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Arial view of the Miller Senate Building at Maryland Arts Day in Annapolis.
Gov. O'Malley's budget supports the arts
Speaking to more than 400 arts advocates who gathered in Annapolis, Feb. 20, for Maryland Arts Day, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown said: “In Maryland, the arts support more than 11,000 jobs and $399 million in salaries with a total economic impact of $1 billion. That's why in our proposed budget, we're investing $15.2 million in the arts in Maryland—a $2 million increase from last year.”
Dominick E. Murray, secretary, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, told the group: “Our public investment in the arts plays a vital role in the health of our economy and in the lives of all citizens across the state.” He noted that the state has 20 designated arts and entertainment districts, where arts-related enterprises fuel community development.
The advocates met with state legislators in individual meetings to make the case for continued state funding of the arts. Convening in the Miller Senate Office Building, they also heard remarks from Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., in addition to Matthew Gallagher, chief of staff for Gov. Martin O'Malley, and Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr., a Montgomery County resident who is a member of the Maryland State Arts Council.
Maryland Citizens for the Arts, which organizes this annual event, uses the occasion to announce the recipient of its Sue Hess Maryland Arts Advocate of the Year Award. This year's winner is Susan S. Farr, executive director of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland in College Park. Since coming to the Smith Center in 1999, Farr has forged ties with diverse communities across Prince George's and Montgomery counties. The center presents more than 600 free events each year.
See photos from Maryland Arts Day.
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MSAC announces regional arts forums
The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) has announced that a series of regional arts forums will help shape the reassessment of Imagine Maryland, its five-year strategic plan. Each of the six forums, which are hosted by County Arts Councils, will be held at MSAC grantee organizations.
“This important process will allow us to gauge the success of the past five years and building on that foundation, identify opportunities to broaden the cultural and economic impact of the arts in years to come,” said MSAC Chair Barbara Bershon, in announcing the update. Updates to the strategic plan will measure advances toward its original goals and prioritize remaining opportunities.
The MSAC invites members of the Maryland arts community to attend the arts forum in their region. Please RSVP at least three days in advance by clicking the link to register. Questions should be directed to the Maryland State Arts Council at 410.767.6555.
Regional arts forums (listed by nearest date):
- Central Maryland (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, and Howard counties and Baltimore City): Monday, March 18, 1:30pm-4:00pm at Creative Alliance. Register.
- Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties): Tuesday, March 19, 1:30pm-4:00pm at the Calvert Maritime Museum. Register.
- Upper Eastern Shore (Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties): Monday, March 25, 1:30pm-4:00pm at the Queen Anne's County Arts Council. Register.
- Lower Eastern Shore (Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties): Tuesday, March 26, 9:30am-12:00 p.m. at The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Register.
- Western Maryland (Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties): Monday, April 29, 6:00pm-8:30pm at Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center. Register.
- Capital Region (Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties): Tuesday, April 30, 9:30am-12pm at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Register.
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MSAC hosts Poetry Out Loud State final
This year, more than 16,000 Maryland students have competed in Poetry Out Loud (POL), a national poetry recitation contest sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, with support from state arts councils.
This Saturday, the nine Maryland students who advanced through POL school, county, and regional competitions will meet in Baltimore to compete for the POL Maryland state champion title, and the opportunity to represent Maryland at the POL national competition in Washington, D.C., this April.
The state final will be hosted by Aaron Henkin, host of WYPR's weekly arts and culture radio magazine, The Signal, with performances by Emmy-nominated singer/songwriter ellen cherry and Baltimore-based improvising chorus, Parallel Octave.
The 2013 Poetry Out Loud State Final is at 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 9 at the Baltimore Museum of Arts' Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
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Gov. O’Malley launches #MDLove public art project
In February, the Governor partnered with the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), the Baltimore Love Project and the Digital Harbor Foundation's STEM Engine Program to launch the Maryland Love Project, an online portal where people can submit all of the reasons why they love Maryland by sharing a photo, tweet or story.
Governor O'Malley said, “By harnessing the power of crowd sourcing, we'll be able to showcase all of the reasons why people love Maryland while shining a light on the important role that the arts and technology play in our communities.”
In the early summer, an artist from the Baltimore Love Project will interpret the online submissions and create a mural for display in Baltimore City. “The Maryland Love Project is a reflection of the creativity and the spirit of community that exist in our state,” said Theresa Colvin, executive director of the MSAC. “Public art has a powerful way of reinforcing those connections in beautiful and interesting ways.”
