My first day of kindergarten was a disaster. One of my earliest memories is standing at the gate to the playground at my father’s side, tears streaming down my face. Change is hard. My parents strategized with teachers and school administrators, quickly connecting me with a new classmate, Mike. With his friendship, that traumatic early memory is balanced by many happy memories of playground adventures and dance performances we put on for our families.
Labor Day - the holiday when we celebrate the achievements of American workers and their contributions to our country’s strength, prosperity, and well being - for me has always signaled change. As we observe the holiday next week, we’ll transition into fall with cooler weather (finally!), a safe return to school (finally!!), and new seasons at many arts organizations. Though events of the past year and a half, as well as current events near and far, may leave you feeling like I did standing at the kindergarten gate, I encourage you to take the time to explore MSAC’s opportunities. Like Mike helped me navigate change early on, MSAC staff are here to help guide you through our programs and toward funding and learning opportunities that support your work and practice.
Thanks to American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding through the National Endowment for the Arts, the Council has increased budget allocations to several programs that directly support artist work, meaning that we are able to give more grants in this year. Increased funding coupled with recent changes that increase access to these programs makes now a great time to apply!
Please also join us for public dialogues this month where we will gather your input about how MSAC can best support the Future of Artist Employment in Maryland. Register for these sessions via links in the MSAC Virtual Offerings section below.
Wishing you a restful Labor Day and the friendship of many Mikes, Steven |
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APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR MSAC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION: DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 9th |
The Maryland Department of Commerce is seeking qualified applicants for the position of MSAC Executive Director. The Executive Director provides executive leadership to the state agency charged with encouraging and investing in the advancement of the arts for the citizens of Maryland and ensuring every person has access to the transformative power of the arts. Click here to learn more. |
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| 2021 VIRTUAL REGIONAL ARTS SUMMIT |
Join us on Thursday, September 23rd from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. for the kick off to the 2021 Virtual Regional Arts Summit! This Summit is a space for artists and arts organizations to convene with MSAC staff and arts professionals through sessions on reimagining your organization, presentations from our collaborators, and arts discipline-specific artmaking! To learn more and register, click here. |
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| Coffees return Tuesdays this fall, 9 - 10 a.m. Join MSAC staff and Councilors as we hold space for conversation and center the voices and experiences of constituents from across the state.
Interested in being featured on MSAC's Coffee with the Council? If your organization's mission and vision connects directly to communities within your geographic area of service, we'd love to feature your work! Email dana.parsons@maryland.gov for more information. Participation includes a $200 stipend. |
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Semi-finalist artists review construction plans with Maryland Department of Agriculture staff and construction managers during a site-visit to the new Lab. |
| FOUR SEMI-FINALISTS CHOSEN FOR SALISBURY ANIMAL HEALTH LAB PUBLIC ART COMMISSION |
The Artist Selection Committee for the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s new Salisbury Animal Health Lab has selected four semi-finalist artist teams to make site-specific concept proposals for the new facility. The four artists, Derek Arnold (MD), Jay Coleman (MD), Thomas Sterner (MD), and Showcase Mosaics (WA) attended a site visit and Q&A with the project stakeholders in mid-August. The artists will each present their proposals to the Committee in September. One finalist artist’s proposal concept will be selected and will be contracted to receive a $70,000 commission to create and install the artwork at the Lab. |
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Public Art Program Director Liesel Fenner visits INFLIGHT by Voklan Alkanoglu at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. |
| MORE ARTWORK COMMISSIONS COMING SOON! |
MSAC’s Public Art staff is hard at work developing more artwork commission opportunities at state-owned buildings and campuses across Maryland! New Request for Qualifications will be announced in September and October. Artists interested in applying should watch for upcoming emails and check the Artwork Commissions page for the latest news on RFQ’s, upcoming virtual information sessions, and deadlines. |
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The oldest family-owned amusement park in the nation, Trimper's Rides and Amusements of Ocean City received the 2016 Heritage Award in the category of Place. Photo by Edwin Remsberg Photographs. |
| 2022 HERITAGE AWARD NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN |
Nominations for the 2022 Maryland Heritage Awards open today, September 1st. The public is invited to make nominations recognizing long-term achievement in the traditional arts in any of three categories: Person or People, Place, or Tradition. Awards are $5,000 each, and the three winners will receive a video and photo documentation session. Nominations are due Friday, October 15th, at 5 p.m. via MSAC’s application system, SmartSimple. Please contact Folklife Specialist Ryan Koons at ryan.koons@maryland.gov with questions. |
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| GRANTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS FY2023 INTENT TO APPLY APPLICATION NOW OPEN |
Reminder: FY23 Grants for Organizations (GFO) Intent to Apply Application Due September 15th The Grants for Organizations (GFO) program provides general operating support to nonprofit 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) 2022 MSAC GFO Grant, your organization is required to complete the Intent to Apply application in order to be eligible to apply for MSAC FY2023 GFO funding.
Visit the MSAC website for program guidelines and full details regarding eligibility. |
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APPLY TODAY: GRANTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS SEEKS 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.
Visit the MSAC website for the current Call for Panelists for the GFO program. Applications due September 15th. |
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Dancers pose during the Sounds of Korea performance at the 2018 National Folk Festival. Photo by Edwin Remsberg Photographs. |
| NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL RETURNS TO SALISBURY SEPTEMBER 10th - 12th |
The National Folk Festival returns to Salisbury this September 10th - 12th. The festival features performances, special family programming, diverse food and beverage offerings, and more -- all presented free to the public on four outdoor stages. Maryland-based tradition bearers will present in the Maryland Traditions Family Folklife Area and Stage, including the Barnstormers and RockCandy Cloggers, Los Hijo ‘e Plena, Urban Artistry, Washington Samulnori, the Blacksmith Guild of Western Maryland, and the Pocomoke Indian Nation.
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Free professional development sessions that are open to the public. Click each session below to learn more and register! |
The Future of Artist Employment in Maryland
Coffee with the Council |
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REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
NATIONAL & BEYOND
RESIDENCIES
FELLOWSHIPS & GRANTS
STUDIO SPACES |
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. |
Allegany Arts Council
Baltimore City
Charles County
Dorchester County
Harford County:
Kent County
Worcester County Arts Council |
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Alexander Calder’s Four Dishes being lowered into the BMA Sculpture Garden by crane. Conservation and Installation staff receive the sculpture and check its placement. Photo Credit: Mitro Hood/Baltimore Museum of Art. |
| The recently conserved Alexander Calder sculpture Four Dishes (1974) returns to the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA)! On August 16th, the sculpture returned to public display in the BMA's Wurtzburger Sculpture Garden. One of only two publicly accessible Calder sculptures in Maryland, Four Dishes underwent a full conservation and repainting made possible by through MASC's Public Art Across Maryland Conservation grant. The BMA's sculpture gardens are free and open to be enjoyed by the public year-round.
The BMA's conservation team will hold a virtual lecture for members on October 21st, describing the decision-making and logistics behind the preservation and maintenance of the beloved sculpture. |
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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: November 20, 2021, 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
ROSTER 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: ?
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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