Happy New Year! 2023 was an incredible year for the arts in Maryland. From MSAC’s perspective, we wrapped up distributing over $65 million in FY 2023 funding, including $40 million in Arts Relief funds meant to bolster the arts sector from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (click here to read more in our FY 2023 Annual Report). In the first half of our 2024 fiscal year, we’ve distributed over $25 million in grants to organizations and artists in all 24 jurisdictions, supporting over 325 organizations with general operating support and hundreds of projects and learning engagements! 

Coming up, we have deadlines for Public Art Across Maryland New Artworks and Conservation grants (January 26), Arts Capital grants (February 16), and Grants for Artists (February 29) in addition to monthly deadlines for Creativity, Professional Development Opportunity, Touring, and Arts in Education grants. These programs will award an additional $6 million over the next six months. Click here to learn more about all of our grant opportunities.

Exciting too is our ongoing strategic planning that is envisioning how MSAC will serve artists and arts organizations throughout the state in the coming years. If you missed out on the stakeholder roundtables in 2023, no worries! Keep an eye out for a survey that we’ll share later this month that will give every person in Maryland another opportunity to tell us what you want to see from your arts council.

2024 will be an exciting year! Here we go!

Steven Skerritt-Davis

Executive Director

MSAC PROGRAM UPDATES

ARTS CAPITAL

Arts Capital Grant now accepting applications

The Arts Capital grant supports the sustainable growth, stability, and longevity of eligible organizations delivering arts and cultural education or experiences to the general public. Maryland-based nonprofit organizations delivering arts and cultural education or experiences as a core part of their mission or vision with $3 million or less in annual operating costs are welcome to apply.

The application deadline for the FY 2024 grant cycle is February 16, 2024. The application portal will re-open in June 2024 to receive applications for the FY 2025 grant cycle. Click here to review these deadlines and more in the Arts Capital Grant Guidelines.

Organizations are welcome to meet or speak with MSAC staff to discuss their proposed project. You can schedule a 30-minute virtual meeting at a time that works for your schedule by clicking here.

ARTS IN EDUCATION

Over 100 AiE grants awarded

The Arts in Education (AiE) grant program has awarded over 100 grants across 15 counties so far this year! These grants support teaching artists leading arts learning programs in Maryland's schools and communities. AiE grant applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed monthly through March 5.

For more information on the Arts in Education grant program, please click here.

CREATIVITY

Upcoming FY 2025 Creativity Listening Session

The Creativity Grant program has experienced significant growth over the past few years, becoming one of our most popular programs. Since the beginning of FY 2024, we've awarded over 100 grants to small organizations, programs, and independent artists, providing access to the arts across 17 counties of the state!

To best serve our constituents, MSAC staff is considering some changes to the Creativity Grant program in FY 2025. Keep an eye out for details regarding upcoming Listening Sessions that will occur in early February. Further information and registration will be available shortly for these sessions.

MARYLAND TRADITIONS

Maryland Traditions application opens soon

In 2023, the Maryland Traditions program ensured our state was a place of opportunity for artists with connections with traditional cultural practices. Funding supported a strong traditional arts infrastructure through the Folklife Network, recognition of the long-term achievement in the traditional arts through the Heritage Award, and traditional arts education through the Folklife Apprenticeship.

The work continues in 2024, as MSAC will accept applications for the Folklife Apprenticeship January 15 - March 1, 2024, for traditional arts educational activities that occur between July 2024 and June 2025. Maryland Traditions staff will be hosting a free virtual webinar, “How to Apply: Folklife Apprenticeship,” on Thursday, January 18, from 1 - 2 p.m. For more information and to register for the webinar, please click here.

PUBLIC ART ACROSS MARYLAND

PAAM grant deadline approaching

Apply for Public Art Across Maryland (PAAM) grants — New Artworks, Conservation, and Planning—by January 26, the only deadline this fiscal year. Click here for more information.

A final PAAM virtual office hours session focusing on grant application strategies is scheduled for January 11, 2024 from 12-1 p.m. See the professional development section below for a registration link.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SESSIONS, & EVENTS

Program awarded 35 grants in FY 2024

The Professional Development Opportunity Grant program has awarded 35 grants since the start of FY 2024 -- supporting learning and training opportunities for artists and organizations across the state.

Public Art Across Maryland Grant: Office Hours

Join the Public Art Across Maryland (PAAM) team for its last pre-deadline virtual office hours session on January 11, 12 - 1 p.m. To register, click here. To review the presentations from our previous office hours session, click here.

To learn more about and register for upcoming professional development opportunities, click here.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Upcoming strategic planning survey

Thanks to everyone across the state who participated in stakeholder roundtables at the end of 2023 as part of our ongoing strategic planning process. Up next, be on the lookout for a survey where you'll be able to share more feedback and ideas for how your state arts agency can best serve you!

GRANTS FOR ARTISTS

GFA awards over 250 grants

In its first year, the Grants for Artists program awarded more than 250 grants supporting Maryland independent artists' working and living expenses. We're pleased to share that application for another cycle of grants are open now. Click here to learn more.

PRESENTING & TOURING

Presenting & Touring continues to grow

The Presenting & Touring program has been growing this year! We've awarded 21 Touring Grants since the beginning of FY 2024, which has supported the hiring and presentation of 24 artists from the Maryland Touring Artist Roster! We've also added 17 artists and ensembles to the Roster, expanding it to include 135 total!

SPECIAL REQUEST

New round of grantees in FY 2023

The Special Request grant returned in 2023 to support organizations' pilot, capacity building, and innovative projects. We are excited to announce a new round of grantees in the early months of 2023. Click here to learn more about the program.

MSAC NEWS

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Executive Assistant/Council Liaison

MSAC is hiring for an Executive Assistant, a position responsible for providing administrative, secretarial, operational, fiscal, and technical support to the Executive Director and serving as Council Liaison for the agency. The Executive Assistant is in direct contact with arts and government leaders and is essential in helping MSAC deliver on its vision of ensuring that all Marylanders have access to the transformative power of the arts.

Applications are being accepted through January 9. Click here to learn more and apply.

STAFFING UPDATES

The Maryland State Arts Council is pleased to introduce its new Marketing and Communications Manager, Alysha Suryah, who joined the team on December 6. Alysha will be responsible for managing the daily operations of MSAC's marketing and communication activities, including branding, public relations, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategic communications initiatives.

Alysha joins MSAC from ASRC Federal, where she developed and increased engagement with social media channels, crafted web campaigns, and worked to increase the online presence for a satellite program at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Prince George's County. In the arts, Alysha is a writer, and multi-disciplinary artist, who has devoted her leadership, communications, and creative efforts to Glassy Plant, an art gallery in Prince George's County; and GrowCery Garden, an online bookstore offering inclusive productivity tools and strategies to help neurodiverse creatives complete independent tasks.

Welcome, Alysha!

ADDITIONAL NEWS

ArtsHERE accepting statements of interest

ArtsHERE, a new initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and the country's six regional arts organizations, is accepting statements of interest through January 19. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a commitment to equity within their practices and programming. Click here to learn more.

Click Here for more information.