Creativity Grants for Projects strengthen the vitality and sustainability of artists and small organizations and provide opportunities to serve the growing needs of relevant arts projects and collaborations within Maryland communities.

Intended to support specific arts projects, events, or programs, this option is available for independent artists, as well as organizations. Each application should focus on a proposal for one specific project or program.

Applicants must:

  • Be an Independent Artist, or 

  • An arts-related organization in operation for one year or more and within grant income requirements, and 

  • Identify a specific event, activity or project to occur within the application time frame.

To be eligible, the applicant must be either an organization or independent artist. For detailed eligibility requirements and use of funds, please see the grant guidelines. 

 

Deadlines for the Creativity Grant Program are rolling. Applications are reviewed monthly, and Creativity Grants are awarded throughout the fiscal year until allocated funding is depleted. The grant period for FY21 is July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021. For awarded activities, payment may take up to 90 days.

MSAC utilizes a multi-disciplinary, statewide grant panel to electronically review (approve or deny) applications monthly for grant requests over $2,000. Applications for grant requests of $2,000 or less are reviewed by MSAC program staff.

Creativity Grant applications submitted by the fifth day of the month are reviewed by the panel within the same month. Applications received after the fifth day of the month are reviewed by the panel in the following month. 

See the grant guidelines for detailed information.

After the monthly panel review, applicants will be notified of the grant status as soon as possible, and, if approved, receive a formal grant agreement form to process the grant payment (100% of award amount).

Upon execution of the grant agreement, payment will be processed for receipt in 6-8 weeks. Grantees are required to submit a final report at the completion of the funded project. 

For detailed reporting requirements, please see the grant guidelines.

All MSAC grants are paid on the same timeline. To learn more, click here.

If awarded a Creativity Grant, the grantees are required to submit a final report through the MSAC's Smart Simple system by August 15, the end of the Fiscal Year in which the grantee was awarded.

See the Grant Guidelines for detailed information.

All grantees are required to submit a Final Report communicating data required by the National Endowment for the Arts. This required data can be found in the resource section below. For program specific Report information, please see the corresponding grant guidelines.