Council welcomes new members, bids farewell to others

Thanks to Patsy Mote and Bobby Messenger on completing their terms as Maryland State Arts Councilors. Terence Winch and Donnie Dingman began new terms July 1. Scott Johnson continues as chair of the Council and William Mandicott remains secretary/treasurer. Abby Hoffman is now vice chair. The Maryland Public Art Commission welcomes Patsy Mote. Donna Rice’s term has ended.

 

Baltimore Community Foundation administers Kresge arts grants

The Kresge Foundation, a $3.1 billion private, national foundation based in Troy, Michigan, will invest $200,000 in Baltimore as part of a three-city test for using grants to transform neglected urban neighborhoods through arts and cultural projects. Kresge has designated the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) to administer Kresge Arts in Baltimore. Detroit and St. Louis are the other cities in this pilot program.

As intermediary for Kresge, BCF will award the grants – ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 – according to criteria that must include arts and cultural components, connections to community issues and neighborhood-resident participation.

The deadline for application proposals is Aug. 14. E-mail or call Melissa Warlow, a BCF program officer, 410-332-4172, ext. 150, for details. Applications are available at the BCF web site.

 

21 Maryland arts groups receive NEA grants

The National Endowment for the Arts awarded 21 Maryland arts organizations a total of $2,751,000 in fiscal year 2009 grants. Awards were made in these categories: Access to Artistic Excellence, Learning in the Arts and Partnerships. An $800,000 grant to support partnership activities went to the Maryland State Arts Council.

 

Arts Council among state groups using Pew’s management tool

Operated by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Cultural Data Project (CDP) is a powerful online management tool designed to strengthen arts and cultural organizations. This groundbreaking project gathers reliable, longitudinal data on the arts sector.

Maryland State Arts Council was a lead partner in bringing CDP to Maryland as the first state to use the CDP following the program's inauguration in Pennsylvania in 2004. Other states that have adapted CDP are California, Illinois, and as of June: Massachusetts and New York.

The emerging national standard enables participating organizations to: track trends and benchmark their progress through sophisticated reporting tools; empowers researchers and advocates with information to make the case for arts and culture; and equips funders with data to plan and evaluate grantmaking activities more effectively.

Currently, 107 grant programs with 2,400 organizations use CDP. In each participating state, the CDP is the result of a collaborative partnership of public and private funders and advocacy agencies.

Maryland State Arts Council applicants are required to use CDP.

 

Maryland hosts plein-air contests

Artists continue to adapt the plein-air approach – painting outdoors – as the Plein Air-Easton! Competition and Arts Festival runs July 20-26. About 60 juried artists will convene in Easton for this fifth annual event, which features exhibits, workshops, lectures, theater and music.

In late May, 30 juried artists from across the country painted in Cumberland, Frostburg and other parts of Allegany County during Mountain Maryland Plein Air, an event presented by the Allegany Arts Council. The artists competed for more than $6,000 in cash prizes.

 

Artists get their turn on reality TV

Bravo will launch an art-themed reality series in which 13 contestants compete for a gallery exhibition, cash and a sponsored national tour. A panel of prominent art experts – artists, curators, collectors, critics and gallery operators – will judge the works. Artwork will represent a variety of disciplines, including: sculpture, painting, photography, video, mixed media and more.

Sara Jessica Parker is producing the unnamed series, along with the producing company for two other Bravo shows, Top Chef and Project Runway. A nationwide museum tour will feature the work of the finalists in the new show.

 

James Backas Gallery exhibit runs through Sept. 16

East Side Stories: Portraits of a Baltimore Neighborhood, Then and Now is now on exhibit through Sept. 16 at the Maryland State Arts Council’s James Backas Gallery, 175 W. Ostend St. in downtown Baltimore near M&T Bank Stadium.

The exhibit – a collection of Baltimore photographer Ken Royster’s work – is presented in conjunction with the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture. It depicts the people and landscapes in East Baltimore neighborhoods that have been redeveloped. Michelle Joan Wilkinson, director of collections and exhibitions at the Lewis Museum, is the curator. The Backas Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10-4. Parking is free. Call 410-767-6555 for more information.