AUGUST

2022

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More than 350 Marylanders joined MSAC staff on July 19th for Coffee with the Council to learn more about how MSAC will distribute $40 million in Arts Relief funding this fiscal year. Click here to find a recap of the information and view the slides from July 19th. In short, MSAC:

  • will distribute additional general operating support with more allowable uses
  • encourages organizations that do not currently receive operating support through other programs to apply for the Creativity Grant for General Operating Support to access additional Arts Relief funds
  • welcomes applications for project support, particularly in the following programs that will be able to fund more applications thanks to Arts Relief funding (more information about each of these in the newsletter below)
  • Public Art - $2 million available, increased grant maximums
  • Folklife Apprenticeships - $225,000 will fund 30 additional teams
  • Arts in Education - $945,000 available, increased grant maximum
  • Creativity Grants - $850,000 available, increased grant maximum
  • Emergency Grants - $450,000 available for artists experiencing emergencies
  • Professional Development Opportunity Grants - $150,000 available
  • looks forward to launching the Grants for Artists program that will support the livelihood of Maryland artists in a new and exciting way.

Apply, apply, apply, and please help us get the word out about MSAC’s opportunities so that this unprecedented funding will have the broadest impact possible.


Steven Skerritt-Davis, Executive Director

MSAC PROGRAM UPDATES

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS

Bromo Art Walk, 2022

The nation's longest-standing legislated cultural districts program celebrates 20 years in 2022! The impacts of Maryland's Arts & Entertainment Districts program can be seen throughout Maryland, from an art-fueled turnaround in Frederick, to the vibrant Station North neighborhood in Baltimore, to the exciting addition of galleries, public art, and artist housing in Crisfield, the program helps participating communities highlight and build on their uniqueness. MSAC congratulates the Hagerstown, Cumberland, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Station North, and Bromo districts on successful redesignations this year, ensuring that the programs' benefits will continue for the next 10 years!

ARTS IN EDUCATION

The Arts in Education Grant program is excited to announce that the maximum grant amount has increased to $7,500, due to Arts Relief funding received for this fiscal year! Applications are accepted on a rolling basis between August and May and are reviewed monthly. Applications received by the fifth of each month will be reviewed that same month. Applications received after the fifth of the month will be reviewed the following month. Please see the Arts in Education Grant guidelines for more details on eligibility and information on the program.


To sign up for the Arts in Education Grants info session on August 16 at 4 p.m., click here.


CALL FOR JURORS FOR FIRST LADY'S GALLERY

Each year, the Maryland State Department of Education works with its partners and First Lady Yumi Hogan to host a statewide student artwork competition and exhibition. To support this project, MSAC is calling for a diverse array of jurors to do the important work of evaluating submissions. MSAC will select jurors with a focus on diversity of experiences, diversity of location, and expertise in the fine arts. Jurors must be Maryland residents. Selected jurors serve for a review period from September to October 2022. Jurors receive modest compensation for their service.

Rabiatu, a student from Prince George’s County Public Schools, shows First Lady Hogan her artwork at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore City for the Maryland Arts Education Festival. Photo courtesy of the Executive Office of the Governor, and licensed under CC BY 2.0.

How to apply:

1. Log in or create a free account on SmartSimple. You must be registered as an “Independent Artist” to apply to be a juror.

2. Under Funding Opportunities, select "Public Call."

3. Select "First Lady Gallery Juror" from the drop down options.

4. Click "Save Draft" at the bottom to populate the application.

5. Complete the application and click “Submit.”


The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 25.

CREATIVITY GRANTS

Information Session - Thursday, August 25, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Join Program Directors Laura Weiss and Emily Sollenberger for an informational session on the Creativity Grant. During this session, they will discuss the overarching goals of the program, which offers general operating support for organizations and project support for both independent artists and organizations. Additionally, they will cover the published guidelines, eligibility, application process, scoring rubric, review process, and ways to obtain further support and feedback. They will also discuss the impact of the Arts Relief Funding on this program. Click here to register.


