Harford County Cultural Arts Board has restructured its priorities and funding to better support the needs of the local arts sector at this difficult time. As the official arts agency of Harford County, the Board is currently accepting applications for three grant programs intended to strengthen and provide ongoing support to all disciplines of the arts community - including folk and traditional arts, literary arts, media arts, performing arts, and visual arts.
Harford County COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund for Harford County Artists – Deadline May 25, 2020
To support Harford County artists whose livelihoods have been negatively affected by COVID-19, an Emergency Grant Fund has been established. Grants, up to $1000 per person, will be awarded to practicing artists who have lost income due to the COVID-19 crisis. Applications will be accepted through May 25, 2020
FY21 General Operating Support for Harford County Arts Nonprofits – Deadline June 1, 2020
Application requirement for all eight Harford County-based nonprofit arts organizations currently receiving general operating funds for fiscal year 2020 (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020) were waived. Those organizations, Deer Creek Chorale, Harford Artists' Association, Ballet Chesapeake (also known as Harford Ballet Company), Harford Choral Society, Bay Country Gentlemen (also known as Harford County Maryland Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society), Havre de Grace Arts Collective, Theatreworks Live, and the Upper Chesapeake Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, will automatically receive the same grant amount in fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021).
For Harford County-based nonprofit arts organizations that are not current FY20 grantees, applications to support general operating costs in fiscal year 2021 will be accepted through June 1, 2020. Funding decisions will be announced by July 1, 2020.
FY21 Arts Programming Support for Maryland-based entities presenting or producing the arts in Harford County – Deadline September 15, 2020
Applications are also still being accepted for grants to support arts programming presented in fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021) in Harford County by Maryland-based nonprofit, religious, higher education, and government entities. The deadline for these applications has been extended to September 15, 2020. Funding decisions will be announced by November 15, 2020.
For more information about all grant programs including full guidelines and eligibility, and to apply, go to www.CulturalArtsBoard.org. The website also includes a page of COVID-19 Resources, continually updated with other grants, professional development, and state and federal aid, for the general public and for the arts industry.
Harford County Cultural Arts Board was founded in 1973 to “Preserve, Enhance, and Promote the Culture of Harford County, Maryland." As the official county arts agency, Harford County Cultural Arts Board is the premier local resource for arts organizations, independent artists, and the audiences of Harford County, Maryland. The government-appointed board provides advocacy and administrative support, sponsors workshops, events, and promotional opportunities, and encourages and invests in the advancement of the arts for the community. Activities are made possible by a Community Arts Development grant from Maryland State Arts Council, an agency of the State of Maryland under the authority of the Department of Commerce, Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts. Since December 2015, Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board has operated under the auspices of Harford County Public Library.
