In January we celebrated the National Endowment for the Arts! More than a dozen Maryland arts organizations, creative writers, and translators were recently announced as grant recipients for fiscal year 20. The NEA contributes annual operating and program support to the Maryland State Arts Council for which we are very grateful.
The NEA
Art Works grants
support artistically excellent projects that celebrate our creativity and cultural heritage, invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values, and enrich humanity. Maryland awardees this year include Baltimore Center Stage, Community College of Baltimore County, Creative Alliance, Johns Hopkins University, National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc., Neighborhood Design Center, Wide Angle Youth Media, Young Audiences of Maryland, Imagination Stage, Round House Theatre, University of Maryland at College Park, Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts, Frederick Arts Council, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Olney Theatre Corporation, International Association of Blacks in Dance, National Council for the Traditional Arts, and Dance Exchange.
Supporting both the development of new works of American literature and the English translation of literary prose, poetry, and drama from writers around the world, Danielle Valore Evans of Baltimore was awarded a
Creative Writing Fellowship
and Nancy Naomi Carlson from Silver Spring was awarded a
Literature Translation Fellowship
.
Congratulations to all and thank you for centering your work in Maryland!
Ken Skrzesz, Executive Director, Maryland State Arts Council
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The MSAC Online Resource Bulletin, maintained by Maryland Art Place, includes regional, national, and international exhibition opportunities, grants, fellowships, residencies, and information on available studio spaces in the area. The Resource Bulletin is updated on a weekly basis and maintains hundreds of listings of arts opportunities, organized by subject and deadline date. Check out the
MSAC Resource Bulletin
today! To post your call for entry,
email Caitlin, the Registry Coordinator, at
caitlin@mdartplace.org
.
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Please consider inviting MSAC Staff and Board Members to any public event that may include donor recognition as part of the programming. Public acknowledgement of MSAC funding, particularly when a staff, board member, or local legislator is present, allows arts audiences to understand the connection between the vote they cast for local officials, the local official’s support of MSAC funding, and how that funding returns to the communities of arts-connected constituents. Please send all invitations to
msac.commerce@maryland.gov
.
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NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FOLKLIFE APPRENTICESHIP
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MSAC Folklife Apprenticeship applications are open now and due March 1! These grants fund the teaching of folklife skills from a master to a learner artist. Folklife skills may include any activities associated with living cultural traditions handed down by example or word of mouth. Read the
Folklife Apprenticeship guidelines here
.
Note that Folklife Apprenticeships are distinct
from the
Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program
, described
here
.
Photograph of 2013-2014 Folklife Apprenticeship team Rico Newman (master, left) and Lisa Thomas, who worked in the tradition of native finger weaving. Photo by Edwin Remsberg Photographs.
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CALL FOR PANELISTS AND EDITORS FOR MSAC'S PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
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MSAC is seeking a diverse array of art and design experts from across the State to serve as jurors, panelists, and editors for its Public Art programs. Residents of Maryland may apply. Selected jurors, panelists, and editors receive modest compensation for the entire process. More information is on our website
here
.
Submit your name and information
at this link
by Thursday, February 20, 2020 to be considered as a public art juror, panelist, or editor.
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2020 CREATIVE CAPITAL AWARDS
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Creative Capital announced the selection of 35 projects by 41 artists for the 2020 Creative Capital Awards. Congratulations to Maryland artists Nikyatu Jusu from Gaithersburg, MD for their narrative feature film as well as Sue Slagle from Frederick, MD for their collaborative multimedia performance. Read more about the awardees
here
.
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MARYLAND MICRO-CREDENTIALS
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Register for free professional development!
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CREATIVITY GRANT CALL FOR PANELISTS
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The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) is seeking panelists to review grant applications for the second year of
Creativity Grants
!
MSAC relies on a diverse array of arts and grants experts from across the state of Maryland to do the important work of evaluating grant applications. Creativity Grant panelists will remotely review grant applications each month for six months. Serving as a panelist is a great opportunity to learn about MSAC's granting processes. Read more about panelist responsibilities
here
.
Questions? Please contact Program Directors, Emily Sollenberger Dobbins at
Photograph by Rob Clatterbuck of Iron Crow Theatre’s award-winning production of William Finn’s A New Brain
.
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$40,000 IN PUBLIC ART GRANTS AWARDED
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In the first grant cycle of the FY20 Public Art Across Maryland (PAAM) program, four $2,500 Planning Grants were awarded to: Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, City of Crisfield, Garrett County Arts Council, and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation applying on behalf of Play in Color. Two $10,000 Implementation Grants were awarded to: Frederick Arts Council and the Town of Thurmont.
The next two deadlines for PAAM Planning or Implementation Grant Applications are February 12 and May 12. The PAAM Grant Guidelines are on our
website
. T
h
e recent
Public Art 101 Webinar
by Public Art Program Director, Liesel Fenner who outlined the PAAM application process, including how to select an artist to develop a project idea, will be on our website soon.
Great Blue Heron
(2018) by Virginia Sperry at Piney Run Park, Carroll County, MD.
