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MSAC unveils renewed strategic plan
The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) today unveiled Imagine Maryland: A Renewed Strategic Plan for the Arts 2014-2019. The plan targets key areas that are critical to sustaining the economic impact and statewide vitality of Maryland’s nonprofit arts sector. |
“Access to quality arts experiences is core to our quality of life here in Maryland, and the arts are a powerful economic driver for our state,” said Dominick Murray, secretary, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. “This renewed strategic plan builds on past success and reaches even further toward catalyzing the arts for economic development, individual enrichment and community revitalization.”
To advance the reach and impact of the arts, Imagine Maryland: A Renewed Strategic Plan for the Arts 2014-2019 names six strategic goals - each with specific outcomes and strategies. The plan calls for the MSAC to take a leadership role in responding directly to significant changes in demographics, audience behavior, technology and the economy.
“The strategic planning process is an opportunity to re-assess how the arts are positioned to best serve the people and objectives of Maryland,” said MSAC Chair Barbara Bershon. “In turn, the plan examines how MSAC programs and leadership can proactively address the opportunities and challenges faced by Maryland artists, educators, organizations and communities.”
The renewed plan culminates a comprehensive strategic planning process that included regional forums, an online stakeholder survey and a statewide public opinion poll, which will be released this winter. View the plan at http://www.msac.org/strategicplan.
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MSAC holds/convenes annual Maryland Presenters Network Meeting
The Maryland State Arts Council will present the 6th Annual Maryland Presenters Network meeting, Monday, November 18, 9:30-3:00pm at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis.
Open to arts-presenting professionals and board members from Maryland-based non-profit organizations, the free professional development and networking day is an opportunity to gather with other arts administrators and presenting organizations to discuss the current issues and best practices in the presenting field. Two workshops will be presented:
The Maryland Presenters Network is an initiative of the Maryland State Arts Council’s Maryland Presenting and Touring Program, which supports professional performing arts organizations, artists and agents through the Maryland Touring Grant and its accompanying Maryland Touring Artist Roster. Register for the Maryland Presenters Network Meeting. Pictured: Clarice Smith Center for Performing Arts presented Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, photo by Margo Moritz.
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MSAC Councilor Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
MSAC Councilor Nilimma Devi’s array of extraordinary accomplishments includes transforming her Silver Spring-based Sutradhar Institute Dance and Related Arts (SIDRA) into a community touchstone of traditional art and culture. “Through performances that have graced the stages of the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian Institution, and a scholarship that has taken her to Iran, Kenya, and Indonesia, she has helped usher in a renaissance in Indian dance,” said Amina Cooper of the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) in an interview with Ms. Devi.
At the AHCMC’s recent County Executive Awards, Montgomery County Executive Isaiah Leggett (pictured, with First Lady Catherine Leggett) presented Ms. Devi with the Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of her work as a cultural preservationist, scholar and artist who bridges communities through dance.
Said Devi, in her acceptance of the award, “In this amazing new global culture, I continue to dance and teach in ways that make my students, my dancers, my audience, connect themselves to their core being, their core center, so that they continue to dance in their lives, for life itself is a dance.” View her full remarks. Photo Credit: Clark W. Day
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MCA convenes arts leaders
At its 2013 Arts Lab, October 30 at the Howard County Arts Council, Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA) convened arts leaders from across the state to examine “The Generational Shift,” with a focus on new approaches to leadership, funding and audience participation in the arts.
Martin Wolleson, new executive director at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center was keynote speaker, and moderated a panel dialogue that included MSAC Councilor and former Walters Executive Director ,Gary Vikan, Wide Angle Youth Media Executive Director Susan Malone, Maryland Symphony Orchestra Director of Marketing & Public Relations (does she/he have a name? and others. A video of the remarks and panel are available online.
On November 16 from 10:00am-3:00pm, MCA hosts “Curate Maryland,” a series designed to highlight and promote the arts in cities and towns from across the state of Maryland. This leg of the series visits Gateway Arts & Entertainment District in Prince George’s County, and features a glimpse at anchor arts organizations within the District, including Joe's Movement Emporium, Red Dirt Studios, Flux Studios, Washington Glass Studio, Prince George's African American Museum and Cultural Center, Gateway Art Center and others. A $10 registration fee includes lunch. Register here.
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CAAM elects new president
At an October meeting of the County Arts Agencies of Maryland (CAAM), the group (formerly known as Community Arts Alliance of Maryland) announced its new name. It also elected new President April Nyman (pictured), who is executive director of the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County.
