Howard County Arts Council 

The Howard County Arts Council (HoCo Arts) manages two galleries at the Howard County Center for the Arts with over 1,600 square feet of exhibit space. The HoCo Arts gallery program was established to enhance the public's appreciation of the visual arts, provide a venue to exhibit the work of local, regional, and national artists in a professional space, and provide leadership in the arts by presenting a broad spectrum of arts in all media from both emerging and established artists.

HoCo Arts presents 11-12 exhibits per year of national, regional, and local artists, including two-person, small and large group, juried, curated, and community shows. HoCo Arts rarely exhibits solo shows.

For more information, view the General Exhibit Prospectus.

To apply, please submit the following:

1. Contact Information, including artist or curator name
2. 10-20 digital images representative of the work to be included in the exhibition. Files should be named to correspond to image list. Entries must be JPG or JPEG files, each no larger than 1 MB. If submitting time-based work, work must be submitted as .avi, .wav, .mov, or .m4a files. HoCo Arts has limited technology for use in the gallery, so any special technology needs should be addressed in the proposal. The images should be named using the “LastName_FirstName_01.jpg” format, where the numbers (01, 02, 03, etc…) correspond directly to your image script.
3. Image List which contains artist's name, title, medium, year completed, and dimensions for each piece. The image list should correspond directly to your application images. So, if you have an image named “Doe_Jane_01.jpg” then your image script should have an entry for “01” with that image’s title, medium, dimension, and date. The image script should be a Word document or PDF. Do not send Powerpoint presentations, movies of any kind, or slideshows.
4. Resume which lists education, exhibitions, awards, publications, etc.
5. Artist statement or description of your artistic goals and recent work.

Individual curators: in addition to the above, individual curators should include a brief description of the proposed exhibit and identify the artists invited to participate. Provide information describing your curatorial experience, organizational skills, and samples of written materials used to organize a previous show (letters, marketing, etc).

Organizations: In addition to the above, provide your organization's mission statement and describe your programs and services that meet that statement. Include a brief description of the proposed exhibit and state how it furthers your mission and goals.             Questions can be directed to Bronwyn Haymes, Exhibits and Programs Assistant at exhibits@hocoarts.org.

Individual Artist Merit and Creativity Overview- Literary               The purpose of the Individual Artist Merit and Creativity (IAM Creativity) award program is to recognize the role of individual artists in Howard County’s creative eco-system and strengthen the diversity and vitality of the Howard County arts community. 

The IAM Creativity program provides unrestricted funds to support the creative work of Howard County artists and to recognize excellence in dance, film, folk and traditional arts, literary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts disciplines. 

The goals for the IAM Creativity award program are to: 

• Recognize and support the creative work of individual artists; 
• Foster excellence, diversity, and vitality in the arts;  
• Expand public understanding of the impact that individual artists have on our local communities and economy; and 
• Acknowledge the many hours and personal resources artists dedicate to the pursuit of excellence and creativity in their artforms. 

        Over a four-year period, the IAM Creativity program will provide awards in seven different artistic disciplines, accepting applications for two  disciplines each year. A maximum of four (4) awards, including one (1) $5,000 and three (3) $1,000 awards, will be awarded in each discipline. The awards provide recipients with unrestricted funds to support their artistic practice, develop innovative ideas, and/or complete projects already underway. At the end of the award period, recipients must submit a statement describing the impact of the award. The IAM Creativity program is generously supported through a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.     

The Howard County Arts Council is accepting applications for the 2027 Individual Artist Merit and Creativity (IAM Creativity) Award for the following discipline:

· Folk and Traditional Performing Arts: This discipline encompasses dance, dramatic, music, and oral traditions; and includes, but is not limited to social ceremonial costume, ritual, participatory and processional dance and music; instrumental music; comedic, dramatic, masked, puppet, and ritual performances; storytelling and oral traditions as the central expressive component.

Review Criteria  

IAM Creativity awards are competitive. Artists are encouraged to apply when they have a cohesive body of work that they are prepared to present in a professional manner. The applicant must be the primary artistic force behind the work. 

Applications are evaluated by an independent panel of artists and/or arts professionals with expertise and perspectives in the discipline being considered. The role of each panelist is to review and score each eligible application based on the materials submitted and the established criteria cited below:  

Concept  

The application and work samples demonstrate the applicant’s creative and original theories, ideas, interpretations and/or perceptions. (Up to 30 points) 

Cohesion 

The application and work samples demonstrate a clear and cohesive body of work. (Up to 20 points).  

