News
Latest MCA News
Jul 06, 2010
MCA Announces Four New Trustees
The Board of Trustees of Maryland Citizens for the Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of four new board members. At its June 2010 meeting, the Board elected Jose Dominguez, Blake Robison, Darcey Schoeninger and Andy Vick.These new trustees represent Western, Central and
MCA Hires New Executive Director: John Schratwieser
The Board of Directors of Maryland Citizens for the Arts has appointed Mr. John Schratwieser as its new Executive Director. After conducting a national search that began in February, Mr. Schratwieser was chosen from a pool of over 70 highly qualified applicants
Douglas Mann, Chair of the MCA Board said:"We're very excited to have someone of John's caliber coming on to lead our organization.In addition to his impressive track record of success, he brings a high level of professionalism and commitment to the arts. He has the experience to strengthen and expand our grassroots network of arts advocates across the state, and the skills to effectively convey our message about the importance of State Arts Council funding to our elected officials. Maryland's rich and diverse arts community is one of our state's genuine treasures and is central to the economic vitality and quality of life in our state. John's leadership will be pivotal to MCA's year round efforts to ensure state funding is maximized and the financial stability of the arts sector is enhanced."
During Mr. Schratwieser’s 17 years in the non-profit sector, his primary focus has been management, development and operations of arts organizations. In this capacity, he has the valuable experience of working with urban, suburban and rural artists and arts groups – all of which are critical parts of the Maryland arts community . His most recent experience was with the Prince Theatre Foundation in Chestertown, MD which grew and prospered significantly under his leadership.He’s also been with Lincoln Center Theatre in New York and the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.
Mr. Schratwieser said:"For several years I advocated for the arts in rural Maryland, building coalitions among arts organizations to strengthen the cultural offerings on the Eastern Shore. I could not be more excited about drawing on my varied experience, coupled with a career in nonprofit management, to go to work on behalf of arts organization and artists across our great state."
Schratwieser received his B.A. from Fairfield University and his M.P.A. from The George Washington University. In addition to his academic and management credentials, he has a first-hand appreciation for the arts, having been an occasional performer at venues in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
For more information, see our Press Release.
May 06, 2010
Send your Legislator an Email Thanking them for Preserving Arts Funding for 2011!
The legislative session has ended, and the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) has been allocated the same $13.3 million for Fiscal Year 2011 as it received in Fiscal Year 2010. In such difficuly economic times, not to receive a funding cut to important granting programs of the MSAC is a huge victory for the Arts in Maryland!
It's now time to take a moment and thank the members of the Maryland General Assembly for recognizing the importance of the arts to the citizens of Maryland.
Please send an e-mail to your elected officials, which you can easily do by clicking here. You only need to submit one e-mail, and it will automatically be sent to your senator and delegates, as well as to all members of the House and Senate subcommittees which voted to fund the Maryland State Arts Council for 2011 at the same level as 2010 ($13.3 million). MCA (Maryland Citizens for the Arts) has written the email for you, and you can choose to send it as written or to personalize it: it's incredibly easy, and makes a real difference.
It takes about 30 seconds to send an e-mail, voice your support of the arts, and make a big impact!!
This is an election year, and all legislators need to be reminded of the importance of the arts to their constituents.
After you've sent the email, please forward it to your friends, encouraging them to do the same. You can also send them a link to this page.
Apr 02, 2010
Maryland State Arts Council Budget has Been Approved by Both Budgetary Committees
During the month of March, the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee both decided not to cut the Fiscal Year 2011 budget for the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) as proposed by Governor O''Malley. The council will receive the same funds that it ended up receiving this last fiscal year, $13.3 million.
MCA worked tirelessly with volunteers, staff, and our thousands of E-Advocates to help accomplish this goal. Thanks are due to the Senators and Delegates on those committees, and particularly to those on the two subcommittees which consider the MSAC budget (the Senate Health, Education, & Human Resources and the House Education & Economic Development). The full Senate and the House have both passed approved their versions of the budget bills for 2011. Now, the bills will be sent to a conference committee to reconcile differences. Since both bills include the same funds for the MSAC, it will not be part of the conference considerations.
There is a separate arts-related issue that will end up in conference, and that is the allocation for a Special Fund for Preservation of Cultural Arts. This Fund was created last spring, but the funds for 2010 were moved to the General Fund as part of the cuts that were made in the sumemr and fall. For 2011, the Senate has passed a bill allocating $500,000 to the Preservation of Cultural Arts. The House bill as it currently stands allocates $1 million. MCA will keep you posted about the decision of the conference committee and the final number included in the approved budget bills.
This legislative session has been a great success thus far, and it is due to the support of citizens across the state. Please join our e-mail list if you have not already done so and be a part of the thousands of Marylanders who support the arts through active advocacy.
Mar 05, 2010
Contact Your Legislators to Preserve Arts Funding!
Click Here to contact them now!
The time when legislative committees make their decisions is upon us! MCA is calling on YOU, the grassroots advocates, to contact members of the Maryland state legislature in support of public funding for the Arts in Maryland! Very soon, the Maryland General Assembly will be making their decisions on the Governor’s budget proposal, and we need to reach out to our legislators to ensure they make the right choice and support the Arts!
As you may know, the Governor had to find $2 billion in spending cuts in order to balance next year’s budget. However, the Governor didn’t make any cut to the Maryland State Arts Council budget for next year, funding it at the same amount as this fiscal year, $13.3 million. We and the entire arts community are enormously grateful to the Governor for not cutting the Arts Council’s budget in a year when so many reductions were made. In addition, the Governor has not reduced the $1 million allocation for the Special Fund for the Preservation of Cultural Arts in Maryland.