CAAM is a non-profit statewide assembly of arts councils established to foster professional development and articulate the needs of Maryland's diverse arts communities. Leaders of Maryland’s 24 County Arts Councils comprise CAAM, which works with the MSAC and Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA) to increase artistic opportunities for Maryland artists, arts organizations and citizens.
Through the MSAC’s Community Arts Development (CAD) program, fiscal year 2014 grants totaling $2,404,802 were awarded to County Arts Councils to address local arts needs and further extend the reach of MSAC funds.
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MSAC Public Art Program Director joins ISC
The International Sculpture Center (ISC), a global arts organization championing the creation and understanding of sculpture, announced the addition of Lucas Cowan, Public Art Program Director at the Maryland State Arts Council, to the ISC Board of Trustees.
"Lucas [Cowan] is a champion for the arts," said ISC Board of Trustees Member Ree Kaneko. "His passion is public art and he is a well-organized art administrator. Lucas...has much to offer the ISC as a board member."
As Public Art Program Director at the MSAC, Cowan works with the Maryland Commission on Public Art to oversee the implementation of the recently passed Maryland Public Art Initiative, which requires that public art to be included in all state construction and major renovation projects.
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IN THE NEWS
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EVENTS
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Creative Alliance Celebrates Joni Mitchell
In honor of her 70th birthday, the Creative Alliance in Baltimore will have many of the Baltimore area's favorite singer-songwriters gather at the Patterson to perform many of Mitchell’s songs. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's Orchkids, a year-round during and after school music program designed to create social change and nurture promising futures for youth in Baltimore City neighborhoods. Tickets and more information are online.
Eastern Shore festival celebrates wildlife, bay lifestyle
Easton hosts the 42nd annual Waterfowl Festival, Nov. 8-10. The event – a wildlife art and sportsman’s exposition that runs at 12 venues around town – features wildlife paintings, sculpture, carvings and photography, along with collectible decoys and sporting gear. It also has championship “calling contests,” decoy auctions, craft and food vendors, and fly-fishing and dog demonstrations. Proceeds benefit wildlife conservation. Free parking and shuttle service are available. Order tickets online.
Exhibit honors 150th anniversary of Emancipation Proclamation
On View from Nov. 2, 2013 – Mar 2, 2014 at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American HIstory & Culture, The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard & Shirley Kinsey - Where Art & History Intersectis a world-class collection of art and artifacts chronicling over 400 years of African-American history and culture from the 1600s to the present. Highlights include an early copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, a signed copy of Brown vs. Board of Education and rare works from early 19th-century artists.
Dick Durham Trio at the Mainstay
Jazz pianist Dick Durham, along with Max Murray on bass and Frank Russo on drums, returns to the Mainstay in Rock Hall, Maryland at 8:00pm, Saturday, Nov. 9. Durham is a pianist, arranger and composer. His compositions have earned him Maryland Governor’s Citations for excellence in the performing arts in 2003 and 2005. Durham, who has played with Count Basie, Stanley Turantine, Grover Washington, Ernie Watts, Stef Scaggiari and others cite as early musical influences that include pianists Errol Garner, Oscar Peterson, Teddy Wilson and Monty Alexander. More information at www.mainstayrockhall.org.
‘Re-Imagining The Holidays’ in Silver Sprint A&E
Downtown Silver Spring, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, hosts the 2nd Annual “Re-Imagining the Holidays,” on Saturday, November 16 from 6:00-8:00pm on the Fountain Plaza. The highlight of the event will be the official Tree Lighting and unveiling of Playtime Jubilee, a holiday art installation created by Karl Unnasch that features a metal tree armature structure standing 30 feet tall adorned with hundreds of indoor and outdoor toys and youth sporting goods of all shapes, colors and sizes. The event is free and open to the public. More information is online.
GBCA presents “Internships 101”
In partnership with the Baltimore Collegetown Network, the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA) presents “Internships 101: Recruiting and Hiring Students to help your Organization Grow” on November 14, 12-2pm at the Maryland Historical Society. The workshop will help the leaders of arts organizations and other nonprofits learn how to create successful internship programs and will feature remarks from Baltimore Collegetown Executive Director Kristen McGuire, a presentation by MICA Career Center Director Megan Miller, and roundtables with facilitators who have implemented successful internship programs. Topics covered include: Internship Basics; Best Practices; Supervising and Communicating with Millennials; Internships for Small Employers; and Paid vs Unpaid and Credit Options. The session is free but registration is required.