Demonstrated Command of Form 

The application and work samples demonstrate the applicant’s exemplary technical capabilities within the chosen discipline. (Up to 20 points) 

Impact 1 

 The application and works samples demonstrate applicant’s creative practice has both sustained resonance, impact, or value. (Up to 15 points) 

Impact 2 

The application shows the potential to strengthen the diversity and vitality of Howard County’s arts ecosystem. (Up to 15 points)    

Review Process  

Only complete applications successfully submitted online through Submittable will be accepted and reviewed. Once the application deadline passes, no alterations or additions may be made to the application, unless clarification is requested in writing by HoCo Arts staff. Applicants must meet all revision deadlines, as specified in writing, or the application will be withdrawn. 

The IAM Creativity award program has a 3-step review process: 

Step 1: HoCo Arts Staff Review 

• Initial review of applications for compliance with eligibility and submission requirements is made by HoCo Arts staff. If staff detects issues, they may call upon applicants to clarify information, to furnish proof of eligibility, etc. Should an applicant be asked to clarify and/or revise their application, the applicant must meet all revision deadlines, as specified by staff, or the application will be withdrawn.  

Step 2: Artistic Review Panel 

• Each panelist reviews the applications and work samples on their own via Submittable through an anonymous review process in advance of the full panel meeting. 
• The full panel meets together via video conference or in a hybrid in-person-video conference configuration to discuss, score, and finalize  award recipients.  

Panels are strongly encouraged to score each application and recommend awards but reserve the right to decline to score and/or decline to make an award recommendation if they feel that an application, or the entire pool of applicants, does not warrant an award.  

To ensure that HoCo Arts review panels are free from conflicts of interest and the appearance of such conflicts, panelists are required to disclose any current or prospective affiliations they or their immediate family members have with an actual or potential applicant. In addition, panelists are required to disclose any past or current adversarial relationships with applicants. Panelists are not permitted to participate in discussions or scoring of any applicant with whom they have an affiliation or conflict.  

Members of HoCo Art’s Committee on Grants and staff will be present during the full panel review to observe the process and/or answer any questions from the panel about the award process; however, they do not participate in the panel discussions.  

Step 3: HoCoArts Board Approval 

• The final panel scores are reviewed by the HoCo Arts Committee on Grants and presented to the HoCo Arts Board of Directors; approval of awards rests with the HoCo Arts Board of Directors. All award decisions of the HCAC Board of Directors are final.  

For Complete Guidelines and Instructions, CLICK HERE 

Individual Artist Merit and Creativity Overview- Folk and Traditional Visual Arts 

The purpose of the Individual Artist Merit and Creativity (IAM Creativity) award program is to recognize the role of individual artists in Howard County’s creative eco-system and strengthen the diversity and vitality of the Howard County arts community. 

The IAM Creativity program provides unrestricted funds to support the creative work of Howard County artists and to recognize excellence in dance, film, folk and traditional arts, literary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts disciplines. 

The goals for the IAM Creativity award program are to: 

• Recognize and support the creative work of individual artists; 
• Foster excellence, diversity, and vitality in the arts;  
• Expand public understanding of the impact that individual artists have on our local communities and economy; and 
• Acknowledge the many hours and personal resources artists dedicate to the pursuit of excellence and creativity in their artforms. 

        Over a four-year period, the IAM Creativity program will provide awards in seven different artistic disciplines, accepting applications for two  disciplines each year. A maximum of four (4) awards, including one (1) $5,000 and three (3) $1,000 awards, will be awarded in each discipline. The awards provide recipients with unrestricted funds to support their artistic practice, develop innovative ideas, and/or complete projects already underway. At the end of the award period, recipients must submit a statement describing the impact of the award.         The IAM Creativity program is generously supported through a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.     

The Howard County Arts Council is accepting applications for the 2027 Individual Artist Merit and Creativity (IAM Creativity) Award for the following discipline:

· Folk and Traditional Visual Arts: This discipline encompasses material, utilitarian, decorative and spiritual folk and traditional practices and includes, but is not limited to adornment; bead work; ceramics and pottery.; embroidery and sewing; folk painting; hammered, stamped or casted metal; leathercraft; quilting and weaving; whittling and carving; woven baskets as the central expressive component.

