MSAC will be holding special teleconferences for a variety of professional development offerings in the coming weeks. April offerings include Emergency Relief Resources and a Self-Care 4-week series. Additional offerings will be available in May. For more information, please visit the MSAC website. 

Emergency Relief Resources

Wednesday, April 22nd, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Presenters will provide information regarding financial, as well as non-monetary, emergency relief resources. Guests include: Community Wealth Builders (including Kiva, Wefunder, and Honeycomb), MD Philanthropy Network; MD Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts; CERF+; Musicians Foundation; Arts Administrators of Color; New York Foundation for the Arts, and more.

JOIN HERE

Social Isolation Self-Care: A Community Gathering, hosted by Nicoletta de la Brown

Friday afternoons beginning April 17th through May 8th, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
This gathering is workshop style. The community is invited to discover new strategies for self-care during social isolation. As a group we will discuss, brainstorm, and develop modes for self-compassion and personal wellbeing. This gathering will allow us to feel connected with others during this time when we are all experiencing so much alone. We look forward to connecting with all of you, sharing new self-care rituals, and supporting you as you build your own personal self-care toolkit.

JOIN HERE

Our collaborators are also offering Professional Development! 
The Maryland State Department of Education Fine Arts Office is offering EMBRACE, a FREE professional development series for Maryland’s creative education force: Arts Educators, Arts Integration Teachers, and Teaching Artists. Expert facilitators will examine the intersections of art and wellness by exploring creative practices to keep us open, curious and reflective during COVID-19.

VIEW SCHEDULE

Update, April 21: A modified version of this article has been featured in the Baltimore Sun.

In 1971, Seattle experienced the worst recession in its history; Boeing laid off over 65% of their workforce. A sign went up next to Boeing Field that read ‘Will the Last Person Out of Seattle Please Turn Off the Lights?’ It was in this context that 35-year-old Mayor Wes Uhlman established the Seattle Arts Commission (and later that year, what would become the Bumbershoot Festival). People asked Mayor Uhlman why charter a local arts agency in the shadow of Seattle’s worst recession… he said because we had to give people hope. —Randy Engstrom, Director | Seattle Office of Arts & Culture

Before COVID-19, Baltimore’s moment was the 2015 Uprising. When it seemed that nothing else could bring the City back, the arts, in the form of Light City, brought people together and gave them hope that Baltimore was going to be okay. Across the country and right here in Baltimore we are facing disasters that are socially similar to the Uprising and as economically challenging as Seattle’s Boeing Layoff. What helped to save us then and will save us now is how we position ourselves for a comeback and a key component is the arts.

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Last month, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts celebrated the incredible talent of young Maryland artists with an art exhibition at School 33 Art Center. The exhibition celebrated the artwork of award recipients in the Maryland Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition.

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Students, their friends and families, educators, BOPA staff and the community gathered for an opening night to view a dynamic collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, fashion and more.

While the gallery at School 33 Art Center is currently closed, we want to share with you a virtual tour of the impressive work of Maryland’s creative youth. We are working on releasing a full virtual gallery soon. Until then, enjoy this sample of the Maryland Regional Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition from the comfort and safety of home.

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Baltimore’s artistic community keeps our city vibrant and creative with art and performances that can inspire, uplift and spark community change. Like many others at this time, our artistic community is experiencing a devastating economic impact due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) crisis. As Baltimore’s Arts Council, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts is  committed to providing necessary economic support and guidance to artists, especially in times like these. As we look toward recovery, we will need our artists’ creativity and commitment to keep us moving forward.

The Baltimore Artist Emergency Relief Fund is a coalition-led initiative designed to provide direct assistance to Baltimore-based artists and creative entrepreneurs who have lost income due to the COVID-19 crisis.  

Inspired by the generosity of artist-led relief efforts in Baltimore and across the country, this fund was developed through a partnership between 20 artists and arts organizers committed to working together for the collective good of the Baltimore creative community, and is made possible by administrative and funding support from T. Rowe Price Foundation, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, Maryland State Arts Council, Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation, Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, Grit Fund and Baltimore Creatives Acceleration Network.

Read More →

The One Conference for All the Arts in Maryland 

The Maryland Arts Summit is the first of its kind for the arts sector in Maryland, highlighting the work that is being done through our communities. Dialogue, learning and networking opportunities will focus on the growth of Maryland arts.

The Maryland Arts Summit will be presented by and for the Maryland arts sector, which includes, but is not limited to:

• Arts Advocates
• Arts Educators & Teaching Artists
• Independent Artists
• Arts Organizations
• Youth
• Community Stakeholders

The Virtual Convening will now take place on
Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29

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Presented by Maryland Citizens for the Arts, in conjunction with The Maryland State Arts Council, Maryland State Department of Education, and AEMS: Arts Education in Maryland Schools 

For questions about the Summit, please email info@mdarts.org.

MSAC has compiled a list of Maryland-based virtual events & content.

The list includes virtual exhibitions, art classes, historical tours, music lessons and more.

Adding your work to an online gallery? Hosting a livestream? Offering an online class?

To be added to the list, submit to msac.commerce@maryland.gov.

MSAC has two upcoming Professional Development webinars.

Online Arts Learning Platforms
April 13th, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
This webinar will cover how arts educators and teaching artists can use various technologies for online classes, courses, and short form lessons. The webinar will feature a panel of experts about how to use three specific platforms for online learning (Jumprope, Kadenze, and Canvas.) After the presentations, MSAC will share a crowdsourced list of arts education online resources. Webinar access link here.

Funding Public Art Now!
April 20th, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
This information session is for artists and organizations interested in applying for the Public Art Across Maryland grant, offering up to $10,000 for either temporary or permanent projects. Recent grant recipients will discuss how they have adjusted to the challenges of implementing public projects amid the  pandemic, and why they feel public art is still important. We will also look at examples of projects that can serve to inspire the public in times of uncertainty and social-distancing. Webinar access link here.