May 2020
I am exceedingly proud of the way Maryland’s creative sector has mobilized to share information, to make recommendations, and to envision a bright future even in this uncertain time. Four public Listening Sessions, 14 discipline specific Creative Conversations and countless other meetings were attended by more than 1,000 artists and arts organizations in April. Along with our planning collaborators, the Maryland Citizens for the Arts, the Fine Arts Office of the Maryland State Department of Education, and Arts Education in Maryland Schools, professional development sessions have been developed and continue to be offered to enhance learning in various arts disciplines and through cross-discipline topics.
 
A common thread that runs through all public sessions is a commitment to envision the resurgence of the arts in Maryland. We are happy to announce that this includes a reframing of the June Maryland Arts Summit from an in-person to a virtual gathering. The Maryland Arts Summit goes virtual! The new theme is  Creative Resurgence: A Vision for the Future of the Arts in Maryland.
 
A Maryland Arts Recovery Task Force is being formed, composed of representatives from all aspects of Maryland’s arts sector, to create a plan for the future to share with the team leading the larger economic vision for Maryland. Task force action items, gathered from the virtual activities described above, include:
·         Encourage collaboration
·         Create new funding opportunities
·         Support the development of virtual engagement
·         Develop best practices for in-person engagement
·         Design a robust reopening marketing campaign
·         Strengthen advocacy messaging
 
Maryland’s strong community of creatives and clear, proactive state level leadership have led this swift action. On behalf of the MSAC staff, we are humbled by your trust and encouraged by your ideas. Be safe and stay well.

Ken Skrzesz, Executive Director, Maryland State Arts Council
Opportunities
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. To post your call for entry, email Caitlin Gill, at caitlin@mdartplace.org .
Save the Date
ARTIST RELIEF GRANTS
  • National Artist Relief Fund is a $10 million national emergency relief fund for artists and creative workers that will provide $5,000 no-strings-attached grants.

Several county arts agencies have also established local funds for individuals and organizations that have been affected by COVID-19.


MSAC continues to update the COVID 19 reponse page here with current information.
CALL FOR PANELISTS
PRESENTING AND TOURING
MSAC is seeking panelists to review The FY21 Maryland Performing Artist Touring Roster applications along with the FY21 Maryland Touring Grant applications. The design of the  Presenting & Touring  program is to spark collaboration, which supports a rich and artistically diverse network of Maryland professional artists and performing arts organizations.

MSAC relies on a diverse array of performing arts and grants experts from across the state of Maryland to do the important work of evaluating grant and roster applications. Serving as a panelist is a great opportunity to learn about MSAC's granting processes.  Apply by May 15!
Questions? Contact Program Directors, Emily Sollenberger at  emily.sollenberger@maryland.gov  or Laura Weiss at  laura.weiss@maryland.gov
WOMEN AND NATURE OPEN-CALL EXHIBITION CONTINUES VIA ONLINE PLATFORMS
The Women and Nature Exhibition originally scheduled to open at MSAC's offices on April 2nd will now be a virtual experience. A total of 30 artists (25 visual artists and 5 poets) selected by jurors will be featured on MSAC’s social media platforms beginning on the first week of May 2020. Follow @mdartscouncil on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
For more information about Coffee with Ken, visit our website here
News
EMBRACE: EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND WELLNESS
EMBRACE is a FREE professional development series for Maryland’s creative education force: Arts Educators, Arts Integration Teachers, and Teaching Artists.

Facilitators examine the intersections of art and wellness by exploring creative practices to keep us open, curious and reflective during COVID-19. 

**For the workshops, space is limited, so register early to reserve your spot in the workshop/s of your choice. After registration, you will receive a Google Hangouts link to the online session.

