Author Archives: Bopa Communications

The Artist Roster for Wall Projects (Roster) connects pre-qualified local artists residing in the Greater Washington area to commissions for wall projects in Montgomery County. The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) seeks muralists, as well as artists who work in mosaic, tile, low-relief and other installation media suitable for temporary or permanent installation on exterior walls for the Roster. Montgomery County-based ALAANA Artists (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American) are encouraged to apply.

Artists chosen for the Roster will be eligible for consideration on a variety of future opportunities facilitated by AHCMC. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee a commission. Artists will be kept on the Roster for three years and may be contacted individually about specific artwork opportunities that arise through any of the selection processes outlined in the Public Art Trust guidelines.

The Artist Roster for Wall Projects is currently open and AHCMC will be accepting applications on a rolling basis. AHCMC reserves the right to use this Roster in conjunction with other selection approaches for future commissions.

Apply for the Artist Roster for Wall Projects!

The current Roster is available to arts organizations and consultants upon request. If you are interested in viewing please send an email to publicart@creativemoco.com

The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) is seeking panelists to review Folklife Network applications for the 2021 fiscal year. Folklife Network grants fund regional folklife centers, or Maryland organizations supporting living cultural traditions through regular programming.

Serving as a panelist is a great opportunity to support Maryland folklife while also learning about the MSAC granting processes.

What does a panelist do?
Panelists play a vital role in the MSAC grants process. Folklife Network panelists will:
– Attend an orientation in-person or virtually to learn about the Folklife Network program
– Review written grant applications online
– Attend a virtual panel meeting to collaboratively evaluate applications with other panelists

Who can be a panelist?
MSAC relies on a wide array of arts experts and enthusiasts from across Maryland to serve as panelists. Folklife Network panelists are selected with a focus on diversity of experiences, diversity of location, and expertise in arts administration and folklife. Regardless of your connection to the arts, MSAC encourages you to apply. Panelists must be Maryland residents.

How do I apply to be a panelist?
Complete an application and submit it by 11:59 p.m. Friday, May 8.

Selected panelists are appointed by MSAC for a one-year term, which may be renewed. Panelists will receive a modest honorarium and travel reimbursement for serving.

For each Folklife Network grant, a regional folklife center makes programmatic or educational efforts to support living cultural traditions through exhibitions, performances, festivals, workshops, or other activities. Download Folklife Network guidelines and see lists of current and past grantees at the MSAC website.

The Maryland State Arts Council is accessible to all patrons. Guests with accessibility questions or who require additional assistance may call 410.767.6476 or email precious.blake@maryland.gov.

On Friday, April 24, members of the coalition behind the Baltimore Artist Emergency Relief Fund joined for a Facebook Live Information Session. This was an opportunity to learn more about how to apply, the application guidelines and how you can help support the fund.

A recording of the Facebook Live has been posted on BOPA’s YouTube. Take a look below to learn more!

The Information Session participants include:

Sharayna Ashanti Christmas
Founder, Muse 360 Arts + Necessary Tomorrows; Program Director, Baltimore Creatives Acceleration Network

Alanah Nichole Davis
Artist & Organizer
Independent

Jocquelyn Downs
Arts Council Director
Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts

Brion Gill
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts and Entertainment District

Maggie Villegas
Executive Director
Baltimore Creatives Acceleration Network

Join CharmTV Baltimore’s CharmTV_Musiq series live on Facebook and Instagram. Full schedule above.

The other day I ordered dinner from a local restaurant and, in our no-touch society, the young man who delivered it rang my door bell, put the bag on my top step and then stepped down to the sidewalk when I opened the door. I thanked him and he was on his way back to his car when he stopped and took out his phone. I watched as he took a picture of a tree in front of my house that was resplendent in pink. It is breathtaking—if you take the time to notice. That delivery man did notice and because he did, he helped me see the beauty that was right outside my door. That one mundane encounter completely changed my day and my mood, and I won’t be able to pass that tree without remembering the momentary joy it gave that man and he in turn gave me.

It is hard right now to look past the sickness and sorrow of this pandemic to notice that beauty still surrounds us. Not just in the spectacular show Mother Nature is putting on this spring, but also in the art that has found its way out of museums, galleries, studios and theaters and is now accessible on our personal devices. The opportunity to tune out of the pandemic for a while and re-balance and restore is abundant and all of us – especially the essential workers, the true warriors in the COVID-19 battle – need a reliable respite.

In this issue of BOPA’s newsletter we are sharing arts resources and upcoming virtual events—some produced by BOPA and others from partners and kindred arts organizations. This blog also lists opportunities to indulge and create.

I hope you will take advantage of what is right in front of us and, when and where you can, lose yourselves, at least for a little while, in something beautiful.

Donna Drew Sawyer
CEO, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts

Join CharmTV Baltimore tonight, April 22, on Facebook Live at 8PM for CharmTV_Musiq with songbird Elizabeth Hunter. Elizabeth’s tone has been compared to Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse. You don’t want to miss it!

More info: https://www.facebook.com/CharmTVBaltimore/

On March 1, we gathered at Baltimore Center Stage to celebrate the award recipients of the Maryland Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Hundreds of talented teens from across Maryland attended with their friends and families to be honored for their work. This year’s ceremony included readings by professional actors, an artwork exhibition, plus keynote addresses from Donna Drew Sawyer, BOPA CEO, and Kirk Shannon-Butts, Curator for City Hall, City of Baltimore.

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Last week, we shared a virtual tour of the Maryland Region Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition.

Today we share with you some of the extraordinary literary work of our Maryland youth, also recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The five writing samples featured below include poetry, fiction and memoir, and were each recognized with Gold Keys, Silver Keys or Honorable Mentions. The writing samples below share the voices of talented young writers and offer a glimpse at promising creative futures.

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