April and May are busy months at MSAC. As the legislative session comes to a close, many of the panels that score applications for annual grant programs meet, and we prepare the budget for the coming fiscal year.

The 2024 legislative session was good to the arts. MSAC saw another record high general funds appropriation for the arts, approval of FY 2025 funding for Arts Capital, and the passage of a bill establishing a workgroup that will examine how Maryland artists can be better supported by our institutions. Many thanks to Senators Hayes and Kagan, as well as Delegate Embry, for their leadership on Senate Bill 764 and House Bill 1451, and to Governor Moore and all our elected officials for recognizing the importance of the arts in our state! 

As I monitor MSAC panel meetings, I’m constantly in awe of the members of Maryland’s arts community who serve as panelists as they thoughtfully consider (and often enthusiastically raise up) the excellent work of arts organizations and artists in our state, while providing recommendations to improve programs and service to our communities. MSAC panelists are compensated for their service and are critically important in helping ensure access to the arts for all. If you're interested in serving, keep an eye on our emails and Ways to Get Involved page for application information. Click here for more details. 

And it’s an exciting time as we look at funding allocations for the coming fiscal year. The Council will be in committees this month in advance of our June 6 annual meeting. Did you know that council meetings (and panel meetings for that matter) are open to the public? You can find schedules and more information by clicking here to visit our Meeting Notices page.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and lasting effects on the Baltimore region and beyond. Our team is keeping those affected, particularly the families of the workers who lost their lives, in our thoughts. MSAC is playing a small role in the State’s response, working with our Commerce colleagues to host the application for business relief grants on our SmartSimple grants platform. Many thanks to Grants Director, Cathy Teixeira, for her rapid response and work to get the grant application up and running in short order.

Steven Skerritt-Davis
Executive Director

MSAC PROGRAM UPDATES

ARTS CAPITAL

Program changes to be announced soon

A virtual info session on Friday, June 14, from 1 to 2 p.m., will announce program changes to the Arts Capital program. Click here to register. The session will be recorded and made available on YouTube afterward. Guidelines for the FY 2025 cycle of Arts Capital grants will be posted in mid-June. Applicants for FY 2024 funding will be notified of their status by the end of May.

ARTS IN EDUCATION

Teaching Artist Showcase, Part 2

Don't worry if you missed Part 1 of our inaugural Teaching Artist Showcase: Part 2 is coming up on Tuesday, May 7, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Don't miss this chance to discover how local schools, community programs, and arts organizations benefit from the wealth of talent available through the Teaching Artist Roster. Join us virtually to hear from 14 roster artists, as well as gain insight into opportunities through the Arts in Education program. Click here to register.

CREATIVITY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY, AND TOURING GRANTS

FY 2025 applications for three programs to open in July

The Creativity, Professional Development Opportunity, and Touring grant programs have finished accepting applications for FY 2024 funding. These programs will begin accepting applications at the start of the FY 2025 grant cycle in July. For more information, please reference the appropriate program page on our website.

MARYLAND TRADITIONS

Heritage Award winner Michael Friend featured in short documentary

Michael Friend (Montgomery County) is a performer and respected percussionist in a variety of African-American, West African, and Latin American percussion traditions. Since he founded the Soul In Motion Players in 1984, Michael has led the ensemble in presenting African dance and drum performances around the world. In 2023, he received a Heritage Award recognizing his achievements. Want to learn more? Click here to view a moving documentary short film created by Wide Angle Youth Media for MSAC about Michael and his work.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

Public Art: Embracing Community Engagement as the Foundation of Public Art

Join us on Thursday, May 9, from noon to 1 p.m., for "Embracing Community Engagement as the Foundation of Public Art," a webinar featuring two public art practitioners who will share their processes for engaging communities in their work. Learn how they've turned community involvement from a checkbox into a meaningful part of the artistic process. Discover practical strategies for fostering genuine connections and amplifying community voices in public art projects. Click here to register.

Capital Project Strategies for the Arts recordings available

Recordings are now available from the "Capital Project Strategies for the Arts" series, hosted in four parts between April 20 and May 1. The series was designed for nonprofit administrators and employees working in the arts and culture sector to learn from subject matter experts with cross-sector experience on how to accomplish successful capital projects. Click here to view the recording playlist. Please note that the May 1 recording will be added to this playlist as soon as it is available.

MSAC offers regular virtual and in-person professional development opportunities. Click here to learn more and register for other upcoming events.

Access all MSAC applications in SmartSimple. Questions?

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

MSAC NEWS

STAFFING UPDATES

Applications being accepted for fiscal officer

We are hiring! MSAC is accepting applications for a fiscal officer responsible for budgetary and administrative operations, including budget preparation, monitoring, adjustment recommendations, and other activities in support of Maryland's arts sector. Click here to learn more and apply no later than Monday, May 13.

ONGOING EXHIBITION

Exhibition artwork series on social media

Can't visit us in person? No problem. You can still dive into the visual odyssey of "Maryland Muse: A Tapestry of Inspiration" on social media! While the exhibit is on view at the Goldstein Treasury Building (Anne Arundel County), you can enjoy a few highlighted artworks every Friday (see image for last week's selection). By June 7, all the artwork from this exhibition will be available online. Click here for more information about this exhibition.

EXTERNAL NEWS

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY

Share your ideas to support disability inclusion

The “Advancing Disability Inclusion in Very Small Businesses” national online dialogue is open! Join this important conversation and help the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy support disability inclusion in businesses that employ fewer than 50 people or are owned by a disabled person. Your ideas could help inform policy and the development of new resources and tools to address the needs of very small businesses.

Click here to share your experiences and ideas. The dialogue closes on Monday, May 6.

RESOURCE BULLETIN

The MSAC online Resource Bulletin is maintained by Maryland Art Place and includes local, regional, and national opportunities, calls for artists, grants, and vendor opportunities. The Resource Bulletin is updated on a weekly basis and is categorized by deadline date.

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