Spring is in full swing with lots of arts events filling up my calendar and, I’m sure, yours! Here are a few to check out…

Regional Office Hours are back! The MSAC team will be in Easton at the Academy Art Museum this Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for individual meetings and technical assistance. Click here to learn more and register. And keep an eye on our newsletters and social media for announcements about when we’ll be hosting Office Hours near you!

Join us on May 18th at 6 p.m. at Maryland Art Place (MAP, 218 West Saratoga Street in Baltimore) for the opening of MSAC’s Triennial Exhibition! Featuring work from artists with profiles on the Maryland Arts Directory and executed in collaboration with MAP, the multidisciplinary exhibition will run through June 24, 2023. The opening coincides with the Bromo Art Walk, so you’ll have the opportunity to see more work throughout the arts & entertainment district. Keep an eye on our social media for more information about the triennial and click here for more information and to register for the art walk. 

As a follow up to our Coffee with the Council last month, we're working with CASH Campaign of Maryland to present the first in a series of professional development sessions supporting artist entrepreneurs. Join us on May 25th at 2pm for Taxes and Your Business. Click here for more information and to register.

And, Maryland Citizens for the Arts’ Maryland Arts Summit returns to University of Maryland Baltimore County June 8 and 9! MSAC will host its annual Council meeting on Thursday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend and observe the council in action! Our team will also be available Thursday afternoon and Friday morning for Office Hours, and we’ll host ‘Coffee with the Council Live!’ on Friday morning as a gathering space for the arts sector. Click here for more information about the summit!

Hope to see you at any or all of these events!

Steven Skerritt-Davis, Executive Director

MSAC Program Updates

Arts In Education

Attention, Maryland Teaching Artists!

Do you work in schools, community spaces, senior centers, or virtually to provide arts education experiences to the public? Then consider joining the MSAC Arts in Education Teaching Artist Roster! The MSAC Arts in Education Teaching Artist Roster is still accepting new applications for FY23. The next deadline to submit an application is June 1. For more information and to apply, click here. 

Please contact Arts in Education Program Director, Lizzie Morales, at [email protected] with questions. 

Creativity Grants

The Creativity Grant program is currently accepting FY23 applications through May 5, 2023. The application will temporarily close after this, as we prepare to launch the program for FY24. All applications received between April 6th and May 5th will be reviewed in May and notifications will be sent by the end of May (our usual schedule). FY24 applications are then scheduled to reopen in early June.

For more information, click here or contact Program Directors, Laura Weiss at [email protected] and Emily Sollenberger at [email protected] for more information.

Emergency Grants

Last call for FY23 applications!

Emergency Grant applications for $2,000 for Independent Artists are being accepted through May 5, 2023! If you have experienced a loss of income due to an emergency occurring after January 1, 2022 that impacts your work as an independent artist, we encourage you to apply. Applications accepted through May 5, 2023. Learn more and apply now!

For more information, click here or contact Grants Director, Cathy Teixeira at [email protected] for questions.

Maryland Traditions

Gertie Hurley (Prince George’s) is a nationally-recognized tradition bearer in Black dollmaking. She has been making Black dolls for over 80 years and participated as Master Artist in a 2021-2022 Folklife Apprenticeship on Black dollmaking; she also received a 2023 Heritage Award recognizing her work in this tradition. Want to learn more? Click here to view a moving documentary short film created by Wide Angle Youth Media for MSAC about Gertie and her work.

Poet Laureate

Last call for Poet Laureate nominations and Selection Committee applications!

Maryland Poet Laureate Nominations

MSAC is currently accepting nominations for the honorary position of State Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate of Maryland is an honorary State position in which the individual selected will serve at the discretion of the Governor for up to a four-year term renewable by the Governor’s consent. MSAC will assist in the administration of an open and inclusive selection process that welcomes Poet Laureate nominations from citizens across the State. Click here to nominate a poet.

