The arts are critical for the prosperity of the state of Maryland. Art is essential to the fabric of communities, the economic vitality of the state, and to the success of Maryland businesses.
When students are given the chance to study the arts during their PreK-12 education it makes an impact on their abilities to succeed in school, work and life. 

Partnering with MSAC, the Maryland Department of Education and Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, the Best of Maryland Arts Education Festival celebrates the impact of arts education throughout the State of Maryland on Friday, April 20, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Select solo artists and small ensembles from all 24 of the Maryland school districts will present performances and artwork throughout the day. They will also participate in Masterclasses led by top regional professional artists. Students, faculty and alumni are invited to participate. All events will take place in world-class venues in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of downtown Baltimore. Venue partners include Center Stage, Walters Art Museum, Peabody Conservatory, Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, and Saint Ignatius Church. Each venue offers spectacular and unique presentation spaces for multiple arts disciplines all surrounding a beautiful, 19th Century city square. Find more details here.

Americans for the Arts and the United States Conference of Mayors awarded Maryland Governor Larry Hogan the 2018 National Award for State Arts Leadership in January. The award, along with three other arts leadership awards, was presented at The U.S. Conference of Mayors' Winter Meeting in Washington, DC. Read more  here.

2017 Regional Winner  Angeline Faieq Photo credit: Edwin Remsburg

Poetry Out Loud (POL), a poetry recitation contest for high school students created by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation, is hosting state finals in Baltimore. Hosted by Aaron Henkin and musical guest Wendel Patrick of WYPR's, "Out of the Blocks," the event will be b roadcast on Maryland Public Television.

Hear great poetry recited by talented students at the  Baltimore Museum of Art, Meyerhoff Auditorium, 10 Art Museum Drive, on Saturday, March 10, 2018, 1:00-3:00 p.m. For event details, go to: www.artbma.org .

The Maryland State Champion receives $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip with an adult chaperone to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Finals, April 23-25, 2018, at George Washington University. The Maryland winners' school receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. The first runner-up  receives $100, with $200 for his/her school library.

On February 6th, MSAC is co-hosting a program planning meeting with the Maryland Institute College of Art for The National Guild for Community Arts Education's 2018 Conference for Community Arts Education, taking place in Baltimore November 14-17, 2018. The meeting will provide leaders in arts education with an opportunity to shape the conference by identifying critical issues and opportunities affecting the field. The conference annually brings together 700+ leaders in arts education and adjacent sectors to explore effective strategies and innovative ideas for increasing equitable access to arts learning opportunities in communities across the country. Read more here.