America250 Public Art Grant

Eligible applicants must be Maryland-based and one of the following:

• Nonprofit organization (i.e., an organization with an IRS-designated 501(c)3 status)
• Unit of State or local government
• College or university (i.e., an established higher education institution in Maryland) 

Note: Eligible organizations may apply for both the America250 Public Art Grant and Public Art Across Maryland grants.  Separate grant applications must be submitted to each program in order to be considered for a grant award.

Projects funded through the America250 Public Art Grant must:

• Eligible public art initiatives may include the conservation and promotion of existing works or the creation and installation of new works within the state of Maryland. Eligible artworks must:
  • Be either an architectural enhancement of artistic significance or an installation of artwork.  Eligible mediums include, but are not limited to: murals, tile mosaics, paintings, or sculptures.
  • Fit within MSAC’s definition of Public Art as described in the MSAC glossary. 
• The project must be located in Maryland and be the product of an artist, artisan, studio, or team based in the state of  Maryland..  
• Be fully developed and ready for immediate implementation. The artwork concept is finalized; all required permits and site permissions have been acquired; and the project is entering the initial stages of implementation (e.g., procurement or fabrication commencement) with the ability to complete and fully install by June 30, 2026.

Additional information and guidance about eligible projects is included in the grant guidelines.

Applications to the American250 Public Art Grant will be reviewed by a team of MSAC staff and a representation from the Maryland250 Commission. Application evaluation is based on review criteria required by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Before submitting a completed application, refer to the America250 Public Art Grant Scoring Rubric to see the complete criteria that will be used to evaluate applications.

America250 Public Art Grant funding must support a fully developed and ready-to-implement public art project aligned with America250 goals.  Awarded funding may be used for:

• Administrative fees incurred by the grantee (up to 15% of total request)
• Artist fees and labor for Maryland-based artists and fabricators
• Materials (artwork, base, lighting, landscaping)
• Contracted services and equipment rental
• Studio or space rental to fabricate and assemble the artwork
• Signage or plaques to identify the artwork
• Dedication event expenses

Additional information about the eligible and ineligible use of funds is included in the grant guidelines

Organizations must submit an online application by logging in or creating an account on SmartSimple, our grants management platform.

• Applicants are required to complete and submit their applications by electronic means, including the use of an electronic signature.
• Technical support for SmartSimple is available during regular office hours.
• Lost, misdirected or late applications are the sole responsibility of the applicant.
• Applicants must meet all revision deadlines after submission, as specified in writing, or the application will be withdrawn.

NOTE: Eligible organizations may apply for both the America250 Public Art Grant and  FY26 Public Art Across Maryland project grants.  Eligible organizations are not restricted from receiving grant awards  from either or  both programs. Eligible organizations must submit a separate application to each program, and will sign a separate grant agreement form for any funds that they are awarded. 

All grantees must file a final report in SmartSimple. The report will be added to the grantee’s SmartSimple profile as soon as the GAF is fully executed. 

The final report deadline for America250 Public Art Grant is September 1, 2026. 

The final report form collects information about the grantee and grant activities, including optional demographic information, data for the National Endowment for the Arts, a summary of activities and use of grant funds, and other program-specific information and documents, as relevant.

Grant funds may not be used to offset grantees’ State liabilities; as such, grantees whose grant payments were intercepted by GAD due to Maryland state taxes or other state liabilities (as outlined in the Payments section) are not exempt from submitting the required report(s). Grantees must either return the funds to MSAC or follow through with their proposed grant activities and submit report(s) accordingly. 

Failure to submit reports may jeopardize current or future MSAC grants and may result in the required return of grant funds to the State of Maryland. Before any funds are distributed, grantees are also required to submit any outstanding reports or address requirements for any other MSAC grants they have received.