Poet Laureate Selection Committee

MSAC is seeking a committee that is representative of the diverse arts and humanities communities throughout the state to do the important work of evaluating applications from poets nominated for the Poet Laureate of Maryland. This opportunity is open to professionals living and working in the state of Maryland. Click here to apply to be part of the selection committee.

Presenting & Touring

Last call for FY23 applications! 

The Touring Roster and Touring Grant programs are currently accepting FY23 applications through May 5, 2023. The applications will temporarily close after this, as we prepare to launch the program for FY24. All applications received between April 6th and May 5th will be reviewed in May and notifications will be sent by the end of May (our usual schedule). FY24 applications are then scheduled to reopen in early June. 

For more information, click here to visit the Presenting and Touring page of the MSAC website or contact Program Directors, Laura Weiss at [email protected] and Emily Sollenberger at [email protected] .

Professional Development Grant

Last call for FY23 applications! 

The Professional Development Opportunity Grant program is currently accepting FY23 applications through May 5, 2023. The application will temporarily close after this, as we prepare to launch the program for FY24. All applications received between April 6th and May 5th will be reviewed in May and notifications will be sent by the end of May (our usual schedule). FY24 applications are then scheduled to reopen in early June. 

For more information, click here or contact Program Directors, Laura Weiss at [email protected] and Emily Sollenberger at [email protected].

Public Art Across Maryland

Public Artist Roster- Accepting Applications through May 31 

Public artists from across the state and the country are encouraged to apply to Maryland’s first Public Artist Roster. The new roster will serve as the primary means of selecting artists for Artwork Commissions on State buildings and capital projects through 2025. The roster system is designed to improve the equity, diversity, and efficiency of selecting and commissioning artists actively contributing to the State of Maryland's public art collection at state-owned buildings and facilities.

Click here to learn more about the Roster and read the full program guidelines.

Click here to watch an informational “How to Apply Webinar.”

Upcoming Events

Coffee with the Council

- 5/2: Coffee with the Council: Open Discussion

Professional Development

- 5/25: Taxes and Your Business

Opening

- 5/18: MSAC Triennial Exhibition Opening 6 - 9 p.m.

MSAC & MdVLA

MSAC & Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts are teaming up to bring you a series of virtual offerings over the next few months, offering advice and the opportunity to ask questions.

- 5/23: Coffee with the Council: Legal Office Hours

Access all MSAC applications in SmartSimple. Questions?

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

Msac News

Panelist Opportunites

MSAC is accepting applications for FY24 Creativity Grant and Presenting and Touring panelists through May 15. We rely on a diverse array of constituents with varied backgrounds from across the state of Maryland to do the important work of evaluating applications as panelists, and we select our panelists with a focus on diversity of experiences, diversity of location, and expertise in varying artistic disciplines. Click here to visit our Ways to Get Involved page to learn more about this exciting paid opportunity!

Disability Justice Virtual Resources

Mid Atlantic Arts and Americans for the Arts (AFTA) have partnered to create the 2023 Disability Justice Virtual Resource series to support individuals and organizations in the mid-Atlantic region engaging in the essential work of accessibility and disability justice in their communities. The pre-recorded videos and live conversations focus on intersectionality, accountability, and budgeting through a disability justice lens. While you can view the pre-recorded videos on your own time, the final live conversation in this series, which focuses on Budgeting and Disability Justice, will be held on Friday, May 19 at 2pm ET.

Budgeting & Disability Justice

First, listen to Vanessa Cruz and Beth Prevor discuss, in a pre-recorded 30-minute video, how an organization can be proactive in addressing accessibility and disability justice in their budget.

Then, join Vanessa and Beth for a live conversation on May 19 at 2pm ET.

Click here to register!

ASL interpretation and captioning are included in the recorded conversation and will be provided for the live conversation.

Resource Bulletin

The MSAC online Resource Bulletin is maintained by the 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] .