Maryland State Arts Council

Maryland State Arts Council is an agency of the State of Maryland that promotes and supports the arts in Maryland. The council works to foster a vibrant arts community by providing funding, technical assistance, and other resources to Maryland artists, arts organizations, and community groups, such as the Baltimore Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, and Johns Hopkins University. The council's efforts are guided by a deep understanding of the importance of arts and culture in the lives of Marylanders, as reflected in the work of Frederick Douglass, Edgar Allan Poe, and Francis Scott Key. Through its programs and services, the council aims to make the arts accessible to all Marylanders, from the Eastern Shore to Western Maryland, and to promote the state's rich cultural heritage, including the Chesapeake Bay region and the Antietam National Battlefield.

● History

The Maryland State Arts Council was established in 1967 by the Maryland General Assembly to promote and support the arts in Maryland. Since its inception, the council has worked to foster a vibrant arts community in Maryland, providing funding and technical assistance to artists, arts organizations, and community groups, such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, and Peabody Institute. The council's history is closely tied to the development of the arts in Maryland, including the establishment of the Baltimore Museum of Art in 1914 and the National Gallery of Art in 1937. The council has also played a key role in promoting the state's rich cultural heritage, including the Chesapeake Bay region and the Antietam National Battlefield, through partnerships with organizations such as the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and Library of Congress. Additionally, the council has worked with notable Marylanders, including Thurgood Marshall, Spiro Agnew, and Barbara Mikulski, to advance the arts in the state.

● Mission and Goals

The Maryland State Arts Council's mission is to promote and support the arts in Maryland by providing funding, technical assistance, and other resources to artists, arts organizations, and community groups, such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and Guggenheim Museum. The council's goals include increasing access to the arts for all Marylanders, promoting the state's rich cultural heritage, and fostering a vibrant arts community, as reflected in the work of Georgia O'Keeffe, Jacob Lawrence, and Romare Bearden. The council also seeks to support the development of Maryland artists, including those from diverse backgrounds, such as African American artists, Latinx artists, and Asian American artists, through partnerships with organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, Ford Foundation, and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Furthermore, the council aims to promote the arts as a vital part of Maryland's economy and quality of life, as recognized by Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, and Ben Cardin.

● Programs and Services

The Maryland State Arts Council offers a range of programs and services to support the arts in Maryland, including grants, technical assistance, and professional development opportunities, such as those provided by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National Theatre, and Yale University. The council's programs include the Maryland Arts Day celebration, which brings together artists, arts organizations, and community leaders to promote the arts in Maryland, as well as the Maryland Touring Program, which provides funding and technical assistance to touring artists and arts organizations, such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Ballet, and San Francisco Symphony. The council also offers professional development opportunities, such as workshops and conferences, to help Maryland artists and arts organizations build their skills and capacity, through partnerships with organizations such as the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Carnegie Corporation of New York. Additionally, the council provides resources and support to Maryland schools and community groups, including the Baltimore City Public Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, and Prince George's County Public Schools, to help them integrate the arts into their programming, as recognized by Arne Duncan, Diane Ravitch, and Linda Darling-Hammond.

● Grants and Funding

The Maryland State Arts Council provides grants and funding to support the arts in Maryland, including grants to individual artists, arts organizations, and community groups, such as the Baltimore Museum of Art, Walters Art Museum, and American Visionary Art Museum. The council's grants program is designed to support a wide range of artistic activities, including music, theater, dance, visual arts, and literary arts, as reflected in the work of Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston. The council also provides funding for arts education programs, including those that serve Maryland's diverse student population, such as the English Language Learners program and the Special Education program, through partnerships with organizations such as the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and Council for Exceptional Children. Furthermore, the council offers grants to support community arts projects, including public art installations, festivals, and other events, such as the Baltimore Book Festival, Maryland Film Festival, and National Folk Festival, which celebrate the state's rich cultural heritage, as recognized by Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi.

● Governance and Leadership

The Maryland State Arts Council is governed by a board of directors appointed by the Governor of Maryland, including notable Marylanders such as Kweisi Mfume, Ben Cardin, and Chris Van Hollen. The council's leadership includes an executive director, who is responsible for overseeing the council's programs and services, as well as a staff of arts professionals who provide technical assistance and support to Maryland artists and arts organizations, such as the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, Maryland Institute College of Art, and University of Maryland, College Park. The council also works closely with other state agencies, including the Maryland Department of Commerce and the Maryland Department of Education, to promote the arts and support the state's economic development and education goals, as reflected in the work of Martin O'Malley, Larry Hogan, and Wes Moore. Additionally, the council partners with national organizations, such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Americans for the Arts, to stay up-to-date on best practices and trends in the arts, as recognized by Robert Lynch, Rocco Landesman, and Jane Chu.

Category:State agencies of Maryland