DEIA Initiatives

DEIA Commitment

Photo: 2022 DEIA IN THE ARTS Conference held at the Chesapeake Arts Center, Photographer Nicole Caracia

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County is committed to advancing and modeling equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in all of our programs and services and those of our grantees. We are dedicated to embracing equity and non-discrimination regardless of race, religious creed, color, age, gender expression, sexual orientation, class, language, and/or ability.

In 2021, the Board of Directors of the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County developed a strategic plan to incorporate the principles of DEIA into every aspect of the organization’s programming and operations. This document outlines ACAAC’s key strategies to expand outreach to underserved sectors of our community and provide our stakeholders with the tools and resources they need to integrate DEIA into their own organizational cultures. Read our plan below.

DEIA Plan

Letter from DEIA Task Force Chair

BUILDING BRIDGES 2024 REGISTRATION

Resources

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, with partners Chesapeake Arts Center and The AngelWing Project, is holding a regular series of virtual conversations with subject matter experts to share best practices, forge partnerships, and provide you with the tools you need to strengthen DEIA within your organization’s operations and outreach.

If you were unable to attend any of our previous sessions, you can view the recordings below.

2023 Anne Arundel County Conference DEIA in the Arts
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Unconscious Bias
Guest Speaker: Kashonna Marrow, CEO Simply Kashonna & SK Leading Forward
Accessibility
2022 Anne Arundel County Conference DEIA in the Arts
Thank you all for joining us on August 18, 2022 for a great event. It was an incredibly powerful day, and we all walked out with new tools, insights, and motivation to move DEIA forward in our organizations.
- Presenter Powerpoints
Let's Start Talking About DEIA in the Arts
Guest Speaker: Ruby Lopez Harper from America for the Arts

We will discuss how to get started with our DEIA work and how to support one another to make the arts more inclusive, equitable, and accessible to all.
Who Are We and Who Do We Want to Be?
Guest Speaker: Deena Kilmon, Director of Engagement for The Arc Central Chesapeake Region

Accessibility in the arts expert Deena Kilmon will help us develop a process to assess where we are as an organization, and how to set a course to become the organization we aspire to be.
- Powerpoint Presentation
- Identity Survey Example
Community Engagement
Guest Speaker: Dr. Pamela Brown, Executive Director of the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families
- Powerpoint Presentation
Partnering for Impact
Guest Speaker: Rob Levit, Executive Director of Creating Communities
- Powerpoint Presentation
Exploring Microaggressions
Guest Speakers from the Office of the County Executive:

Pete Hill
Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Asha Smith
Equal Opportunity and Human Relations Officer