Partnership of the Fine Arts Office of the Maryland State Department of Education and Arts Education in Maryland Schools Alliance.
THE MARYLAND ARTS SUMMIT GOES VIRTUAL
The Virtual Convening will now take place on Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29.
HERITAGE AWARDS POSTPONED
2020 Heritage Award winner Rock Howland. Photo by Edwin Remsberg Photographs.
The ceremony honoring 2020 Heritage Award winners planned for June 2020 is postponed indefinitely in light of the public health emergency. Even so, MSAC is thrilled to recognize the three winners for their long-term achievement in folklife, or living cultural traditions:
Person  - Appalachian flatfoot dancer Rock Howland (Carroll County)
Place  - the traditional homelands of the Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians (the region now known as Dorchester County)
Tradition  - Black storytelling (Baltimore City)
MSAC folklife staff will provide Heritage Awards ceremony updates as changing safety regulations dictate.
MAY VIRTUAL OFFERINGS: STRATEGIC PROGRAMMING, SELF-CARE, AND MORE!
MSAC is offering free virtual professional development during the month of May in response to feedback received during recent online public sessions, including April’s Creative Conversations.

Strategic Programmatic Decisions - Hosted by Elaine Luttrull of Minerva Financial Arts
May 5, 3-4PM 
This one-hour webinar provides a framework for organizations reassessing strategic programmatic decisions in the arts.
Self-Care Sessions: A Community Gathering - Hosted by Nicoletta de la Brown
Fridays 2-3PM
This series of professional development sessions explores tangible self-care thoughts and actions. Registration is not required. Follow the links below to join.
MARYLAND MICRO-CREDENTIALS COURSE REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!
Register for free professional development!
Artist Highlight: Megan Lewis
Artist Megan Lewis is a trained illustrator who is best known for her inspiring murals located throughout Baltimore. After completing her first large scale projects through the Art@Work Program in 2015, Megan has been prolific in her creation of new artwork and willingness to explore new formats.
 
Following in the legacy of artists such as Tom Miller, Valerie Maynard, Pontella Mason, and Espi Frazier; Megan uses the visibility and scale of public art to highlight the living presence and contributions of African Americans, black women in particular, in the local community and society at large. Her portraits of women, eyes closed in thought or meditation, offer a magnified glimpse into a quiet moment as the subject is processing swirling thoughts or dreaming of what may come next. When she’s not working in the public realm she has translated her artwork and iconic style to custom painted furniture and clothing.  
 
Since 2015 Megan has spent every summer as a Lead-teaching artist through the Art@Work summer job program where she teaches young artists how to plan and implement a community mural project. Through her prolific output, willingness to explore new forms, and mentorship to young artists Megan has become a celebrated fixture and leader in Baltimore’s art community. She has been recognized both locally and nationally for her work. A photo of her mural “ Lady Liberty Please Know Thyself” (2015) is included in a permanent display at the new Statue of Liberty Museum that opened in May of 2019.
MSAC Staff Highlight: Lenore Blank Kelner
Lenore Blank Kelner is an author, arts educator, arts integration specialist, as well as a theatre and teaching artist. Lenore directed a professional theatre company for young audiences for 28 years and directed and acted in a touring company under the auspices of the regional theatre in Baltimore, Center Stage. 

Lenore has presented her work in all 50 states and abroad. She has been a presenter with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since 1982 and was a Master Artist for the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts for 25 years. Lenore is the author of The Creative Classroom and co-authored A Dramatic Approach to Reading Comprehension . Both books were published by Heinemann. Lenore was awarded the Creative Drama Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.

She worked with the Maryland State Department of Education serving as the Arts Education Consultant for Early Childhood developing art standards, based on the National Core Art Standards for young learners up to three-years-old years of age and is presently contributing to the creation of micro-courses that will be offered through MSDE. Lenore joined MSAC's staff in 2020 as an Arts in Education Consultant.
Current MSAC Funding Opportunities
All remaining FY20 grant funds have been allocated to MSAC's Emergency Grant Program. As soon as information is available, an update on FY21 funds (beginning July 1) will be provided.

Emergency Grant Program:  The Emergency Grant Program aims to provide emergency funding to arts organizations and artists in Maryland as they adjust to losses sustained because of programming, operations, and events that have been modified or cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 State of Emergency. Guidelines are available  here . Applications can be accessed in  Smart Simple . Applications will be gathered for FY20 review on May 1 (for a May 5 review) and May 15 (for a May 20 review).