“Main Street, Ellicott City,” by Alison Leigh Menke “

The Howard County Arts Council is seeking artists to take part in the juried portion of Paint It! Ellicott City 2017. The annual plein air paint-out will be held July 6-9 in picturesque and historic Ellicott City, Maryland, with a minimum of $1,000 in total awards given to participating artists.

The event will culminate in a gallery exhibit at the Howard County Center for the Arts from July 10 – August 11. The juror for Paint It! Ellicott City 2017 is Hai-Ou Hou, an award-winning plein air artist and instructor at Chesapeake Fine Art Studio.

Deadline for entry: April 28, 2017.

Entry info available at http://bit.ly/2jRi3cW

Call for Submissions: The Howard County Conservancy is accepting submissions for the 2017 The Art of Stewardship art exhibit, Nature Through the Eyes of Artists. The 2017 exhibit will have an exciting new format, modeled on the Rochester Contemporary Art Center’s successful 6×6 show. The show will run from May 8, 2017 – June 2, 2017, and consist entirely of 10”x10” pieces, all unlabeled, all available for a sale price of $100, with all proceeds benefitting the Conservancy. The show is an opportunity for nature-loving artists, amateurs as well as professionals, to support the work of the Conservancy. The online registration deadline is April 24, 2017; registration may close early if the maximum number of 150 art pieces is reached.The exhibit is presented in partnership with The Art of Stewardship Foundation and the Medomak Retreat Center. 

For more information and to register, click here

Artwork submission: free; Pre-opening reception: $20

School 33 Art Center

School 33 Art Center, a facility managed by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, is now accepting applications from artists for its 2017 Juried Group Exhibitions in the first floor Main Gallery. The two exhibitions will be on display Friday, September 1 through Saturday, October 28, 2017 and Friday, November 3 through Saturday, January 6, 2018. Between four to ten artists will be selected for each exhibition by the 2017 Jurors, Natalie Campbell and Jarvis S. DuBois, based on individual artistic merit and curatorial vision. Notifications of the Juror’s final decisions will go out on Friday, May 12, 2017. 

Applications are open to visual artists working in any medium who wish to have their most recent works considered. Through this open call, School 33 Art Center aims to present new work by emerging and established artists from the United States and abroad.

Deadline: Monday, April 10, 2017 at 11:59pm .

The fee to apply is $35.00, and includes a one-year membership to School 33 Art Center. 

To apply go here

Ella Baker Days have been popping up all over the country as a way to honor and celebrate Ms. Baker’s lifetime of community organizing and civil rights activism on behalf of communities, and especially women, of color.  We are excited to bring Ella Baker Day to Loyola and are hoping that this becomes an annual event held each April. This first Ella Baker Day will feature a social justice-themed art contest from local middle and high school aged youth, with two categories for submission (one written, which would include poetry, essays, short stories, etc., and one visual/performance, which would include any type of visual or performance art). 

We will invite finalists to come read/present/perform during our Ella Baker Day event on Thursday, April 6. Then, we will have a keynote speaker (Dr. Rev. Heber Brown III), and then announce the four contest winners at the end of the night. We will provide all finalists with a certificate of accomplishment from Loyola, and will provide the winners with an additional monetary award. We are excited to celebrate your creativity! Thank you for giving us the chance to learn from your experiences and to better understand and connect with our own neighbors, all in the spirit of Ms. Baker’s legacy.

More information here: http://www.loyola.edu/department/ciue/events/ella-baker-day

Gallery Underground in Arlington, VA just outside Washington DC announces “Small Works/Big Impact” May 1-26, 2017, a national juried art competition, cash prizes awarded. Voted “Best Art Gallery” in 2015 by the readers of Arlington Magazine. All media artists, sculptors and photographers are invited to create visual works on any subject or theme, not exceeding 12″ in size on the longest side, excluding frame. Total framing (frame plus mat) or sculpture base may not exceed 4”.

Awards $500 in prizes awarded.

Apply Online Here – Entry fee $35 for up to 2 works. 

Deadline: March 21, 2017

Easton Readiness Center Public Art Project Opportunity for Maryland Artists; Background qualifications application deadline: Friday, March 24, MIDNIGHT

The Maryland State Arts Council is now accepting applications for the Maryland National Guard Easton Readiness Center public art project. Professional artists or artist teams residing in the state of Maryland are eligible to apply. The permanent public artwork will be two-dimensional and will convey the dedication of service to Maryland communities by the National Guard reserve and veterans. The artwork will be original and site-specific to the Easton Readiness Center site.

Artwork budget: $74,120, concept proposal fee, $860. The Artist Selection Committee will select up to three artists or artist teams to develop concept proposals for the artwork.  One final artist or artist team will be selected and enter into a contract to develop the artwork design and contract with a pre-approved fabricator for digital production and installation of the artwork. This project is an opportunity for an artist to realize their work through large-scale digital printing and fabrication processes, sited in a permanent context.

The online application requires submission of background qualifications including slides in digital format, resumé, Statement of Interest, and references. NO artwork proposals will be accepted. For project guidelines and floor plan please download the RFQ on our website.

Click here to apply online, or  www.CallforEntry.org. Deadline: Friday, March 24, MIDNIGHT.

For questions about the project contact MSAC, Director of Public Art, liesel.fenner@maryland.gov. For technical questions regarding the online application, contact CaFÉ at info@callforentry.org

The Meeting House Gallery at The Oakland Mills Interfaith Center is accepting applications for future exhibits.  Artwork in all media and styles which can be hung, including wall sculptures, is acceptable. The gallery is large, has new lighting and two display cases for three dimensional work.  Between congregational services, nursery school, meetings, private parties and other events, more than 3,000 people visit our building each week.  You may tour the facility at your convenience.  Hours are 8:00 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily (closed on federal holidays). For information and an application, visit our new site at http://themeetinghouse.org/art-gallery.