8 Arts Organizations Bringing Joy to Maryland Communities
The arts have tremendous power to make our lives better, and the opportunity to experience the magic of creative expression shouldn't be limited to the wealthy or those who live in big cities. These groups work to bring children and adults the joy that comes from creating and viewing performances and visual art that are fun and rewarding, improving communities and inspiring young minds in the process. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
8 Active Maryland Arts Organizations
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Adventure Theatre MTC | Glen Echo & Rockville |
| Baltimore Clayworks | Baltimore |
| Arts for the Aging | Rockville |
| Creative Alliance | Baltimore |
| BlackRock Center for the Arts | Germantown |
| Young Audiences Arts for Learning | Baltimore |
| Imagination Stage | Bethesda |
| Arts Every Day | Baltimore |
Young Audiences Presents Baby Artsplay!
Arts Education in America
- 91% of Americans agree that the arts are "part of a well-rounded education"
- 93% to 94% believe that students in elementary, middle, and high school should receive an education in the arts
- 74% agree that the arts help students to perform better academically
- Nationally, more than 40% of secondary schools did not require arts courses for graduation for the 2009-2010 school year
- Federal funding for arts & humanities is around $250 million a year, while the National Science Foundation is funded at around the $5 billion mark
- Arts and music education programs are mandatory in countries that rank near the top for math and science test scores, like Japan, Hungary, and the Netherlands
- According to a nationwide study, 63% of eighth-graders took a music class, and 42% took a visual arts class
- Students in the Northeast were twice as likely (68%) to have taken a visual arts class than students in the South (35%)
- Students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, which is often used as a proxy to identify low-income students, scored an average of 26 points lower in music than those not eligible and 22 points lower in visual arts
- In the District of Columbia, 75% of white students took an art course, compared to 49% of black students
The ATMTC Academy’s Pre-Professional Program
Facts about Live Theater in the U.S.
- Average annual expenditure on plays, theater, opera and concerts per consumer in 2018: $66.61
- Percentage of foreign visitors attending plays, musicals, and concerts in the U.S.: 17.1%
- Number of performances by not-for-profit theaters in 2018: 38,346
- Total revenue in 2019 for the live performance theater industry: $9 billion
- Between 1990 and 2005, the number of non-profit theaters in the United States with budgets of at least $75,000 doubled
- From 2008-2014, attendance of musicals declined 9%, while attendance of non-musicals declined 12%
- Mean hourly wage at performing arts companies: $28.56
- Mean hourly wage of independent artists, writers, and performers: $29.26
In Depth
Site of one of the country's leading art schools, birthplace of a musical tradition that stretches from Cab Calloway to Baltimore club, home to legendary visual artists like Ruth Starr Rose, Stan Vanderbeek, and Raoul Middleman, the state of Maryland has many sources for cultural pride. Residents are not content to rest on these laurels, though, and have created a variety of arts organizations to carry that legacy into the future. This list, which unfolds in no particular order, highlights some of these groups, whether focused on performing, visual, or plastic media.
#1 is Adventure Theatre MTC. Across two locations in Glen Echo and Rockville, the group educates and inspires new generations of theater artists and audiences with exceptional performance experiences. The A.T.M.T.C Academy offerings complement the National and State Fine Arts Standards of Learning, providing a challenging outlet for students to develop the skills needed to be successful drama workers, including discipline, teamwork, problem solving, and self-confidence. Its Children's Theater develops several professional productions for kids and their families.
The organization offers pre-professional musical theater training for students aged six to eighteen who are considering a career in the performing arts, and creative drama education for anyone between one- and five-years old. Student showcases provide experience for enrollees and entertainment for the public. Camps, workshops, and residencies benefit youth in extracurricular and school-time satellite arts programs. Get involved by booking an A.T.M.T.C. touring show in your local area.
Camps, workshops, and residencies benefit youth in extracurricular and school-time satellite arts programs.
#2, Baltimore Clayworks, is a community-centered ceramics institution. Founded by nine artists in 1980, the non-profit organization provides affordable studio space, equipment, and career opportunities. There are also hands-on classes for children and adults, exhibitions curated by local professionals, and a dedicated community program that brings art experiences into the lives of at-risk children and marginalized adults. Residencies invite internationally recognized ceramics pros to the city.
The institution's educational department is led by artists who are both locally treasured and retain high national profiles in the field, holding classes for beginning through advanced students. Resident makers are at the center of the mission, lending sufficient talent, innovation, and human capital to inspire the community and to enliven the ancient, clay-centered craft. Exhibitions at the space highlight sculpture, pottery, installation, and conceptual work in the form. Support this jewel of Baltimore by purchasing an item from its shop.