Hyattesville Community Arts Alliance presents ‘Heritage’
Twelve artists from the Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance display their works examining history through nature, family or design. Roxanne Ando’s exhibit, “Nature’s Heritage: Past to Present,” will be showcased on the solo wall. The free exhibit runs through Nov. 9 at Prince George’s Plaza Community Center. More information is online at www.hcaaonline.org.
Save the date! Maryland Arts Day
Maryland Citizens for the Arts has announced that Maryland Arts Day is Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, 9:00am-2:00pm at President's Conference Center, Miller Senate Building, Annapolis.
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OPPORTUNITIES
& DEADLINES |
Deadlines for Maryland State Arts Council programs:
- Arts & Entertainment Districts Technical Assistance Grant: Arts & Entertainment Districts are eligible to apply. The application is now open in eGrant with a deadline of January 23, 2014 for activities that will begin or take place between April 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014.
- FY15 Grants for Organizations: The Request for Funding (RFF) deadline for those on a multi-year cycle is December 12, 2013.
NEA now accepting Our Town Grant applications
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has opened the FY14 round of its Our Town Grant program. The NEA awards Our Town grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 for creative place-making projects that contribute toward the livability of communities. Eligible applications must involve two primary partners: a nonprofit organization and a local governmental entity, with one of the two being a cultural (arts or design) organization. The deadline to apply is Jan. 13, 2014.
Hagerstown seeks Western Maryland Blues Fest Poster creator
The 19th Western Maryland Blues Fest (May 29 through June 1, 2014) in Hagerstown is calling for artists to submit up to three entries for consideration as the festival’s official poster. Submissions are due by Nov. 15, 2013. For more information, view the contest guidelines.
ArtPlace America announces Innovation Grant
ArtPlace America, a collaboration of 13 leading national and regional foundations and six of the nation’s largest financial institutions, invites letters of inquiry for its Innovation Grants program for initiatives involving arts organizations, artists and designers working with local and national partners on place-based strategies that transform communities. Grants range from $50,000-$500,000 and the deadline to submit a Letter of Inquiry is December 13, 2013. More information is available in the grant guidelines (PDF).
National Endowment for the Arts Announces Big Read
Managed by Arts Midwest, the Big Read provides nonprofit organizations nationwide with comprehensive resources to help inspire their communities to read and discuss a single book or poet's body of work. Organizations interested in applying for a 2014-2015 Big Read grant should visit The Big Read website for guidelines and application instructions. Eligible organizations may apply for a grant ranging from $2,500 to $20,000. All applications must be submitted electronically via eGrant on or before 4:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, January 28, 2014.
Hagerstown Arts & Entertainment District offers affordable artist studios
A new artist cooperative located within the heart of the Hagerstown Arts & Entertainment District (36-40 N. Potomac Street), is now open to artists, with monthly rents ranging from $450-$500, including water and sewage utilities, parking and wi-fi. The units, which feature high ceilings, hardwood floors and modern appliances, will be available to tour at an open house, Saturday, November 16 from 11:00am-2:00pm.
NEA hosts free webinar on Neuroscience of Creativity
Join a discussion with neuropsychologist and researcher Rex E. Jung as he debunks some of the common assumptions about creativity: how it's defined and measured, and how scientific inquiry can enhance our understanding about creativity and art-making. The webinar takes place on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET. It is free and open to the public, with advance registration. More information is available online.
Creative Capital hosts free grant info session
Creative Capital supports innovative and adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel and career development services. On Saturday, November 9, 1:00pm at Connersmith gallery in Washington, D.C., Creative Capital's Director of Grants & Services, Lisa Dent, will be present to answer questions about Creative Capital’s grant process and the work it seeks to support. Click here to RSVP.
QuestFest calls for media/digital theatre artists
Quest Visual Theatre and the Baltimore Theatre Project invite Baltimore/Washington artists to submit short pieces that incorporate media elements into visual theatre. Selected artists will be featured at QuestFest 2014, an international visual theatre festival. Selected pieces will appear at the Baltimore Theatre Project, in March in conjunction with performances by internationally acclaimed visual theatre artist Miwa Matrayek. Application and more information are online. The deadline to apply is December 6, 2013.
Bay to Ocean Writers Conference
Early registration is open for the 17th annual Bay to Ocean Writers Conference, February 22, 2014 at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland. The conference, supported by the Eastern Shore Writers Association, features workshops, presentations, and panel discussions on a wide variety of topics pertaining to the craft of writing, publishing, marketing, the Internet, and the intricacies of particular genres. More information at www.baytoocean.com. |
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 |
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