Maryland: Imagine Maryland Strategic Plan

In spring 2008, the Maryland State Arts Council launched Imagine Maryland, a broad-based strategic planning process to guide its work in the coming years. As part of the process, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development’s Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts commissioned Maryland’s first statewide survey of the arts. A total of 805 telephone interviews were conducted September 3-9, 2008. The survey results, which were announced by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley on October 10 in recognition of National Arts and Humanities Month, revealed that Maryland residents have a deep appreciation of and involvement with the arts. An overwhelming number of Marylanders–84%–create art either professionally or in their spare time. Marylanders are active, engaged observers of art, with 89% having attended live musical performances, live theater or dance, art festivals or events, and museums or galleries over the past year. To learn more about the survey findings, read this press release. To learn more about Maryland’s strategic planning process, contact Maryland State Arts Council Executive Director Theresa Colvin.