The arts sector experienced unprecedented loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated total economic impact to date is $5.5 billion, nationally, and $14.6 million in Maryland. 95 percent of all scheduled events were cancelled resulting in 1.3 million Marylanders, and 57.3 million Americans, not attending arts events.
As mentioned in the May newsletter, a response to the data above was the formation of the Maryland Arts Recovery Task Force, composed of representatives from the Maryland arts sector, private philanthropy, and members of state government to provide guidance for the reopening and recovery of the arts in our state. Rather than gathering information to be used specifically as a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maryland Arts Recovery Task Force chose to use the crisis as the inspiration for a reimagining of the work of artists and arts organizations across our state.
The Future of Maryland's Arts Sector: Strategies for Stability and Sustainability
will be published for use by all Maryland arts stakeholders and will be consistently updated as best practices continue to develop. The objective of the work of the Maryland Arts Recovery Task Force is to motivate an immediate and urgent response to artists, arts organizations, and arts audiences who have an integral and cost effective impact on Maryland’s economy. By proactively investing in the social transformation provided by the creative sector, Marylanders will experience increased health and well-being as the result of an emboldened public spirit.
As always, the staff of the Maryland State Arts Council is here to assist in any way. Please reach out if you need anything, and continue to stay safe.
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. To post your call for entry, email Caitlin Gill, at
caitlin@mdartplace.org
.
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EMBRACE: EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND WELLNESS
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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 and reflective during COVID-19.
Space is limited. 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.
EMBRACE is a partnership of the Fine Arts Office of the Maryland State Department of Education and Arts Education in Maryland Schools Alliance.
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MARYLAND PERFORMING ARTIST TOURING ROSTER APPLICATION OPEN
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Photograph courtesy of Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
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The
Maryland Performing Artist Touring Roster
is a list of curated Maryland-based artists who have a demonstrated history of successful, professional touring engagements. MSAC uses the roster to promote artistic collaboration between Maryland touring artists and Maryland presenters with the goal of increasing touring engagements for Maryland professional performing artists.
Benefits of being listed on the Roster include:
- Maryland Touring Grant funding is available to eligible Maryland-based non-profit organizations to support Roster Artist booking fees.
- MSAC promotes the Roster and funding opportunities to presenters.
- New! MSAC’s new website (coming in late summer 2020) will allow each Roster Artist to update their profile with current booking information and work samples and provide easier navigation and search capabilities for presenters.
Applications are open to
Independent Artists
and
Performing Companies/Groups
who are able to demonstrate a successful history of professional touring engagements. Read full eligibility requirements in the
program guidelines
.
Applications are reviewed by panelists on a quarterly basis. Applications submitted by July 1, 2020 will be included in the first round of FY21 Roster reviews.
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MARYLAND MICRO-CREDENTIALS COURSE REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!
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Register for free professional development!
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2021 INDEPENDENT ARTIST AWARDS - VISUAL/MEDIA ARTISTS APPLY TODAY!
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Artwork: "Everything We Own" by Amy Boone-McCreesh, FY19 IAA Winner
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MSAC’s Independent Artist Awards (IAAs) recognize achievement by Maryland artists making work independent of an institution or organization. The awards are accompanied by grants of $2,000, $10,000, and $15,000 that encourage artistic growth and sustained practice.
2021 IAAs will recognize artists in the Visual/Media Arts
. Artistic categories rotate in a three-year cycle. Literary Arts applications will be accepted in 2022, and Performing Arts applications will be accepted in 2023. Eligible artists may apply to the category they feel best represents their work.
For further details and information, including IAA Guidelines, please visit our website
here
.
The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 14
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HOW CAN MSAC PROVIDE TRAINING ON SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY/SOFTWARE FOR YOUR UPCOMING PROGRAMMING NEEDS?
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Please complete this one-minute survey to let us know.
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INDEPENDENT ARTIST AWARDS - CALL FOR PANELISTS - APPLY BY JULY 15
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MSAC relies on a diverse array of experts from across the state of Maryland to do the important work of evaluating applications. MSAC selects IAA panelists with a focus on diversity of experiences, diversity of location, and expertise in the current year’s discipline. Panelists must be Maryland residents.
Selected IAA panelists serve on one or two panels as described below.
Panelists receive modest compensation for their service.
What does a panelist do?
Selected panelists:
- Attend one in-person or virtual training session.
- Review and evaluate applications on MSAC’s online grants management system, SmartSimple.*
- Attend one Regional panel meeting. Select panelists will also attend one State panel meeting. Regional meetings will take place in October 2020. The State meeting will occur in mid-November 2020.
*The average commitment of hours varies based on the number of applicants per region. The majority of work happens on the panelists’ own time from late August 2020 through the panel meeting(s).
Panelists must have access to a computer with internet connection to complete reviews.
How do I apply to be a panelist?
Submit your application via MSAC’s online grants management system, SmartSimple.
- Click the Apply Now button below to log in or create a free account in SmartSimple.
- Under Funding Opportunities, select "Public Call."
