Purchase your tickets for Paint the Town today!

TICKETS

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this month’s post:

• Creating Communities has had a very active 1^st quarter of 2022 with multiple arts and STEAM programs throughout Anne Arundel County.
• World Artists Experiences Presents The renowned Estonian choir to Perform March 29 in Arnold.
• Chesapeake Arts Center is excited to announce that summer camp registration is here!
• Classic Theatre of Maryland Presents the World-Premiere Adaptation of TREASURE ISLAND.
• Live Arts Maryland is excited to present the “St. Matthew Passion”
• Ballet Theatre of Maryland is thrilled to bring the comedic fairy tale Coppélia back to the stage.
• Check out the full calendar of classes and workshops at ArtFarm Studios.
• The Maryland Hall Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Jackie Coleman as Maryland Hall’s Executive Director.
• Learn how to write your playwright with Angela Wilson from The AngelWing Project!
• Check out MFA’s current exhibitions.
• Don’t miss Annapolis Opera’s Voices of Our Time and 33rd Annual Vocal Competition

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

Creating Communities has had a very active 1^st quarter of 2022 with multiple arts and STEAM programs throughout Anne Arundel County. We successfully launched our world drumming and mentoring program at Monarch Global Academy, a program designed to foster social-emotional learning through music and we are finally returning to Marley Elementary, a Title I school in Glen Burnie, to have our teaching artist work with Triple E teachers using infused arts activities to bring the curriculum to life. At Southgate Elementary, a Title I school in Glen Burnie, we have been running a STEAM program using the Vex Robotics platform and the program has been expanded to two days per week. In our close partnership with REACH (City of Annapolis) and MEGA, led by Ron-Shaye Clark, we continue to create high-quality arts projects with high school and middle school students, plan for the Pride Day and Martin Luther King Day parades, and are hosting our first Women’s Leadership Conference at Annapolis Gardens, a subsidized housing community in Annapolis. The conference will feature Black women entrepreneurs and vendors who will share creative activities, wisdom, and inspiration with up to 75 women. The REACH and MEGA program recently completed Souls of the Decade, a variety show featuring students singing and dancing to classic soul and R&B hits. At the Stanton Center, our teaching artist has been working with the girls’ club creating custom tee shirts, decorative jars, and much more!

Estonian Choir to Perform March 29 in Arnold

The renowned Estonian choir, Collegium Musicale, will perform a free concert Tuesday. March 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 416 College Parkway, in Arnold. The program will begin with the United States premiere of “For Ukraine.”

The choir’s repertoire features Estonian composers and extends from renaissance to contemporary music, including operas. The choir has performed in the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, and Ukraine.

Since its founding by conductor Endrik Üksvärav in 2010, Collegium Musicale has won the European Broadcasting Union’s “Let the Peoples Sing” competition, been selected as the Choir of the Year in Estonia three times, and has been presented the Music Award of Estonian Cultural Endowment.  Conductor Endrik Üksvärav served as the conductor of the Estonian Song Festival directing a choir of 20,000 singers to an audience of more than 60,000.

The free concert is sponsored by World Artists Experiences in partnership with the Embassy of Estonia.  WAE is a non-profit organization which bridges international understanding through citizen and cultural diplomacy.  For additional information see the WAE website at WorldArtists.org or email [email protected].

Chesapeake Arts Center is excited to announce that summer camp registration is here!

This year, CAC will be hosting a slew of new Art & STEAM themed summer camps, including our ever popular, Cosplay Camp (featured image). Learn to design, create, and build your own character from start to finish with award winning cosplay artist, Tegan Feehery. This camp is perfect for kids who love anime, costume design, fashion design, and Halloween.

If Cosplay isn’t your child’s passion check out all of the other camps for students grades 1-8 in Northern Anne Arundel County, from art, to space, to pottery, theatre, and more. Registration is going quickly, sign up today to reserve your space in July.

Follow the link HERE to read more about all of the full day & half day camps starting in July.