All are invited to contribute to the project by tweeting a photo or phrase with the hashtag #MDLove.
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Blue Star Museums seek Maryland partners
Blue Star Museums, a partnership of Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts, partners annually with museums across the country to provide free admission for all active duty, National Guard and Reserve military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Last summer, the program was embraced by 1,882 museums across the country—including 42 in Maryland—that were visited by more than 475,000 active duty military personnel and their families.
To become a Blue Star museum, follow this link to sign up on-line before April 1, 2013 to be included on the NEA Blue Star Museums map and website, www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. Institutions that already offer a similar program or are free to all, can still register to show support for the military community. For questions, email bluestarmuseums@arts.gov.
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New executive director for The Walters
The Walters, announced on February 20 that Julia Marciari-Alexander has been appointed Executive Director, effective April 1. Marciari-Alexander brings more than fifteen years of experience in all aspects of museum operations, including management, exhibitions, publications and education, most recently as Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs at the San Diego Museum of Art. She earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in the History of Art at Yale University. She also received an M.A. in French literature at New York University and a B.A. in Art History and French at Wellesley College.
Marciari-Alexander replaces Gary Vikan, who is stepping down after more than 27 years of service to the Walters, including 18 years as Executive Director. Among the many transformative strategic initiatives implemented during his tenure was the elimination of the Walters' general admission fee. “She takes over a museum that is strong financially and programmatically and whose reputation nationally and internationally continues to grow,” said Douglas Hamilton, President of The Walters' Board of Trustees. “For this, we are grateful for Gary Vikan's leadership and your support."
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Prince George's artist named among “Top 30 Black Artists Under 40”
The Huffington Post recently named artist and Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) board member Samantha Vernon as one of the top 30 young Black artists in America who are contributing to the ongoing conversation of race and representation in contemporary art.
PGAHC Executive Director Rhonda Dallas said, "We are thrilled to have one of our own, a native Prince Georgian and Suitland High School graduate, recognized on such a prestigious national platform. As an artist and arts administrator, Sam brings extraordinary energy to her personal and professional work. The only things that surpass Sam's creativity are her humility and her willingness to share her gift with underserved communities."
According to The Huffington Post, "Vernon re-imagines questions of race, sexuality and historical memory through the lens of ghost stories and science fiction. Her imaginative installations and drawings create an alternate world where the personal and the supernatural are closely entwined." Read The Huffington Post story here.
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New Baltimore County arts TV show
smARTS, a new television show about Baltimore County's lively arts and culture scene, premiers today. The show is a co-production of the Baltimore County Commission on Arts & Sciences and BCPS-TV, the Baltimore County Public Schools television station.
smARTS is hosted and co-produced by Carolyn Black-Sotir, chair of the Baltimore County Arts & Sciences Commission, and a professional singer and television host. Half-hour programs released quarterly will feature in-studio and location interviews with County artists and performers and highlights upcoming arts activities taking place in Baltimore County. A "Get smARTER" segment in each show teaches viewers something new, such as how performers sing in harmony or how a ballet dancer stands on toe shoes.
smARTS premieres March 7, and airs Thursdays and Fridays, 7:00-7:30 p.m. and Tuesdays 11:30-noon on BCTV, Baltimore County Comcast Channel 25. Segments are available 24/7 on the Baltimore County government web site www.baltimorecountymd.gov.
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IN THE NEWS
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 Liz Lerman, founder and choreographer emerita of Dance Exchange in Takoma Park, is featured in the Feb. 27 New York Times story, “ Universities Join Artists to Conjure the Civil War.” Lerman's dance-theatre piece “Healing Wars” is part of the National Civil War Project, which is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the war (1861-65) by developing 12 new theatrical works about, or inspired by, the conflict, as well as scholarly and public presentations and student projects.
“Healing Wars,” looks at healers — from the Civil War to today's conflicts — as they treat the physical and psychic wounds of battle. It will premiere at the Arena Stage in 2014.
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EVENTS
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- Organized by Americans for the Arts, the 26th Annual Arts Advocacy Day is the only national event that brings together a diverse group of cultural and civic organizations, plus hundreds of grassroots arts advocates, to highlight the importance of strong public policies and increased public funding for the arts. Arts Advocacy Day is from April 8-9 in Washington, D.C.
