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02-Mar-2007
Maryland Arts Day 2007 reaches record attendance
Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA) notes record numbers attended its Maryland Arts Day and Conference on February 6, 2007. Arts supporters joined together to promote state support of the arts and arts education in Annapolis and met with legislators, listened to panel discussions about the changing cultural, legislative, and economic challenges facing the arts, and enjoyed remarks by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Speaker of House of Delegates Michael Busch, Chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Ulysses Currie, Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations Norman Conway, Comptroller Peter Franchot, the Honorable John Bohanan, Jr., the Honorable Patrick J. Hogan, the Honorable Verna Jones, then Acting Department of Business and Economic Development Secretary Clarence Bishop and others.
Maryland Arts Day brought together almost 400 arts advocates and leaders from across the state to meet with legislators to discuss the continuing importance of funding for the Maryland State Arts Council and the positive effects the arts have on the economy of Maryland. Many made the trek by bus caravan, arts advocates came from all 23 counties and Baltimore City to meet with their delegates and educate them about the local affects of the arts. In addition to the legislative portion of the summit, the day included educational sessions on ?An Arts Advocacy Agenda? by keynote speaker, Thomas Birch, legislative counsel for National Assembly of State Arts Agencies; and ?An Analysis of Maryland?s Creative Economy? presented by Randy Cohen, V.P. of Research and Information at the Americans for the Arts. The ?Arts Insights? component during the second half of the day included presentations on ?Innovations in Arts and Education? by Mary Ann Mears and Roger Giles; ?Arts and Entertainment Districts Updates? by Berlin, Station North and Cumberland Districts; and an overview of ?Cultural Policy Resources? by Nancy Haragan, Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance.
Maryland Citizens for the Arts host of Maryland Arts Day is an organization with the principal mission to promote adequate funding for the Maryland State Arts Council, a state agency, and to advocate for the arts at the state and federal levels. Its companion organization, Maryland Citizens for the Arts Foundation (MCAF) seeks to increase public recognition and support of the arts through education and research. Since 1977, MCA has pushed for the funding support of the arts, highlighting its importance to the Maryland?s quality of life, to the state?s economy and to the education of Marylanders from all corners of the state. MCA is celebrating 30 years of service.
Supporters for Maryland Arts Day and Conference included Alex. Brown & Sons Charitable Foundation, Inc., Bunting Management Group, Charlesmead Foundation, Constellation Energy Group, Earle & Annette Shawe Family Foundation, Henry & Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg, Maryland State Arts Council, The Abell Foundation, the County Arts Alliance of Maryland, The Harvey and Lyn Meyerhoff Fund, the Susan B. Katzenberg Fund and Washington Gas.
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