Howard County Arts Council
All digital applications must be submitted by midnight, EST on the date of the deadline unless otherwise noted. If you have any questions or technical difficulties please contact us at info@hocoarts.org or (410)313-2787.
Never miss a deadline - sign up for our Artist Opportunities mailing list!
The Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) manages two galleries at the Howard County Center for the Arts with over 21,000 square feet of exhibit space. The HCAC 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.
HCAC presents 11-12 exhibits per year of national, regional, and local artists, including two-person, small and large group, juried, curated, and community shows. HCAC 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. HCAC 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 slide
shows.
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 Elli Maria Hernandez, Exhibits and Programs Manager at exhibits@hocoarts.org.
Creative Howard Grant Program Guidelines
Grant activities must take place within this grant period, ending June 30, 2024; projects are not funded retroactively, please plan ahead.
FY24 Application Calendar
September 1, 2023: Grant applications available online (Rolling deadline based on funds available; applications due 60 days prior to proposed project start date.)
November 1, 2023: 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, 2024: Last deadline for FYE June 30, 2024.
Final Report Due within 15 business days of project completion.
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 HCAC’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.
HCAC will begin accepting applications on September 1, 2023 for the FY24 application cycle. The grant period for FY24 ends June 30, 2024. Funded activities must occur within the grant period. HCAC 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 FY24 HCAC 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/2023/08/FY24-Creative-Howard-Guidelines-8.21.23.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.
About the Event & Exhibit
Paint It! Ellicott City is an annual event that brings artists and spectators interested in the plein air tradition to Historic Ellicott City in early June. Both juried and Open Paint artists set up their easels around the historic district, enjoying a summer weekend as they capture the picturesque mill town and all its charms. Juried artists will paint in the historic district of Ellicott City, Maryland for three days, creating original artwork that will be shown in a six-week exhibit at the Howard County Center for the Arts' Gallery I. Juried artists will also enjoy a welcome reception, an exhibit reception, and juror's awards.
Artists who are not juried into the exhibit may still participate in the Open Paint portion of the event. Registration for the non-juried Open Paint portion of the event will be available in May.
Application & Eligibility Requirements
All artists working en plein air, in a variety of media including oil, acrylic, pastel, or watercolor, aged 18 years and older, are eligible to apply.
Artists wishing to be considered must submit an application below with the following:
- Contact Info
- Artwork Portfolio: Up to 4 images of visual artwork examples including medium, dimensions, and year completed.
- Artists must submit a non-refundable entry fee of $30 by clicking here.
Entry Fee
A non-refundable entry of $30 is due with entry. All fees go toward awards and costs for the event. Submit fee here.
Timeline
February-April 15: Call open for juried artist submissions
April 15: Deadline to apply
Late April: Acceptance notification
June 5: Artist kick-off reception hosted via Zoom
June 6-9: Paint Out in Ellicott City
June 10: Opening reception & award ceremony
June 10 - August 3: Exhibit open to the public
Juror: Abigail Faye McBride
Compelled to chronicle the life and world around her, Abigail Faye McBride paints with the heart of a poet. Her oil paintings and charcoal drawings bear witness to a time, person or passing glimmer of light. McBride paints landscape, figure and still life working interchangeably with brush and palette knife. Collectors, nationally and internationally, appreciate the color, mood and elegance of her work.
A consummate Cape School colorist, the draftsmanship in her work is born of an academic interest in the portrait and figure. Her work blends traditional subject matter with modern design sensibilities. She is part of a new breed of perceptual painters working from direct observation be it plein air or in the studio. Though often free of narrative, her work is grounded in the present day as a contemporary interpretation of genre painting.
McBride has developed a reputation as a dynamic teacher. She teaches at private studios, Anne Arundel Community College, St John’s College, selected workshops and online. She is advancing principles of visual understanding acquired from years of study.