Keep up with the Chesapeake Arts Center: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Classic Theatre of Maryland Presents the World-Premiere Adaptation of TREASURE ISLAND: April 8-23, 2022

A swashbuckling adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s most beloved novel, this new production is a tale of buccaneers, buried gold, treasure maps, pirates, and the famous “Long John Silver”. Join young Jim Hawkins as he takes the journey of a lifetime.

Purchase your tickets HERE

Live Arts Maryland is excited to present the “St. Matthew Passion” on April 2nd at 8:00 pm!

In order to make sure that everyone is able to see the Schütz, we have decided to add a streaming option for this performance! Tickets for the stream will be $20 and you can also still purchase in-person tickets from the Maryland Hall website! Please be aware that ticket prices reflect the process and handling fee for Maryland Hall.

Live Arts is also presenting a concert called Songs of Love and Nature. Carl Orff’s rollicking and riveting “Carmina Burana” is the centerpiece of this concert that focuses on themes of Love and Nature, and the way they intertwine with each other in our lives. The Annapolis Chorale will present Orff’s version for two pianos, percussion, and soloists. The concert also features works by Ola Gjeilo, Morton Lauridsen, Dan Forrest, and Eric Whitacre, among others.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland is thrilled to bring the comedic fairy tale Coppélia back to the stage at Maryland Hall on April 22nd and 23rd to close out our 2021/2022 season. This beautifully staged interpretation of one of the best-loved classical ballets is about a pair of lovers, an eccentric inventor, and his beautiful, yet mysterious daughter who entertain and delight an audience of all ages. With choreography by Artistic Director Emeritus Dianna Cuatto set to the lovely music by Delibes, this is a performance you won’t want to miss!

In person and virtual tickets are available at balletmaryland.org/coppelia

Photo Credit: Joanne Marie Photography

There is plenty to do at ArtFarm Studios in Annapolis! Check out the full calendar of classes and workshops below. To signup, visit artfarmannapolis.com/

Spring Semester:
Spring semester begins the week of April 25th:

4 Mondays: Kids Process Painting (ages 6-8)
4 Mondays: Kids Watercolor (ages 9-12)
8 Tuesdays: Graphic Design (ages 12-17)
8 Wednesdays: Sculpture (ages 12-17)
8 Wednesdays: Beginner Photography (ages 10-13)
8 Thursdays: Experimental Painting & Drawing (ages 10-15)
+Open Studio for teens: Thursdays beginning on March 24th

Summer Camps:
7/5 – Painting and Process Camp (ages 8-11)
7/11 – Nature & Textile Art Camp (ages 9-12)
7/11 – Play Production & Prop Building Camp (ages 7-11)
7/11 – Fearless Girls Photo Camp (ages 10-13)
7/18 – Beat Making & Music Inspired Art Camp (ages 12-17)
7/18 – Creative Writing and Zine Camp (ages 12-17)
7/25 – Jr. Kids Art School (ages 6-8)
7/25 – Fearless Girls Photo Camp (ages 13-16)
8/1 – Mixed Media and Printmaking Camp (ages 9-12)
8/8 – Encaustic Experimentation (ages 9-12)
8/8 – Fearless Boys Photo Camp (ages 12-17)
8/15 – Drawing & Painting Camp (ages 8-12) SOLD OUT!
8/15 – Fearless Girls Photo Camp (Advanced & Returning Campers)
8/22 – Kids Art School (ages 9-11)

Spring Drop-In Workshops:

April
4/2 Slime (ages 9-12)
4/9 Paper Marbling (ages 6-8)
4/16 Watercolor Landscapes (ages 9-12)
4/23 Paper Making (ages 9-12)
4/23 Henna Workshop (Teens)

May
5/7 Print Making (ages 6-8)
5/21 Origami (ages 9-12)
5/21 Henna Workshop (Teens)
5/28 Slime (ages 6-8)
5/21 : Dreamcatcher Workshop for Teens

Adult Workshops:

4/16: Block Printing Workshops
5/1: Encaustic Workshop (4 weeks)
5/14: Mosaic Tile Workshop
5/15: Batik workshop (2 days)
5/21: Creativity Workshop
Monthly Photography Meetups
Monthly Henna Workshops
Sunday Yoga Classes
Monthly Mandala Workshops
Monthly Sketch Night with a Model

The Maryland Hall Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Jackie Coleman as Maryland Hall’s Executive Director.

Coleman, an experienced nonprofit leader, and advocate for the arts, most recently served as Senior Community Impact Officer at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving in Hartford, Conn. While in that role, Coleman led the organization’s arts strategy and the creation of Catalyst for the Arts, an initiative to help arts organizations develop sustainable programming and operations in response to the COVID pandemic.

“Maryland Hall’s vision of Art for All resonates deeply with me,” Coleman said. “I am honored to step into this position and build on the organization’s existing legacy while finding dynamic opportunities that bring the arts even further into the community.”

Coleman’s varied career includes roles in education, administration, leadership, and performance – all of which are key to fulfilling Maryland Hall’s mission of Art For All as a regional arts hub.

Coleman earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Theatre at the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of South Carolina. Her career in the arts included serving as Director of Education at Hartford Stage from 2003-09, and Senior Executive Advisor for the Arts at Hartford Public Schools from 2009-14.

“We are honored to welcome Jackie as our new Executive Director,” said Maryland Hall Board of Directors Chair Debbie Mayer. “Her breadth of experienced as an advocate for and leader in the arts is certain to guide us as we strive to fulfill our mission of Art for All at Maryland Hall.”

Coleman will begin later this spring.

Got a Story to Tell?

Have you ever wanted to create a story with an exciting plot and interesting characters? Have you ever wanted to see your words go from the page to the stage? Award winning playwright, Angela Wilson will facilitate a four-week course that will walk you through the steps of writing a well-structured play that audiences will love.

This class will culminate with 10-minute play performances in CAC’s Studio 194 Theatre on May 14, 2022.

Price: $140 (Members save 20%)
Date: Thursdays, April 7 – 28, 2022 (April 14 class will be virtual)
Sessions: 4 classes, plus final performance
Time: 6:30-8pm
Ages: Adults
Instructor: Angela Wilson

Register at theangelwingproject.org/

Art on Paper
MFA Circle Gallery
Mar 17 – Apr 9
Paper, which was first made in China around two thousand years ago, is the foundation of this exhibition. MFA’s 45^th annual Art on Paper exhibition was open to all 2D or 3D work made on or of paper. This year’s exhibition contains a wide variety of work, featuring paintings and drawings on paper, collages and sculptures made of paper, handmade paper, and artist books. Juror Daniel Shay, former Art Services Manager at the National Gallery of Art selected 50 pieces by 44 artists that will be on display at MFA’s Circle Gallery from Mar 17 to Apr 9. If possible, an in-person closing reception will be held on Apr 9 from 4 ­­­– 6 PM. ­­Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/245/ to learn more.

Studio Tours
MFA Circle Gallery
Apr 14 – May 1
MFA’s inaugural In-Person Studio Tours are taking place the weekend of Apr 31 – May 1. From 10 AM – 4 PM both days, select artists in Anne Arundel County will have the doors of their studios open to the public. Recognizing the incredible talent of artists in Anne Arundel County, as well as residents’ and visitors’ desire to meet artists, this program brings together actively working artists and potential collectors in the artists’ studio environments. Each artist on the tour will have two pieces on exhibition at Circle Gallery from Apr 14 – May 1. Visit mdfedart.com/studiotours to learn more about the artists and to get directions to check out their studios.

Reflections
MFA Curve Gallery
Apr 15 – May 31
The physical nature of light reflecting changes appearances and reveals unexpected sensations. Reflections can also be internal – emotional, cerebral, or spiritual – and can evoke thoughts and memories that can change the world or just stay personal. Reflections, a new online show, was juried by Professor of Painting at Drexel University, Bruce Pollock. This show will be online in Curve Gallery from Apr 15 – May 31. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/247/ to see the show.

