Fiscal '09 Howard County Arts Council Grants Announced

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced that 41 arts and cultural organizations will receive $374,958.37 in matching grants from the Howard County Arts Council for Fiscal 2009.
The awards were announced at the council's annual meeting and reception at the Howard County Center for the Arts on Sept. 12. These matching grants will be used by 16 Howard County organizations, 13 Howard County public schools and nine key Baltimore City organizations to support general operations, artist residencies and special projects in the arts.
Community Arts Development Grants fund day-to-day activities for Howard County arts organizations as well as special projects in the arts. A total of $210,876 was awarded to the following 16 organizations for fiscal 2009: Candlelight Concert Society, Inc., Operating, $28,117.39; Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Operating, $21,694.41; Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, Operating, $28,199.79; Columbia Concert Band & Jazz Band, Project, $2,766.82; Columbia Festival of the Arts, Operating, $51,449.98; Columbia Pro Cantare Ltd., Operating, $21,198.37; Howard County Ballet, Project, $1,976.30; Howard County Poetry & Literature Society, Operating, $10,654.47; Hua Sha Chinese Dance Theatre, Project, $2,461.39; Kinetics Dance Theatre, Operating, $10,098.91; Misako Ballet Company, Project, $1,154.34; Orchestra of St. John's, Project, $2,587.16; Rep Stage, HCC Education Foundation, Operating, $2,657.03; Showtime Singers, Project, $2,605.13; Sunday's at Three, Project, $2,305.69; The Columbia Orchestra, Operating, $20,948.82.
The Jim Rouse Theatre (JRT) Subsidy Program assists community arts groups by partially underwriting theater rental fees. A total of $15,000 was awarded to the following four organizations for fiscal '09: Columbia Pro Cantare Ltd., $5,418.75; Howard County Poetry & Literature Society, $760.00; Kinetics Dance Theatre, $2,802.50; The Columbia Orchestra, $6,018.75
Artist-in-Education Project Grants are a partnership between the Arts Council and local Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) to place professional artists in residence at Howard County Schools to help student's foster creative expression. A total of $21,772.37 in funding was awarded to the following 13 schools for fiscal '09: Atholton Elementary School PTA; Bollman Bridge Elementary School PTA; Dunloggin Middle School PTA; Folly Quarter Middle School PTA; Guilford Elementary School PTA; Harper's Choice Middle School PTA; Hollifield Station Elementary School PTA; Laurel Woods Elementary School PTA; Longfellow Elementary School PTA; Manor Woods Elementary School PTA; Running Brook Elementary School PTA; Stevens Forest Elementary School PTA; Waterloo Elementary School PTA.
Baltimore City Arts and Cultural Grants provide funding to key Baltimore City organizations that provide significant services to Howard County residents. A total of $126,710 was awarded to the following nine organizations for fiscal '09: Baltimore Museum of Art, $24,112.05; Baltimore Museum of Industry, $4,665.52; Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Inc., $19,044.67; Center Stage Associates Inc., $15,647.51; Maryland Historical Society, $3,275.50; Maryland Science Center, $9,826.49; Maryland Zoo In Baltimore, $8,465.34; National Aquarium in Baltimore, $22,130.06; The Walters Art Museum, $19,542.86.
Howard County Arts Council grants are awarded on the basis of artistic merit, ability of the applicant to carry out the project and level of service to the community. Grants are made through a competitive process in which applications are reviewed by an advisory panel made up of academics and artists representing a variety of disciplines. Grant award recommendations are then reviewed and approved by the Howard County Arts Council board of directors.
The Arts Council's grant program is supported through grants from the Howard County government and the Maryland State Arts Council as well as through the Howard County Arts Council's own foundation, corporate and individual giving initiatives.