#3 takes us to Arts for the Aging, bringing health improvement and life enhancement to older adults through regular participation in the multi-disciplinary arts. The group sees itself as a model of dignity and compassion in caring for seniors, demonstrating that arts intervention strategies provide accessible and uplifting ways to cope with changing abilities. Its programs are specially designed to minimize the effects of a range of physical and cognitive challenges, and are provided by a faculty of experienced and dedicated teaching creatives.
The group sees itself as a model of dignity and compassion in caring for seniors, demonstrating that arts intervention strategies provide accessible and uplifting ways to cope with changing abilities.
The organization's programming is grouped in three different categories. Joy in Generation hosts hourlong arts sessions for groups of about 20 older people that expose participants to a rotating set of media forms. Creative Aging Care Partner Training is open to professionals who provide services to seniors as well as cultural workers who wish to use their practice to connect with elders. The Teaching Artist Institute hosts several trainings each year. Go deeper by listening to Aging Matters, its weekly interview radio program.
At #4 on the list is The Creative Alliance, building communities by bringing together artists and audiences from diverse backgrounds to enjoy programs and engage in the artistic process. Since 1995, it has provided support to area artists, promoted Baltimore as a center for creative production, and advocated for cultural expression rooted in a sense of place. Its spaces inside the historic Patterson Theatre include a set of galleries, an auditorium, a media lab, classrooms, and resident artist studios, as well as the award-winning Marquee Lounge.
A busy calendar of public events features music and theatrical performances, film screenings, visual art exhibitions, and community engagements. There are educational opportunities for youth in after-school, enrichment, and summer programs to help children build their artistic voices and help shape their intellect under the leadership of professionals. Creative Alliance also advertises a wide range of family activities. Support these efforts by attending one of its signature events, like The Great Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival.
Creative Alliance also advertises a wide range of family activities.
The #5 position is held by Blackrock Center for the Arts, a leading venue for the performing and visual arts in Upper Montgomery County. The organization provides the community with live theatrical and musical experiences, free gallery exhibitions, and arts education classes in an intimate setting. Here one can also catch performances by touring acts from the worlds of jazz, blues, Celtic, folk, world, and bluegrass, as well as contemporary theater for audiences of all ages.
With its classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts, the center is committed to making these pursuits lively and accessible. Two gallery spaces present a diverse program of exhibitions of photography, painting, printmaking, and sculpture, among other media. Blackrock's large and striking building is a popular rental for weddings, holiday parties, and special events. Support its mission by donating stocks or other appreciated securities.
At #6, Young Audiences Arts for Learning is an arts-for-education nonprofit that partners with hundreds of schools and community organizations in all twenty-four Maryland districts to provide students hands-on learning and engagement. It believes that the education system's focus on standardized testing and narrowing of the curriculum has left students without methods for inspiration. The proposed solution is learning through the arts.
The proposed solution is learning through the arts.
The programs range from interactive live performances to long-term, classroom-based residencies. The organization's roster of professional teaching artists numbers more than 100. Its summertime offerings are designed to close the achievement gap in literacy and math, foster creativity, critical thinking and a love of learning, and for older youth, build college and career readiness through real-world work experiences. Consider joining and attend Meet Young Audiences, a free one-hour informational event that explicates the group's approach.
#7 brings us to Imagination Stage, which sets the goal of empowering all young people to discover their voice and identity through performing arts education and professional theatre. Its founders envision a future where live performance experiences are a fundamental aspect of children's lives, nourishing their creative spirit, inspiring them to embrace the complexity and diversity of their world, and helping them overcome their challenges with creativity. Unlike many other children's theatre companies, the group commissions new works every year.
Classes are taught year-round for kids and teens, covering acting, singing, filmmaking, dance, and other skills. Audiences can attend new shows each season at the Lerner Family Theatre. There are also professional development workshops for educators on offer, and special programs developed alongside community partners. Take part in this effort by purchasing a subscription or ticket package for Imagination Stage's shows.
Take part in this effort by purchasing a subscription or ticket package for Imagination Stage's shows.
Closing us out at #8, Arts Every Day advocates for and supports sequential arts education in Baltimore while working to empower educators as leaders within their school communities. In partnership with the city's public schools, the group works to make the teaching of art and cultural experiences integral parts of classroom instruction for all students. It intends to turn the areas it serves into centers for innovation, collaboration, and partnership.
The Schools Program is a collaboration between Arts Every Day, Baltimore Public Schools, and over 100 cultural institutions and teaching artists in the city. It functions to ensure the presence and quality of public education in these fields. An advocacy arm lobbies lawmakers to lower the barriers to access for instruction in creative pursuits and aesthetic appreciation. The organization also puts together a directory of free and discounted cultural opportunities. Help this work continue by taking advantage of one of many giving options.
