The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) relies on a diverse array of experts from across the state of Maryland to do the important work of evaluating applications. We invite participation through program-specific public calls for panelists. We select panelists with a focus on diversity of experiences, diversity of location, and expertise in varying artistic disciplines. Panelists must be Maryland residents.

Maryland Traditions, MSAC’s traditional arts program, is seeking panelists to evaluate submissions to the Heritage Award and Folklife Apprenticeship programs, both of which support community-based living cultural traditions handed down by example or word of mouth.

What to Expect as Panelists

Heritage Award panelists evaluate nominations for Maryland people, places, and traditions that represent long-term achievement in the traditional arts. All selected panelists will be expected to:

 - Evaluate Heritage Award nominations on their own time, with digital submissions due in December

 - Attend one virtual orientation in the fall and one synchronous virtual panel meeting in December, as scheduled by staff

 - Receive compensation of between $375 and $550, depending on the number of total nominations and assuming the completion of all scheduled assignments
 
Folklife Apprenticeship panelists evaluate applications to fund two-person teams in which traditional arts knowledge is passed from a master to an apprentice artist. All selected panelists will be expected to:

 - Evaluate Folklife Apprenticeship applications on their own time, with all digital submissions due in spring 2024

 - Attend one virtual orientation in the spring and one synchronous virtual panel meeting in the spring, as scheduled by staff

 - Receive compensation of between $375 and $550, depending on the number of total applications and assuming the completion of all scheduled assignments

What we are looking for:

 - Maryland residents with backgrounds in a variety of arts administration and cultural worker roles, or who are interested in learning how MSAC grant applications are evaluated

 - Maryland residents familiar with one or more of the following MSAC programs: Heritage Awards, Folklife Apprenticeship

 - Traditional artists of all kinds, including former grantees of the Heritage Award or Folklife Apprenticeship programs

 - Maryland residents from multiple regions, especially Western Maryland, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore

How to Apply

 - Log in or create a free account in SmartSimple, MSAC’s online grants management system. You must be registered as an “Independent Artist” to apply to be a panelist (although you do not actually have to be an independent artist, the “Independent Artist” SmartSimple label is necessary to apply).

 - Under Funding Opportunities, select “Apply Now” next to "Public Call."

 - Fill in the demographic information, then click "Save Draft" at the bottom to populate the application.

 - Under “Narrative,” select "Panelist Call" from the first drop down option.

 - Select the “Grant Program” of your choosing—either “Maryland Traditions Heritage Awards” or “Maryland Traditions Apprenticeship” from the second drop down option.

 - Complete the application and click “Submit.”

Apply Now!

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