Courthouse Resident Arts Organization Space

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, March 23, 2026.  

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, March 23, 2026. Mailed, emailed, faxed or late applications will not be accepted. Email by Monday, March 16, 2026, for application assistance and accommodations. 

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