Howard County Arts Council 

The Howard County Arts Council (HoCo Arts) manages two galleries at the Howard County Center for the Arts with over 21,000 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 Jonah Brock, Exhibits and Programs Assistant at exhibits@hocoarts.org.

The Howard County Arts Council is seeking applications from artists to fill up to ten resident artist studio spaces at our new location at the Historic Courthouse in Old Ellicott City. The size   of available studios range from approximately 90-350 square feet and rent for $72.38-$281.46 per month for Howard County residents or $87.75-$341.25 per month for out of County residents The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM, Monday, September 15, 2025. 

Our new space at the Historic Courthouse will house accessible studio space for eighteen resident studio artists, as well as three resident arts organizations representing a variety of disciplines. Resident artists will have 24-hour access, natural light, and easy access to water. Utilities and public wi-fi are included 

Application

Applications must include the following:

1. Letter of Intent: In one page or less, provide a brief description of your work or project to be completed while in residence, your career direction, and why you should be awarded a residency.
2. Up-to-date Resume: Three pages or less that lists education, background, exhibitions, awards, and/or publications.
3. Artist Statement: In one page or less, concisely describe your creative work, process, technique, and conceptual development.
4. Three Letters of Recommendation: Include references which speak to your character, responsibility, and contribution to community and provide at least one financial reference who can speak to your ability to pay bills on time.
5. Up to 20 Images Created within the Last Two Years that represent your work: • Include at least one video recording if applying for performance art or video work, link to YouTube or Vimeo preferred. Videos must not exceed five minutes in duration, if the video is longer, please provide a cue to start.  If a cue is not provided, only the first 5 minutes will be reviewed.
6. Image List: Typed list of images which include title of artwork, media, size, and date created. If available, include digital examples of printed materials such as articles, brochures, programs, and reviews submitted in pdf form, not to exceed 10 pages.

If hard copies are submitted, a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of materials.

Benefits

General benefits include: private studio, 24-hour access to designated studio, physical mailing address and mailbox, affordable monthly rental rate, and location in a vibrant community arts center in the heart of Old Ellicott City. 

Residents also receive a reduced rate and priority consideration for renting other spaces in the HoCo Arts Center including the dance studio, black box theatre, multi-purpose room, and classrooms. 

Eligibility

Practicing artists who demonstrate a central commitment to the production or performance of fine arts. In some studios, practicing artists may also teach in their studio space. 

HoCo Arts Board of Directors and full-time administrative staff, HoCo Arts Center Committee, and their immediate family are ineligible to apply.

Requirements

Applicants granted studio space will be considered HoCo Arts Resident Studio Artists.  

To hold a HoCo Arts Resident Artist studio space, artists must, at a minimum, fulfill the following:

• Resident Studio Artists are required to participate in the Residents' Exhibit, displaying recent work (created within two years prior to the exhibit), not previously shown in the gallery, for a six-week show. 
• Resident Studio Artists are required to be in attendance for up to five HoCo Arts-scheduled Open Studio special events per year when they must be present and open their studios for public viewing.
• Resident Studio Artists must use their studios for a minimum of eight hours per week (annual average). Those eight hours must be used for the production, presentation or teaching of their art and not for other unrelated employment or activities. 
• Residents must pay the studio rent within five working days of the first of each month.
• Residents must maintain a $1,000,000 general liability insurance policy for their studio as well as coverage for the contents of their studio. 
• Resident Studio Artists must maintain a safe working environment in their studios and submit and keep current appropriate MSDS forms for hazardous materials in their studios. Furthermore, they are expected to practice a “good neighbor” policy, using the least harmful materials possible and keeping in mind not only their own health and safety, but also that of the Center community.
• Resident Studio Artists offering classes, exhibits, or other public programs must be fully accessible.
• Residents Studio Artists must maintain annual membership with HoCo Arts.
• Any physical changes to the studio, which includes painting, must be approved by the HoCo Arts Center Committee and the County, residents must return the studio to its original condition when vacating. 

