Creative Economy 2014 State Legislation Roundup State policymakers are increasingly eager to harness the power of the creative economy for the benefit of their citizens. Cultural districts, in particular, are a popular policy measure with state lawmakers as they foster both commerce and quality of life in home districts. In addition, cultural districts are primed…
To celebrate this year’s bicentennial of the national anthem, the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) and Star-Spangled 200, the nonprofit group organizing this September’s Star-Spangled Spectacular celebration, are holding the Star-Spangled Sing-off. This statewide competition has a grand prize of $1,814, a governor’s citation and the opportunity to perform at a public event during the…
State arts agencies are always thinking about how best to communicate with the many constituencies they serve—including artists, legislators, other state officials and taxpayers. Developing and disseminating publications, such as annual reports, strategic plans and performance evaluations, can engender particular communication challenges. Lately, NASAA has noticed interesting examples of how state arts agencies have packaged…
The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) recently released an assessment of the economic and fiscal impact of the state’s Arts & Entertainment Districts program. Conducted by the Towson University Regional Economic Studies Institute, the analysis finds that Maryland’s 19 certified arts districts supported more than 1,600 jobs and nearly $50 million in wages on average…
Maryland Traditions, the folklife program of the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), recently announced the Traditional Small Business Recognition Program. The new program is a collaborative initiative of Maryland Traditions, MSAC, the Maryland Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts, and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The program will recognize the cultural…
The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) recently hosted the state’s first Latino Arts Roundtable. The roundtable was intended as forum where ideas could be shared about how to serve the state’s vibrant Latino artists and communities. Through review of data on program participation, MSAC has identified that the Latino community is underrepresented in most of…
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…