Early national recognition by American Artist Magazine helped launch McBride into gallery representation. Using skills gleaned as one of the founders of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association and the Paint Annapolis plein air competition, she co-launched Paint the Town, the first plein air event in Chesapeake City, MD. Her work is featured in the 100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic large format book by Gary Pendleton, Shiffer Press. McBride has received recognition and awards from PSoA, OPA, AIS, Boldbrush, PleinAir Salon, and more. She is represented by The Station Gallery in Greenville, Delaware; Berkley Gallery in Warrenton, Virginia; Benfield Gallery and McBride Gallery in Maryland; and The Egeli Gallery in Massachusetts. McBride also shows her work in institutions and museum exhibitions.
Sales
A 20% commission will be retained by HCAC on all sales of artwork included in the exhibit, as well as any sales during the plein air event. Work is not required to be for sale.
Awards
A minimum of $3000 in cash awards will be presented by the juror, including the $2000 Gino Award, named in honor of Gino Manelli (1915-2010), an avid artist and cyclist who established his art studio in Ellicott City in 1966. Over a 70 year artistic career, Gino created landscapes, portraits, and still lifes in a range of media and styles with dramatic color use and a dynamic palette knife, creating emotional, engaging artwork. His work is in galleries in the United States and Europe.
The Arts Council is seeking funding for additional awards.
Agreement
The decision of the juror is final. All accepted work must remain in the gallery for the duration of the exhibit. HCAC reserves the right to photograph artwork and artists for publicity and educational purposes and to use images of submitted work for the same purposes. HCAC reserves the right to reject work not suitably presented. All work must be original, no reproductions (including giclee, commercially printed, or computer-generated reproductions of paintings, drawings, etc.) Submission of an entry constitutes understanding and agreement with all conditions mentioned in the prospectus.
Questions about the event or application can be directed to Elli Maria Hernandez, Gallery & Programs Manager, at exhibits@hocoarts.org.
Howard County Youth Poet Laureate Guidelines and Application Instructions
The Howard County Poet Laureate program, a new venture in partnership with the Office of County Executive Calvin Ball, the Howard County Arts Council, and the Howard County Poetry & Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo), will help amplify the power of youth expression, celebrate community, and promote literacy and literary arts in Howard County.
The Youth Poet Laureate, an honorary one-year position formally appointed by the County Executive, will act as an ambassador for literacy, arts, and youth expression and demonstrate a passion a passion for poetry and its power to connect our communities through local public readings and participation in civic events. Along with the official title, the Youth Poet Laureate will receive an honorarium of $500.
The next Youth Poet Laureate will serve from August 2024 through June 2025 and will receive an honorarium of $500 paid in two equal installments of $250 at the beginning and end of their term. The Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) administers this program in partnership with Howard County Poetry & Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo).
Eligibility Criteria for the Howard County Youth Poet Laureate
HCAC and HoCoPoLitSo are seeking young writers who are passionate about their poetry and their community. In order to be eligible to apply, you must:
● Be a current Howard County resident, and either live in Howard County between August 2024 and June 2025 or be available to present in-person at public events in Howard County during this timeframe (for example, a resident who will be attending a college or university next year within commuting distance of Howard County).
● Be between the ages of 14 (and a freshman in High School) and 21 at the time of application.
● Demonstrate community engagement in the arts .
● Be the creator of original poetic work.
HCAC and HoCoPoLitSo Trustees, Board members, and employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply. Former HoCoPoLitSo Bauder Youth on Board members need to have resigned from the Board at least 60 days before applying.
Duties of the Howard County Youth Poet Laureate
The Youth Poet Laureate shall serve as an ambassador for literacy, poetry, and youth expression by participating in up to 6 public and/or civic events during the 2024-25 term. Examples of Youth Poet Laureate events and related activities include:
- Participation in National Poetry Month activities in Howard County, such as the annual Blackbird Poetry Festival produced by HoCoPoLitSo and Howard Community College in April.
- Participation in up to 4 readings and speaking engagements for the Howard County Executive and County Departments as determined and scheduled through HCAC in coordination with the Office of the County Executive.
- Participation in social media activity related to Youth Poet Laureate events and projects.
4. After their term as Youth Poet Laureate is complete, at their discretion, serve on the selection panel(s) for future Howard County Youth Poet Laureates.
To Apply
Log Into or Create Your Submittable Account
Once you have entered the system, please review the complete application and guidelines, which include detailed instructions. You will need to prepare digital and video work samples, a brief biography and statement about what poetry means to you, and a description of your community engagement in any aspect of the arts. In addition, you will need to secure one or two references from adults (non-family members) who know you and can speak to your community involvement and/or school activities as well as the power of your poetry.