Lowe House
MFA at Lowe House
Jan 20 – Apr 11
Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) has been invited to exhibit artwork at the Lowe House of Delegates Building in Annapolis. Come see these 40 artworks by 31 MFA Members and Anne Arundel County residents before Apr 11 at 6 Bladen St. Artist, Anne Arundel Community College Professor and Chair of the Department of Visual Arts and Humanities, Wilfredo Valladares selected works that “reflect the variety of mediums submitted and compositions that included interactions between space, form, subject matter, and pieces that implied symbolism and memory.” Learn more at mdfedart.com/portfolio/239/.

Hospice Cup
MFA People’s Choice Voting Gallery
Apr 1 – 30
Hospice Cup, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1981 to help local and regional hospices raise funds for patient programs. In collaboration with Maryland Federation of Art (MFA), the organization hosts an annual competition for a piece of artwork to serve as the backdrop for their yearly poster. All artwork that is submitted will be on display in MFA’s online People’s Choice Voting Gallery from Apr 1 – 30. The winner will be chosen through voting on our People’s Choice Gallery and from the top four at the reception the evening of Apr 28 from 6 -8 PM. For more information, visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/253/.

Jim EARL and Rae Hamilton
MFA at Paul’s Homewood Café
Feb 9 – end of Apr
Watercolorist and intaglio and silkscreen printer Jim EARL and landscape, waterscape, animal, and still-life oil painter Rae Hamilton will have a dual show at Paul’s Homewood Café starting Feb 9 through the end of Apr. EARL has a PHD from MIT and earned an undergraduate degree in studio art with a focus on printmaking when he was teaching at the University of Maryland. He began to make silk screen prints after seeing this technique applied to Brillo Boxes by Andy Warhol that were exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Hamilton received his formal training at the American University and the Zoll Studio School of Fine Art, but says he is grateful to the Impressionists, pre-Impressionist masters, and modern realists who have greatly influenced his work. His work is held in many private collections across the country and is represented by several different galleries in and around Maryland. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants/ to learn more.

Artwork Photos (top to bottom)
David H. Mann, “Adventure”, etching print on handmade paper, from Art on Paper
Linda Popp, “Scattered In The Wind”, mixed media assemblage, collage, from Lowe House

VOICES OF OUR TIME
Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Annapolis Opera presents the most exciting young artists from across the world in our annual Voices of Our Time concert, this year featuring mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, and pianist Justina Lee.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the artists at a special post-concert wine and dessert reception – be sure to purchase your ticket!

VOCAL COMPETITION
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 3 PM
The 33rd Annual Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition is an opportunity to hear some of the most talented rising stars in the classical vocal world. This free event showcases up to ten singers, selected from hundreds of outstanding applicants from across the nation, by a panel of renowned judges.
The prize for Audience Choice Award will be chosen by the audience at Finals, so be sure to attend and cast your vote!

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this month’s post:

• As we celebrate Black History Month, please join The AngelWing Project online for a powerful and meaningful Virtual Event.
• Only two more weekends to catch Cabaret, the Musical at Classic Theatre of Maryland, and a special live performance coming in May you won’t want to miss.
• Writers, Visual Arts, Musicians, Performers…don’t miss Annapolis Arts Week Virtual Q&A for Local Artists.
• Join the Annapolis Opera and see what happens when classic fairy tales collide in Into the Woods.
• Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra Gala Concert Features Award-Winning Pianist and Famed Opera Stars.
• Maryland Hall has two exciting announcements – ArtFest and a new group joining their education program.
• The Annapolis Film Festival will hold its tenth festival from March 31st – April 3rd, 2022.
• Chesapeake Arts Center is hosting its 9th Annual Chip in for the Arts golf tournament on April 13th.
• Check out MFA’s current exhibitions.

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

A Very Special Black History Presentation

As we celebrate Black History Month, please join us online for a powerful and meaningful Virtual Event.