Selection

The HoCo Arts Center Committee will review and evaluate applications based on their artistic discipline, artistic merit and commitment, as well as the appropriateness of their activities for the available space.  A key objective of the program is to have a variety of styles, viewpoints and media represented in the studio program and the Committee will consider the current make-up of Resident Studio Artists during the review process.  In cases where all other elements of applicants’ qualifications are deemed of equal value, Howard County residents will be given priority.

 The HoCo Arts Center Committee will review and rank eligible submissions in October and select finalists to tour the new building in October/November.  The finalists will provide their top three studio choices, and the Committee will finalize the selection process and assign studios.  

Application

Only eligible and complete applications will be forwarded to the HoCo Arts Center Committee for consideration.
 

For full information, please see RFP here.

All application materials must be submitted online by 11:59PM, September 15, 2025. Mailed, emailed, faxed or late applications will not be accepted. Email by Monday, September 8, 2025, for application assistance and accommodations. 

Questions regarding Submittable can be directed to exhibits@hocoarts.org.

The Howard County Arts Council is seeking a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts organization to work in residence at our new location at the Historic Courthouse in Old Ellicott City. The size of the available space is approximately 280 square feet and rents for $225.17 per month. Applicants will be considered by the HoCo Arts Center Committee. The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM, Monday, September 15, 2025.

Our new space at the Historic Courthouse will house accessible studio space for eighteen resident studio artists, as well as three resident arts organizations representing a variety of disciplines. Resident artists will have 24-hour access, natural light, and easy access to water. Utilities and public wi-fi are included. 

Application

Applications must include the following:

Letter of Intent, including: 

• Mission statement, artistic goals, brief history of organization and activities, and administrative structure.
• Your organization’s interest in becoming a resident.
• The type of public activities/involvement your organization would bring to HoCo Arts and how these activities benefit HoCo Arts and the community as well as how these activities fit into your organization’s mission and goals. Your organization’s history regarding conducting similar activities.
• How your organization would use the space for administrative purposes in support of your mission and goals.    
• Number of hours a week the organization would use the space for both activities and administrative purposes.

IRS letter of tax-exempt status

If hard copies are submitted, a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of materials.

Benefits

General benefits include: private office space, 24-hour access to designated office space, physical mailing address and mailbox, affordable monthly rental rate, and location in a vibrant community arts center in the heart of Old Ellicott City. 

Residents also receive a reduced rate and priority consideration for renting other spaces in the HoCo Arts Center including the dance studio, black box theatre, multi-purpose room, and classrooms. 

Eligibility

Applicant organizations must:

• Be incorporated and recognized by the IRS as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
• Demonstrate a central commitment to the production or performance of fine arts. Arts organizations may also teach in their studio. 
• Offer art programs/activities that are fully accessible to the public
• Agree to hold regular studio hours of no less than 20 hours a week in their space and have a working office phone

HoCo Arts Board of Directors and full-time administrative staff, HoCo Arts Center Committee, and their immediate family are ineligible to apply.

Requirements

Applicants granted studio space will be considered HoCo Arts Resident Studio Artists.

To hold a HoCo Arts studio office space, Resident Organizations must, at a minimum, fulfill the following:

• Resident Arts Organizations are required to be in attendance for up to five HoCo Arts -scheduled Open Studio special events per year when they must be present and open their studios for public viewing.
• Resident Arts Organizations must use their studios for a minimum of twenty hours per week (minimum). Those twenty hours must be used for the production, presentation, administration or teaching of their art and not for other unrelated employment or activities. 
• Resident Arts Organizations must pay the studio rent within five working days of the first of each month.
• Resident Arts Organizations must maintain a $1,000,000 general liability insurance policy for their studio as well as coverage for the contents of their studio. 
• Resident Arts Organizations must maintain a safe working environment in their studios and submit and keep current appropriate MSDS forms for hazardous materials in their studios. Furthermore, they are expected to practice a “good neighbor” policy, using the least harmful materials possible and keeping in mind not only their own health and safety, but also that of the Center community. 
• Resident Arts Organizations offering classes, exhibits, or other public programs must be fully accessible.
• Residents Arts Organizations must maintain annual membership with HoCo Arts.
• Any physical changes to the studio, which includes painting, must be approved by the HoCo Arts Center Committee and the County, residents must return the studio to its original condition when vacating. 

