Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill today announced that Julie Madden will serve as the interim executive director of the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), an agency of the Maryland Department of Commerce.

A current MSAC member, Madden will resign from the Arts Council to begin serving as the interim executive director on April 10. She will serve in that position until a permanent executive director is in place. A longtime arts advocate and artist, Madden will assume the duties of Theresa Colvin, who has been the MSAC executive director since 2001 and will be leaving for a similar position at the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

“We are fortunate to have someone as passionate and knowledgeable about the arts in Maryland as Julie Madden to serve as our interim executive director. We are looking forward to a smooth transition to carry on the good work of the Arts Council,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “I also want to commend Theresa Colvin on her outstanding leadership and her work to create a number of innovative programs during her tenure that celebrate and preserve the arts in Maryland.”

Maryland Arts Council Chair Shelley Morhaim said, “Julie Madden's knowledge of and longtime commitment to the arts communities of Maryland make her an excellent choice for interim executive director. I have enjoyed working with Julie in the past and I look forward to working with her in the new position. Her experience and leadership will help the Council build upon its successful record of support for the arts that has made our state a national model.”

A former commodities broker, Madden has more than 30 years of experience in business and in the arts. She serves or has served on the board of directors of Maryland Citizens for the Arts, the Maryland State Arts Council, the Maryland Commission on Artistic Property, the Maryland Historical Society, and in an ex-officio role at both the Walters Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art. From 2003 to 2007, Madden was the director of arts and community outreach for what was then the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. She currently serves on the Maryland World War I Centennial Commission and is a member of this year’s class of Leadership Maryland. Madden holds a master’s degree in decorative arts from the Smithsonian-Corcoran College of Art and Design.

“It is exciting to serve in this role given Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan’s tremendous support of the arts here in Maryland,” Madden said. “I look forward to continuing my work with the artists and arts organizations that makes Maryland such a vibrant and creative community."

Maryland Commerce has convened a selection committee to review nationwide candidates for the new MSAC executive director. The selection committee is made up of representatives from the Maryland State Arts Council board, the Maryland arts community, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Housing and Community Development, which has programs to promote arts and entertainment districts in the state.

About the Maryland State Arts Council

MSAC is a part of the Department of Commerce. MSAC encourages and invests in the advancement of the arts for all Marylanders. Its grants and programs support artists and arts organizations in their pursuit of artistic excellence, ensure the accessibility of the arts to all citizens and promote statewide awareness of arts resources and opportunities. To carry out its mission, MSAC awards grants to not-for-profit, tax-exempt organizations for ongoing arts programming and projects. The MSAC also awards grants to individual artists, and provides technical and advisory assistance to individuals and groups.

About Maryland Commerce

Maryland Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State's many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Since they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the Arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov.