Living with a toddler is giving me a front row seat to the amazing miracle that is life and growth. Observing my daughter reminds me daily of the saying attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus and echoed in different philosophies, traditions, and faiths, that the only constant is change. As a society, as a sector, and as individuals, we’ve certainly dealt with a lot of change over that past two years that has, at times, felt overwhelming, uncomfortable, and painful. As 2022 begins, I am setting intentions to accept, not resist, change and to reflect on changes, even painful ones, as opportunities for learning and intentional growth. I invite you to join me in these intentions or set your own for the coming year.
In keeping with the theme of change, I want to acknowledge transitions at MSAC that have happened in the last month. Grants and Professional Development Director, Dana Parsons, Grants Management Associate, Cat Frost, and Program Director, Abdul Ali, have moved on to new endeavors. Thank you to these incredible individuals for your service to Maryland’s arts sector. We wish you well in your future pursuits!
These changes will bring some exciting opportunities to join the MSAC staff. Be on the lookout for job postings in the coming weeks, and consider joining our dynamic team!
I wish you a safe, healthy, and happy new year!
Steven Skerritt-Davis
Executive Director
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FORMER MARYLAND SECRETARY OF COMMERCE MIKE GILL HAS BEEN NAMED SECRETARY OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE |
Former Maryland Secretary of Commerce Mike Gill has been named secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, succeeding Secretary Kelly Schulz.
“I am incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to serve the Hogan administration over these last seven years—working daily to improve the lives of Marylanders has been an honor of a lifetime,” said Secretary Schulz. “While working with Governor Hogan, as the secretary of labor and secretary of commerce, we’ve accomplished a lot, from leading nationally recognized job training and apprenticeship programs to becoming the most improved state for business in the entire nation. I thank Governor Hogan for entrusting me with such great responsibilities and for allowing me to have the privilege to work with so many wonderful people throughout state government.”
“After all the work we did in the first term to turn things around, it has been rewarding to observe the continued progress Maryland has made becoming one of the nation’s most business-friendly states,” said Gill. “When the governor asked me to come back, I jumped at the opportunity to once again lead the talented men and women at Commerce. I want to thank Kelly for the outstanding job she’s done, and we all wish her and her family well.”
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PUBLIC ART REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED! |
Public Artists planning to apply for the open Request for Qualifications for Bowie State University's new MLK Jr. Communications Arts & Humanities building or the St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s New Academic Building and Auditorium now have more time! The application deadline has been extended to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 19th. Interested artists and teams are encouraged to contact staff with questions about either project by visiting the link here.
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Bowie State University's new MLK Jr. Communications Arts & Humanities building's new 1500 seat auditorium will be a regional destination, and provide four academic programs with classrooms, collaborative study space and specialized labs. The all inclusive public artwork commission budget is $515,000.
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St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s New Academic Building and Auditorium is a beautiful, contemporary addition to the historic campus and will include a large auditorium that will serve the Historic St. Mary’s community. Exterior plazas will create a connecting node between the campus and the new Athletic Stadium and Commemorative which was dedicated in November of 2020. The all inclusive artwork commission budget is $250,000.
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Master artist Catherine Wooten (left) teaches sharecropper-style quilting to learner artist Suzanne Coley in a 2021-2022 Folklife Apprenticeship. Photo by Human Being Productions. |
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FOLKLIFE APPRENTICESHIP APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON JANUARY 15th |
Maryland Traditions is currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 Folklife Apprenticeship. This grant supports traditional arts education through the teaching of skills from a master artist to a learner artist. Grants are $5,000 each and cover a one-year teaching period. Applications are due Saturday, January 15th, at 5 p.m. For more information, click here.
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NEW GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY PROJECTS |
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is administering two separate Community Safety Works grant opportunities that will encourage the implementation of crime prevention strategies through physical design improvements and community vigilance and maintenance. Applications will be available early this month.
Facility Improvements: Maximum grant request is $25,000 for facility-related improvements that make nonprofit organizations, including faith-based nonprofit organizations, facilities safer and more defensible. Notice of Funding Availability announcement.
Business District Improvements: Maximum request is $100,000 for community-related/business district-related safety improvements that implement the business district’s plan for making public and private spaces safer and more defensible. Notice of Funding Availability announcement.