Applications accepted on a rolling basis, and reviewed and awarded monthly. Apply Now!

EMERGENCY GRANTS

Information Session - Thursday, August 18, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Join Program Directors Laura Weiss and Emily Sollenberger for an informational session on the Emergency Grant for Independent Artists. During this session, they will discuss the overarching goals of the program, along with the published guidelines, eligibility, application process, scoring rubric, review process, and ways to obtain further support and feedback. They will also discuss the impact of Arts Relief Funding on this program. This grant is open to independent artists only. Click here to register.


Applications accepted on a rolling basis, and reviewed and awarded monthly. Apply Now!

GRANTS FOR ARTISTS

MSAC was pleased to announce the Grants for Artists program as part of its Arts Relief funding overview on July 19. Grants for Artists will be piloted in winter 2023 and will provide operating support to Maryland artists. The program is currently budgeted at $1.2 million. Stay connected with MSAC in the coming months for announcements about application openings and program guidelines.

GRANTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS

Coming soon! The FY24 Grants for Organizations (GFO) Intent to Apply application will be available in early August. New organizations (those who did not receive GFO support for FY23) who are interested in applying to the GFO program for FY24 general operating support must submit an Intent to Apply application to be considered. Stay tuned for more information, along with the complete program guidelines. Intent to Apply deadline: September 15, 2022

MARYLAND TRADITIONS

Master artist Gwen Handler (Carroll County; top) teaches apprentice artist Winnie Dreier how to weave in a 2021-2022 Folklife Apprenticeship on wool work. Photo by Human Being Productions.

This year, Maryland Traditions will administer a special, Arts Relief-funded cycle of the Folklife Apprenticeship to fund an additional 30 apprenticeship teams. Each $5,000 grant supports education between a master artist and an apprentice artist in the traditional arts, defined as community-based living cultural traditions passed down by example or word of mouth. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis between September 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. During this six-month period, applications will be reviewed and applicants will be notified on a monthly basis. To register for the Folklife Apprenticeship info session on August 22, click here.


Questions? Contact Folklife Specialist Ryan Koons at [email protected].or 410-767-6568, or click here.

NETWORK ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

FY 2023 applications for Network Organizational Development (NOD) grants are open! Join our free application strategy session August 1 at 2 p.m. for info on how to apply. Individual awards of as much as $10,000 are available to support organizational development activities for Arts & Entertainment District management entities, county arts agencies, and regional folklife centers. Register for the session at this link.

PUBLIC ART ACROSS MARYLAND

Call for Public Art for Towson University's new College of Health Professions:

Two artwork commission opportunities are offered for the latest addition to the TU campus: 2D/low-relief artwork for the interior ($190,000) and 3D/sculptural/landscape-based artwork ($355,000). Check out the full Request For Qualifications for more information about the entire project and information about how to apply. The deadline for applications is August 15, 2022.


Public Art Across Maryland Grant Guidelines are LIVE:

In FY23, artists and organizations can apply for as much as $50,000 to support local public art projects! Review the How to Apply slides, and read the FY23 Guidelines for a general overview. Public Art program staff are available to chat about your project concept and any questions that come up. Application deadlines are: October 24, 2022, and March 24, 2023.


Apply to be a Public Art Grant panelist and find yourself in the center of public art in Maryland! FY23 panelists are needed for the New Artworks & Conservation Grant programs. Deadline to apply: August 15, 2022. Click here for more information and to apply.


FREE “Making it Public” Workshop Series for Administrators

MSAC is partnering with Forecast Public Art to offer a free professional development workshop to in-state administrators interested in fostering more vibrant and equitable public spaces through artmaking. "Making it Public - Administrator Edition" will run each Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. for 5 weeks, from September 15 to October 13, and will cover practical and tactical subject matter, such as stakeholder considerations, community engagement, preparing a call‐for‐artists, equitable selection processes, contracting, and more. Click here for info and to register in advance of the August 15 deadline.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT

& UPCOMING EVENTS

Available to both independent artists and arts organizations, this grant helps support learning opportunities that help the artist or organization learn or develop an identified area of growth. Grants are available for up to $2,000. Applications accepted on a rolling basis, and reviewed and awarded monthly. Apply Now!