Applications for Howard County Youth Poet Laureate open on March 1, 2024. The deadline to submit applications is May 30, 2024.
If for any reason you are not able to submit application materials online, please contact Dana Whipkey, HCAC Grants and Special Projects Coordinator at grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org or 410.313. ARTS(2787).
Timeline
Application opens: March 1, 2024
Application deadline: May 30, 2024
Selection announcement: Summer 2024
To View Complete Guidelines and Instructions Click Here
The Howard County Arts Council is seeking applications from emerging and mid-career artists, for whom a short-term artist studio may make a significant difference to their career development or completion of a project. The selected artist will fill one available artist studio space, approximately 216 square feet, sharing access with two other artists in adjoining studios, for $171/month for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM, Saturday, April 30, 2024.
HCAC provides accessible studio space for fourteen studio artists, as well as three arts organizations representing a variety of disciplines. Artists have 24-hour access, natural light, and easy access to water. This is a work studio; the program does not provide living space. Heat & utilities are included.
Eligibility
Who is an emerging artist? For this program, HCAC defines "emerging artists" as those early in their artistic careers (regardless of age), who are gaining momentum, and may be at a critical point in their career - when such support may be most impactful. These artists are not yet considered established professionally by standard indicators such as gallery representation, awards and commissions, or significant exhibition history or art sales.
To be considered for the Emerging Artist Studio Program, an applicant must be a practicing emerging or mid-career artist who:
- Demonstrates a central commitment to the production or performance of fine arts.
- Demonstrates that a short-term residency will make a difference for their career or the development of their work.
- Has limited to no exhibit, studio, or gallery experience.
- Is interested in developing a new body of work.
- Seeks to actively learn from and be a part of a community of artists.
HCAC Board of Directors, HCAC full-time staff, HCAC Center Committee, and their immediate family are ineligible to apply.
Application Requirements
To be considered for the Emerging Artist Studio Program, complete this application and include the following attachments:
- Letter of Intent. In one page or less, provide a brief description of your work or project to be completed during the one-year program, your career direction, and why you should be awarded an artist studio at HCCA.
- Up-to-date Resume. Three pages or less that lists education, background, exhibitions, awards, and/or publications.
- Artist Statement. In one page or less, concisely describe your creative work, process, technique, and conceptual development.
- Three Letters of Recommendation. Include references with the ability to speak to your character, responsibility, and contribution to community.
- Up to 20 Images Created within the Last Two Years that represent your work. Include at least one video recording if applying for video work. o Videos must not exceed five minutes in duration.
- Image List. This document should include title, media, dimension, and year completed. It should directly correspond with the uploaded images.
- If available, include examples of printed materials such as articles, brochures, programs, and reviews.
Artists accepted into the program will be considered “The Howard County Arts Council 2024/25 Emerging Studio Artist.” To be eligible and remain in the Emerging Artist Studio Program for the full term of the agreement, applicants must:
- Use their studio a minimum of eight hours per week. Those eight hours must be used for the creation, production, and/or presentation of their art and not for other unrelated employment or activities.
- Maintain annual membership with HCAC.
- Maintain a $2,000,000 general liability insurance policy for their studio as well as coverage for the contents of their studio.
- Maintain a safe working environment in their studios and submit 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. Artists may be required, at their own expense, to install proper ventilation units or other safety features for the use of some mediums.
- Attend up to four Council-scheduled, Open Studio special events per year at which they must be present and open their studio for public viewing.
- Participate in the Residents' Exhibit at the HCCA, displaying recent work (created within the July- June residency), not previously shown in the gallery, for a six-week show.
- Artists offering public programs must be fully accessible.
Any changes to the studio must be approved by the HCAC Center Committee and artists must return the studio, at the artist’s own expense, to its original condition when vacating. Note: Monthly rent is $171. However, rent payment may be subsidized in part or in full by serving as an instructor for youth and/or adult classes at HCCA, gallery prep, building attendant duties, etc. (as determined by the Deputy Director)
Selection
Applicants will be evaluated based on their artistic discipline, artistic merit, experience (as it pertains to “emerging” status), and commitment, as well as the appropriateness of their activities for the available space. In cases where all other elements of candidates’ qualifications are deemed of equal value, Howard County artists or artists with an established history of living, working, and teaching in Howard County will be given priority.