- Annapolis Opera's year-long celebration of its 40 th anniversary will culminate on March 15 and 17 at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts with Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto. The company will hold a dress rehearsal that is open to students (ages 8-25) on Wednesday, March 13 at 7:30pm. Tickets for the dress rehearsal are $5 with a valid student ID (available only at the door). The performances are Friday, March 15 at 8:00pm and Sunday, March 17 at 3:00 pm, with a pre-performance lecture one hour before, at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. Tickets are available online.
- The 16th annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County will be held from 6–10 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Howard Community College's Peter & Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available online.
- The Allegany Arts Council 's Saville Gallery will present "Still Motion: Video Art and Photography" by artist Scott Henshaw. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, March 9 from 6-8PM . The event is free and open to the public.
- Pump Me Up: D.C. Subculture of the 1980s is an exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery that explores the underground culture of the 1980's. The exhibit, which runs through April 7, 2013, showcases Baltimore's legendary show card printer Globe Press, which was acquired by Maryland Institute College of Art in 2011.
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OPPORTUNITIES
& DEADLINES |
Deadlines for Maryland State Arts Council programs:
- Maryland Touring Grant: Presenting arts organizations are eligible to apply. The application may be submitted via eGrant starting on March 11, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m., April 30.
- Artist in Residence Grant: Teachers and schools are eligible to apply. The application may be submitted via eGrant starting on March 15, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m., May 17.
- Arts & Entertainment Districts Technical Assistance Grant: Designated Arts & Entertainment Districts are eligible to apply. The application may be submitted via eGrant starting on March 7. There are four application deadlines:
- May 9, 2013 for activities that will begin or take place between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014
- July 25, 2013 for activities that will begin or take place between October 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014
- September 12, 2013 for activities that will begin or take place between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014
- January 23, 2013 for activities that will begin or take place between April 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014
Arts, Culture & Design in Schools, a charitable initiative of national retailer Target, is accepting applications from schools and nonprofit organizations for programs that bring arts and cultural experiences directly to K-12 students. The company awards grants of $2,000 for programs that enhance the classroom curricula via in-school performances, artist-in-residency programs, workshops, and more. Programs must take place between September 2013 and August 2014. Applications are accepted between March 1 and April 30 each year, with grant awards announced in September. See eligibility and application guidelines.
The Maryland Artist/Teacher Institute, a joint project of the Maryland State Department of Education, University System of Maryland, Maryland State Arts Council and Arts Education in Maryland Schools Alliance, is accepting applications from individuals and school teams for its intensive, week-long professional development session, July 8-July 12. Applications are available online.
The 23rd Annual Art@the Park, a regional music, food and arts festival in Quiet Waters Park, is calling for artists to exhibit and sell artwork at the event, October 19-20 in Annapolis. The deadline to apply online is April 8, 3013.
The Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation is seeking arts councils, colleges and universities, community arts centers, film festivals, libraries, media arts centers, museums, performing arts centers, and visual arts spaces interested in serving as host sites for the 2013-2014 On Screen/In Person tour. The program tours new independent American films accompanied by their creators to communities across the mid-Atlantic region. Program guidelines and application forms are available online; the deadline to apply is March 29, 3013.
Star-Spangled 200 grant program re-opens March 1
The next cycle of the Star-Spangled 200 Grant Program opens March 1, with a deadline of May 1, 3013. The program assists non-profit organizations and units of local, state and federal government in resource stewardship, education and tourism and economic development projects that promote engagement with national bicentennial commemoration activities in Maryland.
To learn more about eligible projects, funding priorities and matching fund requirements, download the Star-Spangled 200 Grant Program Guidelines and Instructions, or view the list of previously funded projects. Contact Bill Pencek (410-767-6289) with questions regarding grant applications.
The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts' MECU Neighborhood Event Grants award cash grants to neighborhood associations and community-based nonprofit organizations in Baltimore City to produce special events. Eligible groups can receive up to $1,000 to support community events such as art workshops, back-to-school rallies, block parties, book drives, food drives and more. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 22, 2013 at 5pm. An application can be downloaded here.
The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures' Transnational Cultural Remittances (TCR) grant program supports exemplary cultural exchanges that promote grassroots artistic collaboration and strengthen social networks between the United States, Mexico and Central America. The competitive program is open to individuals, collectives and community-based organizations in the United States, Mexico and Central America and awards grants of $2,000-$18,000. More information and the application guidelines are online. |
175
W. Ostend St., Suite E
Baltimore, MD 21230 |
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410-767-6555 TTY1-800-735-2258 |
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www.msac.org |
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Martin
O'Malley, Governor |
Anthony
G. Brown, Lt. Governor |
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