The word is out… Maryland is the place to hold an arts conference!
 
From November 1-3, the staff and board of the Maryland State Arts Council hosted the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies Assembly 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor. More than 400 arts leaders from across the country gained insights about national initiatives and discovered best practices to strengthen communities by investing in the arts. Equity, diversity, and inclusion, as a theme, inspired rich conversations about funding, staffing, and programmatic design.
 
The 81 st  Conference for Community Arts Education was held from November 14-17 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel. Approximately 700 community arts education practitioners descended upon the city for four days of sessions focusing upon arts in education, creative youth development, leadership development, organizational health, and social justice.
 
As attendees explored Baltimore, they were invited to experience the creative and innovative spirit of artists throughout the city. Visits to the Arts and Entertainment Districts, scheduled performances of Maryland talent at the conferences, and unstructured time for sight-seeing, sent a clear message to all attendees… the Maryland State Arts Council is committed to supporting and developing artists who are using their talents to shine a light on the strengths of communities across our state.
 
Happy Holidays!
Ken Skrzesz, Executive Director, Maryland State Arts Council