- Select "Panelist" from the drop down options and click "Save Draft" to populate the application.
- Select “Independent Artist Award” as the Grant Program.
The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. on
Wednesday, July 15
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A STORY FROM THE FOLKLIFE APPRENTICESHIP ARCHIVES
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Patrick Kavanagh (left) bends metal with his uncle, master artist Joseph Kavanagh. Photo by Edwin Remsberg Photographs.
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Patrick Kavanagh spent the year learning specialized metalworking skills from his uncle, Joseph Kavanagh, as part of a 2018-2019
Folklife Apprenticeship
, which supports the teaching of traditional practices. Patrick is among the 6th generation to work in The Joseph Kavanagh Company, founded by Joseph’s namesake in Baltimore in 1866. To hear their story, check out this
video
. Maryland Traditions will be announcing the 2020-2021 Folklife Apprenticeship teams this summer. Stay tuned!
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ARTS IN EDUCATION - CALL FOR PANELISTS - APPLY BY JUNE 15
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Student completes mural during Kristin Helberg’s 2019-2020 Resurrection St. Paul School residency (left) and MSAC Teaching Artist Carien Quiroga works with adult learners during Maryland Centers for Creative Classrooms (right).
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MSAC relies on a diverse array of experts from across the state of Maryland to do the important work of evaluating applications. MSAC selects Arts in Education panelists with a focus on diversity of experiences, diversity of location, and expertise in arts education and teaching artistry. Panelists must be Maryland residents.
Selected Teaching Artist Roster panelists serve a one-year term, which may be renewed. Selected Arts in Education Grant panelists serve a six-month term, which may also be renewed.
Panelists receive modest compensation for their service.
What does a panelist do?
Selected panelists:
- Attend a virtual or in-person panelist training session.
- Review and evaluate applications on MSAC’s online grants management system, SmartSimple, between the 10th and 15th of each monthly review period. (Approximately 2-4 hours each month.)
- (Teaching Artist Roster Panelists Only) Attend a monthly virtual panel meeting to collaboratively evaluate applications with other panelists.
Panelists must have access to a computer with internet connection to complete reviews.
How do I apply to be a panelist?
Submit your application via MSAC’s online grants management system, SmartSimple.
- Click the Apply Now button below to log in or create a free account in SmartSimple.
- Under Funding Opportunities, select "Public Call."
- Select "Panelist" from the drop down options and click "Save Draft" to populate the application.
- Select “Arts in Education Grant” or “Arts in Education Teaching Artist Roster” as the Grant Program.
The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 15
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Successful panelists enthusiastically embrace organizational and analytical skills, preparedness, timeliness, communication, collaboration, and their role as an advocate for the arts. Please do not complete this application if this list does not align with your practice.
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For more information about Coffee with Ken, visit our website
here
.
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Artist Highlight: Donna Hemans
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Donna Hemans
is the author of two novels: River Woman and Tea by the Sea, out this month from Red Hen Press. In 2015, she won the Lignum Vitae Una Marson Award for Adult Literature for the unpublished manuscript of Tea by the Sea.
Donna's short fiction has also appeared in Caribbean Writer; Crab Orchard Review; MaComere: The Journal of Caribbean Women Writers and Scholars; THEMA; Witness; and the anthology Stories from Blue Latitudes: Caribbean Women Writers at Home and Abroad.
She was the 2007-2008 Black Mountain Institute (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) International Women's Forum Fellow and twice served as the Lannan Visiting Creative Writer in Residence at Georgetown University. In 2015, she served as writer-in-residence at University of the District of Columbia. In addition, Donna has received grants from the Maryland State Arts Council and Prince George's County Arts Council, as well as residential fellowships from Hedgebrook, the Millay Colony for the Arts, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
She received her undergraduate degree in English and Media Studies from Fordham University and an MFA from American University.
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Current MSAC Funding Opportunities
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Arts in Education Grant:
The
Arts in Education Grant
provides matching funds of up to $5,000 to eligible Maryland-based nonprofit organizations and government entities to support educational engagements led by Teaching Artists on MSAC’s Teaching Artist Roster. MSAC accepts Arts in Education Grant applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications monthly. Find information about the program
here
.
Creativity Grant:
The
Creativity Grant Program
aims to strengthen the vitality and sustainability of artists and small organizations, in order to maintain a strong arts infrastructure in the state. The program also provides opportunities to serve the growing needs of relevant arts projects and collaborations within Maryland communities. MSAC accepts Creativity Grant applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications monthly. Find information about the program
here
.
Professional Development Grant:
The
Professional Development Grant
encourages and supports relevant professional development opportunities for artists and arts organizations throughout Maryland. Find information about the program
here
.
Independent Artist Award:
Independent Artist Awards
(IAAs) recognize achievement by Maryland artists making work independent of an institution or organization and are accompanied by grants of $2,000, $10,000, and $15,000 that encourage artistic growth and sustained practice. 2021 IAAs recognize achievement in the Visual/Media Arts. The deadline to apply is July 24, 2020 at 11:59 pm. Find information about the program
here
.
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