be corporate sponsors.
Mayo Street Arts
A community-focused venue celebrating multicultural and international music, dance, and puppetry. We regularly host visiting artists and sponsor their work.
Maine Inside Out
This nonprofit uses original theater as a tool for personal growth and social justice, partnering with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people across Maine.
Creative Portland
The city’s official nonprofit arts agency and the force behind the First Friday Art Walk, Creative Portland helps connect residents and visitors to Portland’s incredible creative scene.
Preserving a Landmark
Out front of The Francis, you’ll find one of Portland’s most unique historic treasures: an 18-foot, four-dial Seth Thomas street clock. Originally installed in 1925 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Hay & Peabody—the occupants of the building at the time—the clock has long been a West End landmark. It’s also one of only 80 ever produced by the famed Seth Thomas Clock Company, the same storied makers behind the iconic clock mechanism at Grand Central Terminal.
By the time we purchased the building in 2015, the clock had fallen into serious disrepair. It was cracked, rusted, missing multiple faces, and barely standing. It hadn’t told time in years. Greater Portland Landmarks listed it as a “Place in Peril,” and we knew it deserved more than a passing glance—it needed a full restoration.
So, we got to work. In partnership with local preservationists and community supporters, we launched a multi-year restoration effort. The clock was carefully disassembled and sent to Georgetown, Maine, where Jonathan Taggart of Taggart Objects Conservation spent nearly a year restoring the cast-iron tower and its components. At the same time, the clockworks were brought back to life by horologists from Maine Chapter 89 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, who volunteered their expertise to ensure the mechanism was fully operational once again.
The nearly $50,000 restoration was a project we took on—alongside a few of our neighbors—as a way to give back to the community and preserve a piece of Portland’s history for future generations.
Today, the clock stands proudly once more—fully functional, beautifully restored, and glowing softly each night at the heart of Congress Street. For us, it’s more than just a landmark. It’s a symbol of what’s possible when neighbors, preservationists, and passionate locals come together.
Local by Design
We work with independent artists and makers across Maine to create a guest experience that’s rooted in place—from the furniture to the coffee to the snacks in your minibar.
Burundi Star Coffee
Find this local, Black-owned coffee company in your pour-over kit and in the lobby each morning. They source directly from farms in Burundi.
TACHEE
The decorative pillow on your bed is hand-printed by Portland textile designer Rachel Gloria. Her company, TACHEE, focuses on small-batch, environmentally conscious home goods and clothing.
Nicole Wolf Photography
Nicole’s photographs—found in every room—capture the quiet, timeless beauty of the Maine coast and landscape. We’ve been proudly working with her since 2016.
Pond Cove Millwork
The custom bed frames, front desk, and woodwork throughout The Francis were handcrafted by this skilled local team.
Locally Sourced Minibar
We only stock Maine-made favorites—like Fox Family Potato Chips, Bixby Chocolate, Maine Needham Company treats, Blue Lobster wine, and more.
Allie Norman Design
Our branding and visual identity were crafted by local designer Allie Norman, who helped us bring The Francis look and feel to life.
Connect to the Art and Soul of Portland
Art at The Francis
Every three months, we host a new local artist and transform our front parlor into a rotating gallery space. It’s one of our favorite ways to connect guests with Portland’s creative spirit—and give local talent a beautiful place to shine.
You’ll also find us participating in Portland’s monthly First Friday Art Walk, a city-wide celebration of the arts that welcomes everyone in. Over the years, we’ve had the honor of showcasing a wide range of Maine artists and exhibitions, including:
- Creating in Confinement, a powerful collection of work by currently and formerly incarcerated Mainers, curated in collaboration with Maine Inside Out and the Portland Public Library.
- Geoff Masland, a self-taught visual artist who layers salvaged paper from damaged books and periodicals over underpaintings to explore absence, presence, and the paradox of emptiness within excess. Geoff was featured in New American Paintings Issue 152 – Northeast 2021, selected by Liz Munsell of the MFA Boston.
- Marci Spier, a painter whose thoughtful, non-linear compositions explore identity, repetition, and resistance to traditional structures—expressed through her evolving relationship with Maine’s landscape and light.
- Kneeling Art Photography, organized by Titi de Baccarat, a statewide social justice photography project documenting Mainers who have taken a knee in support of racial justice, captured by ten photographers across a diverse range of communities.
OCTOBER – DECEMBER ARTIST:
ashley trabue
ashley trabue (she/they) is a queer, Southern-born American artist, writer and Montessori-trained educator based in Portland, Maine. She has been making art for more than two decades, working across photography, painting, and mixed media. Their work explores the ways our environments shape us and is rooted in curiosity, presence, and delight.
trabue’s work has been exhibited at places like 21c Museum Hotel, ADC Fine Art, 82 Parris, and Caitlin Shirock Gallery; published in places like the Nashville Review and Hobart; and held in private collections around the world.
Want to Be Featured?
If you’re a Maine-based artist interested in having your work displayed at The Francis, reach out here with your information and a short description of your work—we’d love to hear from you.