16 Local Organizations Receive Funds from Second Round of Fiscal Year 2018 Grant Funding
Baltimore, MD (May 24, 2018) – Maryland arts organizations will receive more than $2.6 million from the National Endowment for the Arts’ second major round of grant funding for Fiscal Year 2018, announced earlier this month. The funding, part of $87 million in NEA grants nationwide, helps to support programs that provide jobs for artists, administrators, and other creative workers, and unique arts experiences for Maryland citizens and visitors.
“Our administration is proud to support the arts in Maryland, which play a tremendous role in our state by helping to educate and encourage creativity in our children, grow our economy by supporting 16,000 jobs, and improve our overall quality of life,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “I want to thank the NEA for their continued support of Maryland’s arts organizations, which gives our museums, arts organizations, and local artists the ability to showcase their talents and ensure this vital community continues to thrive.”
"The support of the National Endowment for the Arts to state agencies like the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) cannot be underestimated. Not only does it significantly increase our giving ability but it also elevates the confidence of our organization through a federal endorsement of the work we do,” said Ken Skrzesz, executive director Maryland State Arts Council. “Beyond the generous grant to MSAC, direct grants to arts organizations across our state increase their capacity to serve communities with programming that has passed rigorous protocols for funding, resulting in the very best arts opportunities for the citizens of Maryland."
Grantees are:
- $1,579,700 grant to the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to support arts programs, services, and activities associated with carrying out the organization’s NEA-approved strategic plan.
- $745,200 grant to the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) to support arts programs, services and activities associated with carrying out the organization’s NEA-approved strategic plan.
- $70,000 grant to the Association of Writers & Writing Programs to support an annual conference, online resources for the literature field, and the publication and promotion of The Writer’s Chronicle magazine.
- $50,000 grant to Baltimore Museum of Art, Inc. to support the exhibition, Mark Bradford: Tomorrow is Another Day, and an accompanying catalog.
- $30,000 grant to Arts for the Aging-Maryland, Inc. to support a multidisciplinary arts program at adult day care centers, assisted living communities, and low-income housing centers.
- A $25,000 grant to Artivate Inc. to support arts education programs for youth and adults in correctional institutions.
- A $25,000 grant to Docs In Progress to support staffing, travel stipends, honoraria, and related expenses for artistic and professional development programs for documentary filmmakers.
- A $20,000 grant to Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture to support The Partnership’s production of the feature-length documentary Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round, examining early days of the Civil Rights Movement in Glen Echo, Maryland.
- $25,000 grant to the University of Maryland at College Park to support a multidisciplinary performing arts series at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
- $25,000 grant to the Baltimore Festival of the Arts to support Artscape, a free arts festival.
- $20,000 grant to the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) to support a series of workshops and educational public programming featuring nationally-recognized filmmakers, organized by MICA.
- $20,000 grant to Your Public Radio Corporation to support the production of WYPR Radio program Out of the Blocks.
- $15,000 grant to the International Association of Blacks in Dance, Inc. to support the 31st annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance.
- $15,000 grant to Adventure Theatre to support a new adaptation of the Broadway musical Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, in a one-hour version designed for young audiences.
- $10,000 grant to Ward Foundation, Inc. at Salisbury University to support Lower Shore Traditions. Folklorists will research hunting traditions and land use strategies of the region.
- $10,000 grant to the Cambodian-American Heritage, Inc. to support the teachings of traditional Cambodian arts.
About the Maryland State Arts Council
Founded in 1967, the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) is an agency of the State of Maryland Department of Commerce, Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts, and encourages and invests in the advancement of the arts for all Marylanders. Its grants and programs support artists and arts organizations in their pursuit of artistic excellence, ensure the accessibility of the arts to all citizens, and promote statewide awareness of arts resources and opportunities. MSAC awards grants to not-for-profit, tax-exempt organizations and individual artists, and provides technical and advisory assistance to individuals and groups. The agency is funded by an annual appropriation from the State of Maryland and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. MSAC may also receive contributions from private, non-governmental sources. For more information, go to msac.org.
About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. For more information, visit arts.gov.