Interested artists and arts organizations should submit a Resident Emerging Artist Studio Application to HCAC. When a studio is available, the HCAC 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 one year.
Lease
Emerging Artist status will be granted for a twelve-month term. At the end of the term, the program lease is not eligible for renewal. Upon the end of the artist’s July–June program term and participation in the culminating Resident Artist exhibit, a new Emerging Artist will be selected for this program.
Application
Only complete online applications on Submittable will be forwarded to the selection panel for consideration. Incomplete applications and materials received via mail, email, or hand-delivered will not be accepted.
Selection decisions are final. HCAC reserves the right to extend the search at its sole discretion.
For full information, please read the RFP here.
The Howard County Arts Council is seeking applications from artists for one artist studio space at Long Reach Village Center. The available studio is 76 square feet and rents for $67/month. Please contact deputydirector@hocoarts.org to tour the Artist Studios.
Please download and review the RFP before submitting your application.
Please note: at this time we are unable to process applications for artists using materials that are not water-soluble.
The Long Reach Artist Studio Program will host studio space for artists representing a variety of disciplines. Artists have 24-hour access, easy access to water, and a night security guard on the premises. Heat & utilities are included. Studio furniture is not included. The studios are located on the second floor of the Long Reach Office Suites. There is no elevator on the premises.
The Long Reach Artist Studio Program Objectives
To provide individual artists with a space in which they may pursue the production of fine arts. The fine arts include traditional and emerging art forms within, but not limited to, the visual arts, performing arts, and literary arts.
To support a diverse community of artists working in a variety of fine arts media and disciplines.
Benefits
General benefits include: private and semi-private studios (shared entry access), 24-hour access to designated studio, physical mailing address, affordable monthly rental rate, and prime location as a part of Howard County’s Long Reach Rising Revitalization Project.
Studio Artists may also have an opportunity to showcase their work in pop-up galleries and other special events on the premises.
Eligibility
The Studio Program is open to practicing artists who demonstrate a central commitment to the production or performance of fine arts. Emerging Artists are also encouraged to apply.
HCAC Board of Directors, full-time staff, HCAC Center Committee, and their immediate family are ineligible to apply.
Application
To apply for consideration as a Studio Artist, submit an application with the following attachments:
- 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 an Artist Studio at Long Reach Village Center.
- Up-to-date Resume: Three pages or less, listing education, background, exhibitions, awards, and/or publications.
- Artist Statement: In one page or less, concisely describe your creative work, process, technique, and conceptual development.
- Three Letters of Recommendation: Include references with the ability to speak to your character, responsibility, and contribution to community.
- 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. Videos must not exceed five minutes in duration.
- Image List
If available, include examples of printed materials such as articles, brochures, programs, and reviews.
Requirements
To hold a studio space at the Village Center, artists must, at a minimum, submit to the following:
- Artists must use their studios a minimum of eight hours per week (annual average). Those eight hours must be used for the development and production of their art and not for other unrelated employment or activities. Teaching in The Long Reach Artist Studios is not permitted.
- Artists must pay the studio rent within five working days of the first of each month.
- Artists must maintain a $2,000,000 general liability insurance policy for their studio as well as coverage for the contents of their studio.
- Artists must maintain a safe working environment in their studios. No hazardous materials may be used in The Long Reach Artist Studios. Artists must provide (and keep current) a list of materials they plan to use in their studios. Furthermore, they are expected to practice a “good neighbor” policy, being mindful of both materials and sounds that might disrupt the health and safety of the Village Center community.
- Artists must maintain annual membership with HCAC.
- Any changes to the studio must be approved by the HCAC Center Committee and artists must return the studio to its original condition when vacating.
Application
Complete applications will be forwarded to the selection panel for consideration.
All application materials must. be submitted online. Faxed, emailed, mailed or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted.
For full information, please see RFP here.