September 2020
“I’m in love with the sun and with the reflections in the water, and to paint them I would go around the world.” -Auguste Renoir

The uncertainty that surrounds us has made it difficult to find joy in the simple pleasures of the summer. I will never again take for granted the ability to spontaneously meet friends for a meal, walk on the beach without concern, or touch and smell produce at a farmer’s market. At times it felt as if the summer of 2020 could not offer the past opportunities for rejuvenation and renewal.

And yet, with a bit of effort, I found that we can step into these challenging times and find different versions of past experiences. The moments may be smaller and quieter, but they are still there. The heat on our skin, the special color of summer sunlight and the taste of ripe Maryland tomatoes and dripping peaches are all still there for us - waiting for us to move toward them in a different way to encounter the same rewards.

My hope is that, as we gather our resources for an uncertain fall, you have found summer moments that are inspiring and can be called upon as needed. We have difficult work ahead and the communities of Maryland are relying on the creatives in our state to lead the way.

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
REGISTER FOR POETRY OUT LOUD
For the 2020-2021 year, the Maryland State Poetry Out Loud competition will be held virtually! Students (who want to independently participate), educators, and community organizers are encouraged to register indicating their intent to submit student poetry recitation videos for competition consideration. Poetry Out Loud is a great opportunity for a remote and hybrid student learning project. You can showcase your students' creativity in a new, fun, digitally engaging way! To view the full Poetry Out Loud schedule, see here.

Deadline: Monday, November 2 at 11:59 p.m.
PUBLIC ART ACROSS MARYLAND
MSAC public art staff Liesel Fenner (third from right) and Ryan Patterson (right) attending the community ribbon-cutting for murals by artist Yemi Fagobohun.
Public art is one artform that can be created and viewed safely amidst the pandemic. The Town of Thurmont received an MSAC Public Art Across Maryland grant in December 2019, and despite delays due to coronavirus, recently unveiled completed murals by artist Yemi Fagbohun. Since 2014, the Town has been proud of their Murals on Main Street program and in 2019 embarked on a project to fill vacant panels of a building that once served as an electric plant that powered trolley cars. There is also an original trolley car on display beside the murals on the converted rail-to-trail, Thurmont Trolley Trail. The murals were also supported by Thurmont Lions Club, businesses, non-profit organizations, private donors and the Department of Housing and Community Development. For more information on visiting Thurmont and viewing the murals, click here.
FY2022 GRANTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS INTENT TO APPLY APPLICATION DUE SEPTEMBER 15
The Grants for Organizations (GFO) granting program provides general operating support to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, as well as units of government, that produce or present ongoing arts programming that is open to the public.

If your organization is a NEW Applicant or if your organization DID NOT receive a Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 MSAC GFO Grant, your organization is required to complete the Intent to Apply form in order to be eligible to apply for FY2022 GFO funding. If the organization is deemed eligible after review of the Intent to Apply form, the organization must submit a completed On-Year Application by November 15, 2020 to be considered for FY2022 GFO funding. 

If you answer “Yes!” to all sections in the chart above, your organization is eligible to complete an Intent to Apply form.
MARYLAND MICRO-CREDENTIALS COURSE REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!
Register for free professional development!
NATIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK
National Arts in Education Week is September 13-19! This year marks the 10th anniversary of Congress passing House Resolution 275, which designates the week beginning with the second Sunday in September as National Arts in Education Week.
News
REGIONAL ARTS SUMMITS
REGISTER NOW!
The Regional Arts Summits are back and this year we are virtual! Join us for statewide updates from the Maryland State Arts Council, arts content-specific breakout groups, community sharing, and more – with options to connect with staff during daytime virtual office hours!

The MSAC’s Regional Arts Summits will be held virtually from 4:00PM - 6:30PM on Tuesdays beginning September 15 through October 20, convening artists and arts organizations from varying regions of the state. For regional schedules, session descriptions, and to register, please visit our website.
HERITAGE AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN
Xiomara Rivera dances at the 2019 Heritage Awards ceremony, during which the bomba and plena traditions of Puerto Rico were honored. Xiomara is also a current Folklife Apprenticeship recipient as she studies bomba and plena with master artist Julia Gutiérrez-Rivera. Photo by Edwin Remsberg Photographs.
Maryland Traditions is now accepting nominations for the Heritage Awards, which recognize long-term achievement in the traditional arts. Nominations are open to the public and may be made in three categories: person/people, place, and tradition. Winners receive $5,000 and are recognized at a public ceremony. Nominations will be accepted until Oct. 15. For more information on the Heritage Award, check out our website.
MSAC AWARDS $40,000 IN FOLKLIFE APPRENTICESHIPS
Master bomba and plena dancer Julia Gutiérrez-Rivera (center) teaches a class with Cultura Plenera at Sandy Spring Museum. Photo by Edwin Remsberg Photographs.
Maryland Traditions, MSAC’s traditional arts program, has awarded $40,000 to support the sharing of traditional arts skills from a master artist to a learner artist during a one-year teaching period. Ten grants of $4,000 each have been awarded for the 2020-2021 granting period to apprenticeship teams. See a full list of awarded artists here.
GRANTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS - CALL FOR PANELISTS
MSAC relies on a diverse array of experts from across the state of Maryland to do the important work of evaluating applications. MSAC selects Grants for Organizations (GFO) panelists with a focus on diversity of experiences, diversity of location, and expertise in the disciplines of the organizations under review. Panelists must be Maryland residents. 