Our job as a community is to make sure the General Assembly approves what the Governor proposed, and does not make any cuts. MCA representatives have been busy throughout the legislative Session meeting with legislators and testifying at hearings. Now it is your turn, and that of arts supporters across the state, to make your voice heard in Annapolis by sending emails or letters!
When elected officials receive thousands of letters supporting a cause, the impact it makes is enormous! YOU can make a difference for the Arts! Join your voice with that of other arts supporters across the State as we make ourselves heard in Annapolis!
Please take just one minute to send an email or letter to your State Senator and Delegates, and also to the members of the Budget Committees which make recommendations for the Maryland State Arts Council’s budget. You only need to submit one email, and it will be delivered to all of these legislators. In other words, every single email written is leveraged for a huge impact, much the same way as every single dollar spent on the Arts is leveraged!!
Write to your legislator today!
Jan 27, 2010
MCA Announces Maryland Arts Day Keynote Speaker and Sue Hess Arts Advocate Award Recipient
The keynote speaker at Maryland Arts Day 2010: Many Voices, One Song will be Liz Lerman.
Liz Lerman is a legendary choregorapher and the Founder/Artistic Director of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange.
The 2010 Sue Hess Maryland Arts Advocate of the Year Award recipient is Nancy Haragan..
Nancy Haragan has acted as Executive Director for the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA) for the organization’s first decade, after founding the organization in 2001.
Find out more information from the official Press Release:
Maryland Arts Day Press Release
Arts Funding Preserved in Governor's Budget Proposal!
Governor Martin O'Malley's budget proposal was officially released yesterday, and it included good news for the Arts! The allocation to the Maryland State Arts Council was not cut; it has been kept at the FY10 level ($13.3 million). With a projected state budget deficit of nearly $2 billion that had to be closed, keeping level funding is a very positive outcome for the arts community.
Firstly, Thank You! Avoiding a cut is directly attributable to You: to the thousands of letters sent and phone calls made, as well as those present at Maryland Arts Day, at budget hearings, and at meetings with policymakers. Without the strong support of so many Marylanders, the situation could be very different!
Next, we encourage you to thank the Governor for his continued support of the Arts. Send him a letter today to express your gratitude that Arts funding has been preserved!
Maryland Arts Day - Registration Available Now
Join us in the fight for the Arts! The most important arts advocacy event of the year in Maryland is MCA/MCA Foundation’s Maryland Arts Day, taking place on Tuesday, February 9th. Visit the Maryland Arts Day page of the site for detailed information, which will be continually updated as the event date approaches.
Attendees at Maryland Arts Day have a chance to personally meet their local legislators, hear renowned speakers, and meet and network with other arts supporters. However, the most important part of Maryland Arts Day is the impact that it has on arts funding. You can make a difference. Travel with us to Annapolis to show state policy makers how important the Arts are to Marylanders.
You can now register for the event online or download this form to register by mail or fax. Register by January 29th to receive a 20% Early Bird discount.
This year’s Arts Day is of particular importance. The Arts must have a strong and united presence during the Legislative Session in order to succeed at preserving arts funding in this challenging economy. Maryland’s arts organizations cannot afford to lose funding. If arts funding is cut: jobs will be lost, programs targeting children and underserved populations will be cut, related economic activity will disappear, and it would take many, many years for the industry to recover, even if funding was increased in upcoming state budgets.
Visit the Maryland Arts Day page for more information, and check back as information is being added daily!
Jan 13, 2010
Brand New Website & Start of 2010 Legislative Session
Today is January 13, 2010. At noon, the Maryland General Assembly will convene and begin the 2010 Legislative Session. Next week, the budget bill will be introduced in both houses.
This is the time of year when our advocacy efforts are kicked into high gear. MCA needs your help to preserve public funding for more than 250 arts organizations and county arts councils that receive grants from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC).
MCA has created this brand new website that was launched earlier in the week. On this site, you can find information to help you navigate the Legislative Session. Our Calendar lists important arts advocacy dates, the Advocacy 101 Guide maps out how to cultivate relationships with your elected officials, and once the budget bill is introduced, we will update the Talking Points site to include information specific to our 2010 strategy. Please keep checking the site for these and other updates!
Arts Step Up Program re-launched as organizations across Maryland show support for furloughed State Employees
MCA has galvanized arts organizations across the state to offer special promotions and discounts to Maryland State employees. Please visit the Arts Step Up hub, for a listing of participating organizations.
Douglas R. Mann, MCA Chair, explains the impetus for the program: “Leaders of arts organizations across the state are dealing with furloughs and cutbacks in their own staffs due to the recession. They know firsthand the impact such actions have on people's lives, and they feel this is one small way the arts community can help fellow Marylanders during these hard economic times. MCA, which is a grassroots organization advocating for the arts throughout Maryland, seemed to be the natural choice to lead this initiative. We’re thrilled with the outcome, which we hope will offer State employees more opportunities to take advantage of the rich and diverse range of arts experiences available in Maryland.”
Over 25 arts organizations have already established special promotions for State employees. Theaters, museums, orchestras, festivals, and other artistic institutions across the state will be offering free and discounted tickets, family events, 2-for-1 offers, gift shop discounts and giveaways. MCA is coordinating this program and expects the list of organizations participating to expand in the days ahead.
For more information, see our Press Release