Information Session - Tuesday, August 9, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Join Program Directors Laura Weiss and Emily Sollenberger for an informational session on the Professional Development Opportunity Grant. During this session, they will discuss the overarching goals of the program, along with the published guidelines, eligibility, application process, scoring rubric, review process, and ways to obtain further support and feedback. They will also discuss the impact of Arts Relief Funding on this program. This grant is open to independent artists and organizations. Click here to register! 


MSAC is hosting a lunchtime professional development series this summer focused on best practices for arts organizations. We'll welcome friends from Maryland Nonprofits, Associated Black Charities, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Maryland Philanthropy Network, as well as Finance Friend Melanie Hopkins for sessions ranging from the basic elements of nonprofits to board, by-laws, and budgeting best practices. Click here to register for individual sessions on our Eventbrite page.

PRESENTING AND TOURING

Information Session - Thursday, August 4, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Join Program Directors, Laura Weiss and Emily Sollenberger, for an informational session on the Presenting & Touring Program. During this session, they will discuss the two components of the program - the Touring Grant and the Maryland Performing Artist Touring Roster - and how they work collaboratively to enhance performing opportunities across the state. You will learn about the program, including the published guidelines, application process, scoring rubrics, panelist review process, and ways to get further support and feedback. Click here to register.


Applications accepted on a rolling basis, and reviewed and awarded monthly. Apply Now!

Access all MSAC applications in SmartSimple

Questions?

Contact the MSAC staff person for the program you’re interested in learning more about. 

MSAC NEWS

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

We're hiring! MSAC seeks a Grants Management Associate (Rosters Assistant) to join its team and serve at the forefront of providing funding to Maryland's artists and arts organizations! Read the full position description under the "Employment Opportunities" heading at this link. Apply by Wednesday, August 11, at 5 p.m., for consideration.

WELCOME, DAVID!

MSAC welcomed David Mitchell earlier this summer as the newest member of our team! David joined the staff as Program Director for County Arts Development and Arts & Entertainment Districts in June 2022, with more than 17 years of experience as an artist, programmer and administrator. As a thespian, he received a BA from Morgan State University and an MFA from the New School for Social Research before returning to Baltimore in 2005. He has worked as a full-time and adjunct lecturer at several Baltimore-based colleges and universities. He has also been a facilitator and major "catalyst" in bringing together diverse segments of the performing arts community.

COUNCIL UPDATES

MSAC excitedly welcomed new council member Bonnie Fogel. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Bonnie founded Imagination Stage, Inc. (formerly, Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts, Inc.) in 1979 with the intention of bringing the same cultural benefits she enjoyed as a child growing up in the United Kingdom to American children. Her entrepreneurial leadership has been recognized consistently through the years. She worked closely with artistic and educational colleagues to ensure programming goals advanced the Company’s mission and vision while personally prioritizing efficient daily operation and administration, advocacy (political and entrepreneurial), strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, community relations, and governance by engaging boards of trustees, elected and appointed government officials, donors, and other community partners to support organization objectives.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Take precautions with the extreme heat this summer within your organizations, studios, and work spaces. Check out these cool resources to ensure you and others are safe during the high temperatures, frequent thunder and lightning storms, and power outages:


RESOURCE BULLETIN

The MSAC Online Resource Bulletin, maintained by Maryland Art Place, includes regional, national, and international exhibition opportunities, public art opportunities, grants, fellowships, residencies, artist registries, and information on available studio spaces in the area. The Resource Bulletin is updated throughout the month, so click here to see what new opportunities have been posted!


Do you have something to add? Email Caitlin Gill at [email protected].

The Maryland State Arts Council is committed to making sure all Marylanders can access its programs and services. Guests with further accessibility questions or who require accommodations may fill out the Accommodations Request Form or contact the MSAC Office Secretary at [email protected].
Connect with us at msac.org!