Prior to submitting an application you will be required to register with the Maryland OneStop Portal. OneStop is the central hub for Maryland State licenses, forms, certificates, permits, applications, and registrations and can be accessed at: onestop.md.gov. For more information, click here.
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Commissioners and MSAC staff pictured left to right: Elizabeth Hughes, Catherine Leggett, C. Ryan Patterson, Steven Skerritt-Davis, Rand Griffin (MPAC Chair), Jerome C. Gray, Liesel Fenner, Rosa Chang, Molline Jackson, Rodney Tissue, and Elaine Bachmann. |
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MPAC HONORS RODNEY TISSUE |
The Maryland Public Art Commission (MPAC) that oversees public art opportunities in state buildings gathered in December to honor Commissioner Rodney Tissue, of Washington County, for over three years of service to the program. Tissue, Hagerstown's City Engineer, oversaw the vision and ongoing implementation of the Hagerstown Cultural Trail, comprising a collection of public artworks by local, national and international artists.
MPAC also welcomed incoming Commissioner Jerome C. Gray, architect, of Baltimore City.
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Free professional development sessions that are open to the public.
Click each session below to learn more and register!
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Coffee with the Council: Community Connection Case Study, Tuesday, January 4th, 9 a.m.
Join guests Alysia Lee and Blake Clark to discuss 21st Century approaches for aligning the mission of arts organizations with the needs of the communities they serve as we discuss a community project of The Baltimore Choral Arts Society. Click here to register.
Financial Best Practices: Financial Planning for Independent Artists, Thursday, January 6th, 2 p.m.
As an independent artist it can feel impossible to be empowered in your financial management. In this session join finance specialist Melanie Hopkins to discuss budgeting for a variable income, how to set your rates, and how to pay quarterly taxes. A significant portion of the session will be open for participant questions. Click here to register.
Legal Issues To Consider For Creative Entrepreneurs, Tuesday, January 11th, 2 p.m.
Starting a small creative business (or deciding to take your artistic pursuits to the next level) is no small task. During this session, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts will help you to start demystifying the legal issues most common for creative small businesses, which include business entity formation, business licenses, permits, and regulations, intellectual property, regulations concerning websites, and employment law. Artists and creatives make the best entrepreneurs, so let us help you get on the right track with your new, or not so new, small business. Click here to register.
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REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
NATIONAL & BEYOND
PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITIES
RESIDENCIES
STUDIO SPACES
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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. To add to the list, email Caitlin Gill at caitlin@mdartplace.org.
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Allegany Arts Council
Anne Arundel Arts Council
Kent Cultural Alliance
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LUKE ROBERTS (LJR)
(HOWARD COUNTY)
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LJR is a pop rock artist whose debut album centers around the loss of his faith in God and the trauma he experienced in the Evangelical church. After growing up deeply religious, he is now 180ing to a music career and developing a 12 video sci-fi series to accompany the songs on the album that visually depict his journey through healing. Additionally, he explores the specifics of each video and interviews other people who have experienced trauma or dedicate a large portion their lives to understanding it on weekly livestreams on Sunday nights at 8:30 p.m. on his Twitch channel. The second chapter of his sci-fi series, More Time, is about to be released on January 14th, 2022 on his YouTube channel. Luke is also a recent recipient of an MSAC Creativity Grant!
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CURRENT MSAC OPPORTUNITIES |
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FUNDING
Arts in Education Grants provide 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.
Deadline: Monthly on the 5th
Creativity Grants aim to strengthen the vitality and sustainability of artists and small organizations, in order to maintain a strong arts infrastructure in the state.
Deadline: Rolling
Deadline: Rolling
Deadline: Rolling
Deadlines: February 18, 2022, May 12, 2022
Professional Development Grants encourage and support relevant professional development opportunities for artists and arts organizations throughout Maryland.
Deadline: Rolling
Special Request Grants support needs of arts organizations and programs that fall outside of the eligibility of MSAC’s established grant programs.
Deadline: Rolling
ROSTERS
The Arts in Education 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.
Deadline: Rolling
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.
Deadline: Rolling
Questions? Contact the MSAC staff person for the program you’re interested in learning more about.
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