Help MSAC build the future of the Independent Artist Award!

Paid opportunity for artists: revising the Independent Artist Award program.

Deadline: Friday, November 11, 2022

This fall, MSAC is facilitating a public-led revision of the Independent Artist Award (IAA) program, which has recognized achievement by Maryland artists making work independent of institutions or organizations. This revision effort is based on data collected since 2020 from applicants, panelists, and award winners, who have made suggestions on how to improve the IAA program’s service to the public. The next step of this process is to identify a panel of editors who will work with MSAC staff to further refine the suggestions into clear policy recommendations, which will be carefully considered as MSAC further develops the IAA program.

Consider completing an application to serve as an editor in this process. All selected editors will be expected to:

• Become familiar with previously collected data and current MSAC efforts to support artists through the IAA program.
• Work with MSAC staff to consider how to improve the service of the IAA program to Maryland artists in light of other MSAC opportunities, including the Grants for Artists program, set to pilot in winter 2023.
• Participate in at least two virtual meetings discussing the above issues and developing procedure and policy recommendations for further consideration by MSAC staff, council, and Department of Commerce leadership.

What they are looking for:

Maryland artists with backgrounds in a variety of disciplines (e.g., literary, performing, visual, media, and traditional arts, etc.), or who are interested in learning how changes are considered and implemented within MSAC.

IAA winners, applicants, and panelists from the past three years are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply:

Click here to log in or create a free account in SmartSimple. You must be registered as an “Independent Artist” to apply to be an editor. 

Under Funding Opportunities, select "Public Call."

Select "Program Editor" from the first drop down option. 

Select “Independent Artist Awards” as the Grant Program from the second drop down option.

Click "Save Draft" at the bottom to populate the application.

Complete the application and click “Submit.”

Editors will receive a minimum of $400 upon completion of assigned tasks, with the possibility of additional compensation if more than two virtual meetings are needed.

Space Foundation accepting artwork to send to space

The Space Foundation and Boeing are collaborating to send students’ artwork into space on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner.

The Space Foundation said that the showcase called “Art in the Stars” was created in a partnership with the Space Foundation and Boeing, which will launch digitized artwork submissions into space aboard the upcoming Starliner Crew Flight Test. Every Student artist will be issued an official “Certificate of Flight” for each submitted piece of artwork.

The Space Foundation encourages young artists ages 3-18 to create original, space-oriented artwork based on the theme, “Breaking Boundaries in Space.” Students are encouraged to draw inspiration from diverse historical figures who broke boundaries to become a “first” or blazed trails for those who came after them.

Read the article by Brett Yager here.

Born to do this job

I am fascinated by this amazing lady, who is the ASL person always in the TV inset whenever Governor DeSantis briefs on TV about the hurricane recovery efforts in Eff -L-A.

This human being was born for this job! I am in love with the size of her hands and the energy and gusto that she brings to this important job!

Talking about born to do a job, I am told by a friend who works in the Supreme Court that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, on her first case a couple of days ago managed to piss off both the Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts and Justice Kagan, as Brown Jackson repeatedly interrupted Kagan and others, apparently a faux pas in Supreme Courtin' - at one point Roberts passed her a note, which I hope the Smithsonian gets to keep one day.  What did the note say? Probably: "Please stop interrupting."

Rapture in a Dark Church

Tacoma Little Theatre's 'Off The Shelf' Presents a Reading of AMONG MANY WORLDS and my daughter Elise Campello is in it!

RAPTURE IN A DARK CHURCH

Book by Deanna Martinez - Music by Daniel J. F. Wolfert - Lyrics by Daniel J. R. Wolfert and Deanna Martine

Featuring: Arron Rorick Clark, Andreya Pro, Elise Campello, Richard Cubi Diaz, Chandler Thomas, Ariona Thompson & Keoni Dilay

Directed by Deanna Martinez

When Tabitha invites Amy to her youth group's overnight lock-in, skeptical Amy takes a chance on it. Instead of the clean, Christian fun she expected, Amy is met with an overzealous youth group leader and an adrenaline fueled game where she has the honor of playing the antichrist herself. Over one night and a groovy score with retro, Christian rock inspirations, Amy and the youth group will question what exactly being a good Christian kid means.

Wanna go to an opening this Thursday?

The Nomadic House Project • Cloud(s) 

An in situ installation by the Icebox Collective on view at the front garden of the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington DC through the end of November.  Please see attached for details.

Cloud(s) is the new version of The Nomadic House Project dedicated to immigrants at the US/Mexico border; it’s made out of water jugs, like the ones left by and for the immigrants on their journey. The artists responsible for this installation are Irene Clouthier, Courtney Applequist and Edgar Endress who want to invite people to be present and connected to the human aspect of this crisis and see or reflect for the human stories behind each water jug left behind, so that we can all be more empathetic and connected to each other.

Reception Thursday October 6, 6:30pm (artists present, and remarks by Ambassador Ana Luisa Fajer).

Details here.

Mexican Cultural Institute 

2829 16th Street N.W. 

Washington, DC 20009

Emergency Grant applications for Maryland artists

From the Maryland State Arts Council:

Emergency Grant applications for Independent Artists are currently being accepted for $2,000 grants! If you have experienced a loss of income due to an emergency scenario that impacts your work as an independent artist, we encourage you to apply. Reach out to Program Directors Laura Weiss at laura.weiss@maryland.gov and Emily Sollenberger at emily.sollenberger@maryland.gov for more information.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis and awarded monthly. Apply now!

Nevermore

One this day in 1849, Edgar Allan Poe was found delirious in a gutter in Baltimore ---  it was the last time he was seen in public before his death four days later.