Mission

Mission: Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA) is an arts advocacy organization committed to expanding the nonprofit arts sector through public investment and service; thereby enhancing lifelong learning, quality of life, and economic vitality for all Maryland citizens.

Vision: MCA will enhance the cultural and civic benefits of the transformative power of the arts, celebrating the myriad of ways a strong arts sector supports vibrant communities, a full, quality education, and a thriving economy. MCA will be a leader among its peers through innovative approaches to arts advocacy for the 21st century.

MCA’s advocacy services fall within two categories: educating (lobbying) state lawmakers about the importance of public funding for the arts and supporting the organizational needs of the arts sector, including artists, organizations, administrators and volunteers. MCA provides “One Voice for all the Arts in Maryland.” It serves Marylanders interested in the arts and the role they play in economic vitality, education, and quality of life. MCA’s research culls topical data and its education programs not only provide informational updates arts funding, key state appointments and activities, and status reports from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), but also nurture connections among arts professionals, arts supporters, and artists, as well as their audiences. MCA works closely with partner organizations such as MSAC, the Community Arts Alliance of Maryland (CAAM) – an umbrella organization for the County Arts Councils, the Arts Education in Maryland Schools Alliance (AEMS), Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (MDVLA), and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA). Current programming reaches all career levels of arts professionals, from executive directors to emerging arts leaders to interns, from board members to volunteers. Overall, MCA was conceived to emphasize the connections between the arts, cultural diversity, quality education, economic development and government.