Review Criteria  

IAM Creativity awards are competitive. Artists are encouraged to apply when they have a cohesive body of work that they are prepared to present in a professional manner. The applicant must be the primary artistic force behind the work. 

Applications are evaluated by an independent panel of artists and/or arts professionals with expertise and perspectives in the discipline being considered. The role of each panelist is to review and score each eligible application based on the materials submitted and the established criteria cited below:  

Concept  

The application and work samples demonstrate the applicant’s creative and original theories, ideas, interpretations and/or perceptions. (Up to 30 points) 

Cohesion 

The application and work samples demonstrate a clear and cohesive body of work. (Up to 20 points).  

Demonstrated Command of Form 

The application and work samples demonstrate the applicant’s exemplary technical capabilities within the chosen discipline. (Up to 20 points) 

Impact 1 

 The application and works samples demonstrate applicant’s creative practice has both sustained resonance, impact, or value. (Up to 15 points) 

Impact 2 

The application shows the potential to strengthen the diversity and vitality of Howard County’s arts ecosystem. (Up to 15 points)    

Review Process  

Only complete applications successfully submitted online through Submittable will be accepted and reviewed. Once the application deadline passes, no alterations or additions may be made to the application, unless clarification is requested in writing by HoCo Arts staff. Applicants must meet all revision deadlines, as specified in writing, or the application will be withdrawn. 

The IAM Creativity award program has a 3-step review process: 

Step 1: HoCo Arts Staff Review 

• Initial review of applications for compliance with eligibility and submission requirements is made by HoCo Arts staff. If staff detects issues, they may call upon applicants to clarify information, to furnish proof of eligibility, etc. Should an applicant be asked to clarify and/or revise their application, the applicant must meet all revision deadlines, as specified by staff, or the application will be withdrawn.  

Step 2: Artistic Review Panel 

• Each panelist reviews the applications and work samples on their own via Submittable through an anonymous review process in advance of the full panel meeting. 
• The full panel meets together via video conference or in a hybrid in-person-video conference configuration to discuss, score, and finalize award recipients.  

Panels are strongly encouraged to score each application and recommend awards but reserve the right to decline to score and/or decline to make an award recommendation if they feel that an application, or the entire pool of applicants, does not warrant an award.  

To ensure that HoCo Arts review panels are free from conflicts of interest and the appearance of such conflicts, panelists are required to disclose any current or prospective affiliations they or their immediate family members have with an actual or potential applicant. In addition, panelists are required to disclose any past or current adversarial relationships with applicants. Panelists are not permitted to participate in discussions or scoring of any applicant with whom they have an affiliation or conflict.  

Members of HoCo Art’s Committee on Grants and staff will be present during the full panel review to observe the process and/or answer any questions from the panel about the award process; however, they do not participate in the panel discussions.  

Step 3: HoCo Arts Board Approval 

• The final panel scores are reviewed by the HoCo Arts Committee on Grants and presented to the HoCo Arts Board of Directors; approval of awards rests with the HoCo Arts Board of Directors. All award decisions of the HoCo Arts Board of Directors are final.  

For Complete Guidelines and Instructions, CLICK HERE 

 Creative Howard Grant Program Guidelines

 FY27 Application Calendar

Grant period ends June 30

Grant activities must take place within this   grant period; projects are not funded retroactively, please plan ahead. See   earliest start date below.

September 1

Grant applications available online at https://hocoarts.submittable.com/submit

Rolling deadline based on funds available; applications   due 60 days prior to proposed project start date. 

November 1

Earliest project start date for projects .

Applications submitted by 11:59 PM EST on   the first day of the month will be reviewed that month; applications received   after that will be reviewed the following month.

April 1

Last deadline for FYE June 30.

Final Report Due within 15 business days of  project completion. 

 Introduction     The Howard County Arts Council (HoCo Arts) is a private, nonprofit 501c3 organization established to enrich and serve our community by fostering the arts, artists, and arts organizations. HoCo Arts is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors whose members are elected to two terms.  

