This issue of Arts Maryland highlights the strength of the arts in Maryland and their power to transform, even in these challenging economic times. Arts are empowering and represent jobs, both skilled and creative, and their importance was recognized by the federal government’s awarding of $50 million to the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the America Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. These funds will be used to preserve jobs in the arts, nationally and here in Maryland.

The Maryland State Arts Council began a year-long comprehensive strategic planning process that will culminate with an event on April 15. Thousands of Marylanders invested their visions, ideas and time in the process, resulting in Imagine Maryland –a plan that encapsulates ours vision and goals and will guide us for the next five years.

The arts are in Maryland are powerful and remain an important part of the lives of Marylanders. Individual artists continue to create and inspire us and receive awards of acknowledgment. Arts in education programs highlight the performing and visual arts talents of young people. Our 18 Arts and Entertainment Districts are home to more than 1000 artists, 74 festivals, performance spaces and galleries. And, Maryland Traditions continues to discover and showcase traditional and folk artists, thereby maintaining our unique historical and emerging cultural traditions.

Be part of the arts. In the next few weeks there are many cultural activities from which to choose. To name a few: On April 24, the Frederick Arts Council hosts its third annual Art in the Park plein air art event at the Frederick Keys baseball game. The Ward World Wildfowl Carving Competition and Arts Festival, an annual showcase of decoy art., takes place April 24-26 at the Ocean City convention center.

Spoon It! Fork It! Cut It Up! is an exhibit of ceramic implements and opens at Baltimore Clayworks on April 25. May 1 kicks-off Bel Air’s First Fridays event and Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts presents Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble’s 30th anniversary concert on May 8. Cumberland hosts its first Saturday Arts Walk of the year on May 9.