Published: September 04, 2008 08:36 am      

O’Malley announces public art grants

$22,970 awarded to five county arts councils for fall projects across state

BALTIMORE — Gov. Martin O’Malley recently announced that in recognition of the newly created Maryland Public Art Commission, $22,970 in matching grants has been awarded to five county arts councils to commission public art.

Awarded by the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), an agency of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the awards will be used to support public art projects in Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Howard, Frederick and Queen Anne’s counties.

Ranging from $3,950 to $5,000, the awards were selected by an independent panel of the MSAC from nine proposals submitted by county arts councils that were eligible to receive funding under this inaugural program. The five projects are scheduled for completion later this fall. They are:

• The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County in collaboration with the Annapolis Community Foundation has commissioned artists Gail Bolden and Hollis Minor to create a collection of tapestries involving community stitching events and depicting historic Annapolis to commemorate the city’s 300th Charter.

• Frederick County’s strong agricultural economy is celebrated through the Frederick Arts Council’s sponsorship of “Baker Park Calf,” a full-size bronze sculpture by Adam C. Lubkin that invites children to interact as it “grazes” in Frederick’s city park.

• The Howard County Arts Council completes landscaping enhancements surrounding an original sculptural bench by artist Ginger Peloquin. Located at the entrance to the county arts center’s Ellicott City offices, the project includes mosaic tiles produced by those participating in arts council activities.

• The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, in collaboration with the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs, has engaged artist Luann Koron to create two mosaic cast glass columns to serve as way-finding signage connecting the Long Branch Creek trail to the library in Silver Spring.

• Queen Anne’s Arts Council will display “Front and Center” along a handicap ramp in front of the Queen Anne’s County Centre for the Arts. The six ironwork panels will be produced by artist Robert Seely in collaboration with three other local artists.

Applications for awards for Fiscal Year 2009 will be available later this year.

In 2007, the Maryland arts industry contributed more than $1.2 billion to the state’s economy and provided more than 15,000 jobs to Maryland residents. For more information about the Maryland State Arts Council visit the MSAC Web site at www.msac.org or call (410) 767-6555.