Selection

The HoCo Arts Center Committee will review and evaluate applications based on their artistic discipline, artistic merit and commitment, as well as the appropriateness of their activities for the available space.  A key objective of the program is to have a variety of styles, viewpoints and media represented in the studio program and the Committee will consider the current make-up of Resident Arts Organizations during the review process.  In cases where all other elements of applicants’ qualifications are deemed of equal value, Howard County residents will be given priority.

Interested organizations should submit a Studio Application to HoCo Arts. When a studio is available, the HoCo Arts Center Committee reviews all submissions and selects an artist or organization based on the above criteria. If no studios are available, applicants will be placed on a waiting list for future consideration.  

Application

Only eligible and complete applications will be forwarded to the HoCo Arts Center Committee for consideration.
 

For full information, please see RFP here.

All application materials must be submitted online by 11:59PM, September 15, 2025. Mailed, emailed, faxed or late applications will not be accepted. Email by Monday, September 8, 2025, for application assistance and accommodations. 

Questions regarding Submittable can be directed to exhibits@hocoarts.org.

Artists working in all media, 18 years or older, and reside, are employed, or study in Howard County, are invited to submit up to three works completed in the last two years, and not previously shown in Howard County Arts Council (HoCo Arts) galleries. All artworks must be original, no reproductions (including commercially printed or computer-generated reproductions of paintings, drawings, etc.). All work must fit through a doorway measuring 54” x 80” and fit appropriately in the HoCo Arts gallery. Maximum height is 9’ 6”.
Entries
     Artists may submit .jpg file images of up to three works. Submit one image for each 2D work and up to two images for each 3D work. Label each file with the artist’s last name, first initial, and the entry number corresponding to the entry form (e.g. SmithJ_1.jpg). Each file should be less than 1MB or 1200 pixels on its longest side. Entries must be submitted online via Submittable. We cannot accept video or digital presentations (including PowerPoint) for artworks that are not film- or video-based work. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Entry Fee
     A non-refundable entry fee of $30 is due with this application. HoCo Arts members can apply at no cost. Individual artists may join at  the $30 level and waive entry fee. To pay fee, click here. To join as a member, visit hocoarts.org
Sales
     A 20% sales commission will be retained by HoCo Arts on all sales. Work will be sold at the price listed on the entry form. Work not for sale should be marked “NFS” and an insurance value must be indicated.
Presentation
     All work must be received ready for installation with proper hanging devices and instructions where necessary. 2D wall work must be wired for hanging - sawtooth hangers are not allowed. HoCo Arts reserves the right to refuse any piece that is improperly presented, considered unsafe, or delivered with improper installation or hanging devices. Some pedestals are available for sculptural work. If the artwork has specific display requirements, artists may need to provide their own pedestal or technology. Artists are responsible for installing and de-installing objects that have complex installation requirements, and/or need more than one person to install/de-install.
Liability
     All works are insured against physical damage or loss by HoCo Arts from receipt through designated pick up date and time.
Agreement
     The decision of the juror is final. All accepted work must remain for the duration of the  exhibit. Digital files of accepted entries become the property of HoCo Arts, which reserves the right to use the submitted images and/or photograph accepted works  for publicity and educational purposes. HoCo Arts reserves the right to reject works not suitably presented or that differ from the submission. HoCo Arts also reserves final editorial right to refuse any piece for any reason. Submission of an entry constitutes an understanding and agreement with all the conditions set forth in this prospectus.
Juror
     This year's curator is Liz Henzey, Columbia Art Center Director.  

Application deadline
     Entries must be received by August 1, 11:59pm to be considered. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Questions can be emailed to exhibits@hocoarts.org or call 410-313-2787.

     For full prospectus and information, please visit our website here:  Art Howard County Prospectus