Carroll County Arts Council, Carroll County Recreation and Parks
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POP-UP SHOP AND SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAM LAUNCHES IN FROSTBURG'S A&E DISTRICT
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FrostburgFirst, in partnership with the City of Frostburg and the Small Business Development Center plans to activate vacant spaces in downtown Frostburg by bringing together entrepreneurs, artists, makers, and small businesses with local property owners. The program in Frostburg's recently redesignated Arts & Entertainment District is accepting applications through February 25th. For more information, contact FrostburgFirst at (301) 689-6900 or
frostburgfirst@gmail.com
.
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2020-2021 MID ATLANTIC TOURS ARTISTS SPOTLIGHT
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Mid Atlantic Tours is a curated roster program of performing artists and ensembles chosen to tour throughout the Mid Atlantic region. Americana duo The Honey Dewdrops – Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish – have long felt the push-and-pull between their original roots in the Appalachian Mountains and their current home in urban Baltimore. You’ll hear it in their harmony soaked songs and the mastery of their instruments’ acoustic tones, but also in their songwriting, which reflects the hard realities of today.
For more information on the 2020-2021 Mid Atlantic Tours artists and booking agent contact information,
click here
. For booking guidelines,
click here
.
Questions? contact Haowen Wang, Program Officer, Performing Arts, at:
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THE GRIT FUND SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS IN BALTIMORE
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The Grit Fund is accepting applications from artists in Baltimore City and Baltimore County for collaborative projects that contribute to the vibrancy and development of Baltimore's arts and cultural landscape. Awards are up to $7,000. The application deadline is March 1, 2020. Visit
gritfund.org
for more information.
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Artist Highlight: Quynn Johnson
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Quynn Johnson
is a multi-award winning performing artist, teaching artist, choreographer, and author. As a 2014 and 2017 recipient of the Individual Artist Award for Dance: Choreography, Quynn has performed tap dance on national and international stages including the Kennedy Center and the International Festival de Cajon Peruano in Lima, Peru. Quynn is also the co-founder of SOLE Defined, a percussive dance company. As a Teaching Artist, her in-school interactive and rhythmic performance share the traditions and history of the American Art form of tap dance with Quynn's unique personal journey of perseverance and determination to overcome challenges through tap dance. By combining tap dance and elements of music and storytelling, Quynn inspires and impacts students through rhythmic expression. She reflects on her work by saying, " I believe the performing arts can be mind-changing in the lives of youth. As a kid, arts education programs taught me to dream and imagine a world that could be shaped through movement. I learned how to creatively express myself and my ideas to communicate with others when my voice could not." Quynn is on MSAC's
Artist in Residence Roster
as well as our
Visiting Performer Roster
.
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MSAC Staff Highlight: Lillian
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Lillian Jacobson is the Regional Events Planner at the Maryland State Arts Council. She is a fine artist, curator, arts administrator, arts advocate, and proud Maryland resident. She graduated with honors from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA in painting, where she went on to work as a studio manager for the artist Amy Sherald and as the Exhibition and Data Management Administrator in the Fine Arts Office of the Maryland State Department of Education. When she's not in the studio painting, she enjoys hiking in the mountains, looking for bargains in the thrift store, or trying new foods.
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Presenting and Touring Program:
The Maryland Touring Grant assists eligible nonprofit organizations by subsidizing the presentation of any performer on the Maryland Performing Artist Touring Roster. Guidelines for the FY20 Program can be found
here
and applications can be accessed in
Smart Simple
.
Touring grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed quarterly.
Creativity Grant Program:
The purpose of the Creativity Grant Program is to strengthen the vitality and sustainability of artists and small organizations, in order to maintain a strong arts infrastructure in the state. The Creativity Grant also provides opportunities to serve the growing needs of relevant arts projects and collaborations within Maryland communities. Guidelines for the FY20 Program can be found
here.
Applications can be accessed in
Smart Simple
.
Creativity Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed monthly.
Artist in Residence Program:
The MSAC's
Artist in Residence (AiR) Program
provides grants to Maryland schools that cover half the cost of a teaching artist residency. Guidelines for the FY20 Program can be found
here
and applications can be accessed in
eGrant
.
Questions about Artists in Residence Program? Contact Arts in Education Program Director
Precious Blake
for more information.
Public Art Across Maryland (PAAM):
The program offers two types of funding: Planning Grants of $2,500 support administrative time for the planning and community visioning process, including support for artist proposal honorariums. Implementation Grants of up to $10,000 support projects that are designed and ready for fabrication. Maryland 501c3 non-profit organizations or local government agencies may apply. FY20 deadlines: February 12 and May 12, 2020. Guidelines are available
here,
and the applications can be accessed in
Smart Simple
.
Arts & Entertainment Districts:
Arts & Entertainment (A&E) Districts Technical Assistance Grants support organizational development and marketing efforts for designated management entities of Maryland's 28 A&E Districts. Guidelines for the FY20 Program can be found
here,
and applications can be accessed in
Smart Simple
.
All applicants will need to register for a new account. These grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed as they are submitted.
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