IN BRIEF: TOURISM, FILM AND THE ARTS NEWS
Governor O’Malley Invests in Tourism, Film and the
Arts
On Wednesday, January 16, Governor Martin O’Malley introduced
his Fiscal Year 2009 budget with overall positive news for
the Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts. Demonstrating his
continued
commitment to Maryland’s vibrant arts community, Governor
O’Malley proposed a $16.475 million state contribution
to the operating budget for the Maryland State Arts Council,
an 8.4
percent increase from last fiscal year. The Maryland Tourism
Development Board’s funding has been restored to its
Fiscal Year 2007 levels at $7.6 million, an 8.3 percent increase
over Fiscal Year
2008. Additionally, the Maryland Office of Tourism received
a 4.4 percent increase for a budget of $5.1 million. The Film
Production Rebate Fund remained at Fiscal Year 2008 levels
at $4 million.
Please note
that items in the proposed budget could potentially be cut
during the legislative session;
final budgets are pending.
Taste of Maryland: A Legislative Affair
More than 250 hospitality industry professionals were in attendance
and communicated that tourism is part of the solution in resolving
Maryland's fiscal health. The legislators were treated to delicious
food from more than 25 restaurants across the state. "This
is one of
the premier
legislative
networking events during the session,” said David Meloy,
Chair of the Maryland Tourism Development Board. “It gives
the industry an opportunity to educate our elected leaders on tourism’s
$11.4 billion economic impact for the state,” he continued.
From
L to R: Margot Amelia, Maryland Office of Tourism;
Hannah Lee Byron, Division of Tourism, Film
and the Arts;
Nita Settina, Maryland Park Service Superintendent
and
Clarence Bishop, Department of Business and
Economic Development.
Nonprofit
Arts generate record-breaking $1.2 billion in economic impact
for Maryland.
Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED)
released a performance evaluation study that highlights the economic
impact of the nonprofit arts organizations and programs that receive
operating grants from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). According
to the report, nearly 14 million people attended arts events supported
by the MSAC in fiscal year 2007, generating a record-breaking
$1.2 billion in economic impact for Maryland, up from $1.05 million
the previous fiscal year. Copies
are available on line.
2008
Student Art Exhibit at the Maryland General Assembly,
January 14 – April 15, 2008
The 2008 Student Art Exhibit at the Maryland General Assembly celebrates
excellence in art education in public schools and showcases hundreds
of students’ artwork from participating schools throughout
Maryland. This exhibit is located in the tunnels of the Annapolis
complex and is presented by the Maryland Arts Education Association
in cooperation with the Maryland State Arts Council.
IN THE NEWS:
Maryland Made the List
Byways, a publication for motorcoach tour and travel planners
published by the National Motorcoach Network, has
released its annual listing of the "Top Motorcoach Destinations
of 2008." Washington,
D.C. and Pigeon Forge, MO tied for the top spot followed by Branson, MO, New
York, NY and Williamsburg, VA. In Maryland, both Baltimore and Ocean City made
the list. Baltimore jumped in the ranking from 36th in 2007 to 23rd for
2008; Ocean City completed the list at #50.When listing the Top 20 Motorcoach
states, Maryland ranked 15th (California was 17th).
Maryland
beach makes The Top Five of Best East Coast Beaches.
An AARP magazine article rates Assateague National Seashore as
one of the Top Beaches.
New Atlantic regional
travel magazine, Trips and Getaways, spotlights
Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City and winter activities
in Garrett County, MD in their winter 2008 issue.
See full articles
at :http://www.tripsandgetaways.com/issue/name/winter_2008_issue
The
Group Travel Leader sings the praises of Annapolis in their January
2008 issue.
A&E District process begins for Annapolis and Frostburg
Two
cities are working to become designated as official Arts and Entertainment
Districts. Both Annapolis and Frostburg cite the
state's successful program as an economic catalyst that will bring
artists to their area, and improve the quality of life for those
designated areas. To
read the full article on Annapolis and to
read the article on Frostburg.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Maryland
Arts Day 2008: Speak Out for the Arts in Maryland
A chorus of hundreds will speak with one voice as they advocate for the arts
on February 7, 2008. This statewide advocacy and grassroots campaign is organized
by Maryland Citizens for the Arts to support state funding for the arts and the
Maryland State Arts Council.
Deaf
and Hearing Artists perform at QuestFest
There’s still time to catch visual and movement theatre at its best! “Life
changing…a whole new way of looking at theater” is how participants
describe their experiences at QuestFest, an international visual theater festival
produced by Quest. Performance venues will include the Baltimore Theatre Project,
the Creative Alliance in Baltimore, Round House Theatre in Silver Spring, and
theaters at Towson University. The festival features an international roster
of deaf and hearing artists in an array of family-friendly, cutting-edge work
that welcomes all people.
Travel
through Three Amazing Centuries
Annapolis Alive! Travel through Three Amazing Centuries will
be the first major public event in 2008 to celebrate the signing
of
Annapolis’ charter. On Sunday, January 27, 2008, Annapolis
Alive! will host a major public event at Westfield Annapolis
from 7-10 p.m. The event will feature top-name celebrities:
Baltimore Raven Matt Stover, Annapolis Sailing hero and Maryland
Tourism Development Board Member Gary Jobson; nationally
known Leon Redbone; and the locally known R&B group
Raw Hands.
Body
Worlds 2 & The Brain: Our Three Pound Gem
Opening February 2, 2008 through Labor Day
This will be the mid-Atlantic’s first appearance for this
blockbuster exhibit of real human bodies and of our various internal
organs, muscle groups and vascular system.The bodies on exhibit
have been preserved through a process called “plastination”.
for more information: www.marylandsciencecenter.org/exhibits/travelingexh/bodyworlds2.html
