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The Maryland Commission on Artistic Property

Mark B. Letzer, Chair
Christopher J. Kintzel, Director
Robin Gower, Curator

The Maryland Commission on Artistic Property, which oversees the administration of the state art collections, consists of fifteen members, seven of whom are ex officio institutional members and eight of whom are public members. Ex-officio members of the Commission are the directors of the following Maryland cultural institutions: The Academy Art Museum, The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Maryland Center for History and Culture, The Peabody Institute, The Walters Art Museum, and the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, as well as the president of the Maryland Institute College of Art.

In 1969, the Commission on Artistic Property was formed (Chapter 111, Acts of 1969). It was incorporated into the State Archives in 1984 (Chapter 286, Acts of 1984). With the Governor's approval, the State Archivist names the chair and the public members (Code State Government Article, secs. 9-1016 through 9-1023).

With the approval of the Governor and the State Archivist, the Commission may receive and accept gifts and loans of paintings and decorative art works. With the approval of the Governor, the State Archivist may accept gifts of money for the Commission from any source, public or private, and thereafter administer and expend the funds according to the conditions and terms of the gift. In 1996, the Commission, on behalf of the State, accepted the art collection of the Peabody Institute.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Maryland Commission on Artistic Property is to serve the public as the official custodian of the state owned art collection, as well as fine and decorative arts owned by or loaned to the State. The collection is comprised of those works of art and decorative objects that document the history of Maryland through subject, maker, or provenance. The goal of the Commission is to make the collection accessible to the public through preservation, conservation, display and interpretation. The Commission approves acquisitions to the collection through donation, public commission, or transfer from other state agencies. The Commission was incorporated into the Maryland State Archives in 1984 (Chapter 286, Maryland Acts of 1984).

Ex officio members:

Julia Marciari-Alexander Director, The Walters Art Museum
Fred Bronstein Dean, The Peabody Institute

Katie Caljean, Executive Director, The Maryland Center for History and Culture
Jennifer Chrzanowski Interim Director, Academy Art Museum

Sarah J. Hall Director, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
Kevin G. Moreno Acting President, Maryland Institute College of Art
Asma Naeem Director, The Baltimore Museum of Art


Public members: Appointed by the State Archivist with the approval of the Governor:

Chairman: Mark B. Letzer Baltimore, MD
Philip Cantelon CEO, History Associates, Inc.
Diane Hutchins Government Relations Specialist
Sasha Lourie Associate Curator, Office of Senate Curator, U.S. Capitol
Julie Madden Former Board Member, Maryland Citizens for the Arts
Susan Perrin Susan Perrin Art Consulting
Joseph Ruzicka Department of the Treasury
David Terry Assistant Professor, Morgan State University

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© Copyright March 12, 2024 Maryland State Archives