The FY22 GFO process will include one multi-disciplinary panel to review all new applications and organizations in an “on-year.” 

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.*
  • Complete assigned extension assignments (Artistic Site Visits and In-Depth Conversations).
  • Attend one GFO panel meeting (March/April 2021).
*The average commitment of hours varies based on the number of applications. The majority of work happens on the panelists’ own time from late November 2020 through the panel meeting in March/April 2021.

Panelists must have access to a computer with an 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 “Grants for Organizations” as the Grant Program.
 
Questions? Contact Program Directors Emily Sollenberger (emily.sollenberger@maryland.gov) or Laura Weiss (laura.weiss@maryland.gov) for assistance. 

Deadline: Friday, September 4, 2020 at 11:59pm
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.
2020-2021 MID ATLANTIC TOURS GRANTS ANNOUNCED OVER $148,000 AWARDED FOR 59 ENGAGEMENTS
Image: The Honey Dewdrops. Credit: Nolan Zunk.
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (MAAF) has awarded $148,520 in grants supporting 59 performing arts engagements through its 2020-2021 Mid Atlantic Tours program. The grants, awarded directly to presenting organizations, will support engagements in MAAF's partner states and jurisdictions. Mid Atlantic Tours is a curated roster program of performing artists and ensembles chosen to tour throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

From Maryland, the Americana duo The Honey Dewdrops – Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish – has 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.
2020-2021 MID ATLANTIC JAZZ TOURING NETWORK ENGAGEMENTS ANNOUNCED
Photo of Marc Cary Credit: Vikram Valluri
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation has announced over $64,000 to support eight artists and 22 Network members through the 2020-2021 Jazz Touring Network program. Grants will support 33 engagements across the mid-Atlantic region. Marc Cary, Baltimore, MD and Victor Provost, Crofton, MD, will be on tour representing the great state of Maryland!

Photo of Victor Provost Credit: Chris Drukker.
Artist Highlight: Suteera Nagavajara
Suteera Nagavajara playing the kong toch at a 2018 Cambodian New Year celebration. Photo and linked presentation by Edwin Remsberg Photographs.
MSAC's September 2020 Artist Highlight is Suteera Nagavajara. Nagavajara, of Montgomery County, is a performer of traditional ceremonial music from Cambodia, a neighbor to her native Thailand. She is also the recipient of a 2017-2018 Folklife Apprenticeship, in which she studied with master Chum Ngek on the kong toch, a percussive instrument from Cambodia. Hear her story at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWJpxXzRgy8.
Current MSAC Funding Opportunities
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. 
 
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. 
 
Professional Development Grant: The Professional Development Grant encourages and supports relevant professional development opportunities for artists and arts organizations throughout Maryland. MSAC accepts Professional Development Grant applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications monthly. 
 
Public Art Across Maryland (PAAM): The PAAM Program offers Planning Grants of $5,000 and Implementation Grants of up to $20,000, no match required. Maryland 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, local government agencies, and independent artists may apply. Conservation Grants for the preservation of public artworks are also available. MSAC accepts PAAM grant applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications quarterly.  
 
Maryland Touring Grant: Maryland Touring Grants provide funding to eligible Maryland-based non-profit organizations to support the presentation of artists listed on the Maryland Performing Artist Touring Roster. MSAC accepts Touring Grant applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications quarterly.
 
Special Request Grants: Special Request Grants support needs of arts organizations and programs that fall outside of the eligibility of MSAC’s established grant programs. MSAC accepts Special Request Grant applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications monthly or bi-monthly, depending upon the requested amount. 
 
Roster Opportunities for Artists

Arts in Education Teaching Artist Roster: The Teaching Artist Roster supports teaching artists and the elevation of their careers by providing funding to Maryland schools and community groups to book Teaching Roster Artists, fostering connections to statewide networks, providing individualized feedback to strengthen artists’ programming, and heightening visibility through print and online marketing. MSAC accepts Teaching Artist Roster applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications monthly.
 
Performing Artist Touring Roster: The Maryland Performing Artist Touring Roster is a list of juried, Maryland-based artists who have a demonstrated history of successful, professional touring engagements. Coupled with the Maryland Touring Grant, the Program is designed to promote the artistic collaboration between Maryland touring artists and Maryland presenting organizations to increase opportunities for professional performing artists to obtain successful touring engagements. MSAC accepts Performing Artist Touring Roster applications on a rolling basis and reviews applications quarterly.
 
Access all MSAC applications in SmartSimple
Questions? Contact the MSAC staff person for the program you’re interested in learning more about.