 To advance our mission, HoCo Arts provides a wide variety of programs and services to strengthen the vitality of the arts in our community and broaden opportunities for public engagement in the arts. The Creative Howard grant program was established to recognize and support the work of small nonprofit arts organizations and arts businesses with grants up to $2,500.  

HoCo Arts Responsibilities

 HoCo Arts is authorized by the Howard County government and the Maryland State Arts Council to administer public funds designated for the arts. As the designated arts council for Howard County, HoCo Arts is responsible for:

• Establishing criteria and procedures for submission and funding of applications.
• Developing and maintaining a grant process and reporting requirements in accordance with established      criteria and procedures.
• Reviewing, evaluating and prioritizing applications for grants funds.
• Selecting recipients and determining grant award amounts.   

The Arts Council staff is available to assist applicants with any questions about completing this application by emailing grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org. 

 Creative Howard Overview

The purpose of the Creative Howard grant program is to strengthen the vitality of the Howard County arts community and recognize the role of small nonprofit arts organizations and arts businesses in Howard County’s creative eco-system. 

 The goals for Creative Howard are:

· To increase access to the process of requesting grants to arts organizations and support needs in the arts community that may fall outside of the eligibility requirements of HoCo Art’s Community Arts Development grant program. 

· To provide small non-profit 501c3- designated arts organizations with a foundation to apply for future Community Arts Development grants.

 Creative Howard supports eligible activities of small arts organizations (both 501c3 nonprofit arts organizations and for- and nonprofit arts businesses) with grants up to $2,500. There is no  matching fund requirement for Creative Howard grants. Applicants may receive funding for only one application per fiscal year (July 1-June 30). 

 Deadline The deadline for Creative Howard is rolling. The deadline to submit the application is the first day of each month at 11:59PM.  Applications will be reviewed monthly and Creative Howard grants will be awarded throughout the fiscal year until total funding allocated for the program is awarded.

 HoCo Arts will begin accepting applications on September 1, 2026 for the FY27 application cycle. The grant period for FY27 ends June 30, 2027. Funded activities must occur within the grant period. HoCo Arts does not fund projects in progress or completed before the grant application deadline.  Applications must be submitted at least 60 days before the proposed activities occur. 

 The application process will be closed once funding allocated for the program is fully awarded and will only be reopened should new funding become available.

 Eligibility     Nonprofit arts organizations and arts businesses (see definitions below) located and operating in Howard County for at least one year prior to the application’s submission and throughout the funded project with an operating revenue of $100,000 or less (see application process below) are eligible to apply. 

Not eligible to apply are current FY27 HoCo Arts grant recipients, Howard County governmental agencies, and organizations that receive direct funding from Howard County, such as, Howard County Public Schools, Howard County Recreation and Parks, Howard Community College.

Eligibility:

· Applicant must maintain their primary physical office and conduct at least 50% of all business operations, programs and activities in Howard County (i.e.: 50% of rehearsals, 50% of Board and committee meetings, 50% of performances, workshops, etc.). Corporate papers, such as the 990 and Personal Property Tax forms, letterhead, website, and program materials submitted must show primary office is located in the County.

· Applicant must have one fully completed and documented fiscal year of operations as of the date of the application submission. 

· Applicant must produce or present arts programs, services or projects that are accessible to the public and relevant to its community (demonstrate need). 

• Applicant  may receive funding for one Creative Howard grant per fiscal year; the program may consist of a one-time activity or a series of related  activities.
• A  program is eligible for funding through Creative Howard if it supports an arts and/or cultural activity that is presented at a location in Howard County.
• Program activities must be open to the public with or without an admission fee, virtual programming is      eligible.
• Program activities may include, but are not limited to, dance, design, folk and traditional arts, history exhibit or historic reenactment, lectures or  seminars, literature, media arts, music, theater, visual arts, and workshops. This list is not exhaustive and applicants are encouraged to think creatively about their programs.
• Program budget must be based on cash income and expense only.
• Program expenses must be directly related to the artistic activities described in the application.                 Submission of an application constitutes an understanding and agreement of the conditions set forth in these guidelines. Please read the full guidelines, before starting the application. https://www.hocoarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FY27-Creative-Howard-Guidelines.pdf Only successfully submitted, complete, on-line applications will be accepted and reviewed. Incomplete or hard copy applications will be disqualified. 

Arts Council staff is available to assist applicants with any questions about completing this application by mailing grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org.