February 25 & 26, 2022 at 7 PM

Talking Black – Poetry, Prose, Rhymes, Lyrics, and Limericks is a lineup of incredible poets and spoken word artists. They are writers, performers, singers, lyricists, and more, especially gifted at putting pen to paper and rhythm to words. Gifted expressionists using written imagery to give voice to life and living. This is a time to listen, learn, absorb and take in the powerful words presented by these talented individuals.

This is a free event; however we appreciate your donation in any amount to support us as we continue to share art with the community. Register here!

Only two more weekends to catch Cabaret, the Musical at Classic Theatre of Maryland!

Welcome to the infamous Kit Kat Club where you can leave your troubles behind. Updated from our popular performance three seasons ago, a raucous ensemble takes the club stage nightly to tantalize the crowd while society ominously unravels beyond. Winner of 4 Tony Awards including best revival (1998). Purchase your tickets HERE!

Steve Dorff: The Hit Songs & the Stories Behind Them
May 20th & 21st, 2022 at 8 pm on the cabaret stage at Classic Theatre of Maryland
Purchase your tickets HERE!

Steve Dorff:
Inducted into the prestigious Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in New York in 2018, Steve Dorff’s career as a songwriter spans five decades and includes more than forty BMI awards, more than twenty Top 10 hits, twelve No. 1 hits, and an American Music Award. The Grammy and Emmy-nominated songwriter and composer has had songs recorded by more than four hundred artists from all genres of music, as well as twenty-eight movie scores and countless theme songs and placements on TV series. He has had #1 Records across 4 decades.

Steve’s songs have been recorded by iconic artists such as Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Dusty Springfield, Blake Shelton, Keb Mo, and countless others. A few chart hits include Rogers’ “Through the Years,” Murray’s “I Just Fall in Love Again,” Strait’s “I Cross My Heart,” and Eddie Rabbitt’s “Every Which Way But Loose”—the title track from Clint Eastwood’s 1978 film.

Dorff has composed TV music for shows such as Murphy Brown, Growing Pains, Murder She Wrote, Columbo, Reba, Spenser: For Hire, Just the Ten of Us, and The Singing Bee. His film contributions include songs and scores for Pure Country, Bronco Billy, Rocky IV, Tin Cup, and Honky Tonk Man. Branching into stage productions, he wrote the music for the theatre production, Josephine.
Steve published his critically acclaimed 2017 memoir, I Wrote That One Too…A Life in Songwriting from Willie to Whitney, and enjoys performing his best-loved songs at venues across the country.

2022 finds him continuing his streak of landing major cuts with not only established artists but also some of the most talked-about newcomers as well as scoring for major film and television projects.

CALLING ALL LOCAL ARTISTS!

Arts Week Virtual Q&A for Local Artists
Monday, March 14, 2022 AT 12 PM – 1 PM

Writers, Visual Arts, Musicians, Performers…
Annapolis Arts Week will take place June 5-11th this year and we’d love to get as many local artists involved.
Arts Week Directors, Darin Gilliam and Alison Harbaugh of ArtFarm Studios will be hosting a virtual Q&A session to share all the details about how to get involved with Arts Week and would love to have you tune in and ask questions!

For Annapolis Arts Week to be successful, our local arts community must all come together to connect and collaborate to make this year the best yet! Please join us! For more information about this event, click here

Happily-ever-after comes at a price when classic fairy tales collide in Into the Woods!

What do a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold have in common? A baker and his wife’s wish for a child lead them Into the Woods on a magical journey to reverse a curse. Along the way they meet two princes, Red Riding Hood, Jack (and the Beanstalk), Rapunzel, and Cinderella, each pursuing their own wish, in Stephen Sondheim’s magical tale of love and adventure.

Friday, March 18, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 3:00 PM
Maryland Hall | 801 Chase Street, Annapolis, MD

Purchase your tickets HERE!

Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra Gala Concert Features Award-Winning Pianist and Famed Opera Stars

The Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) will hold their gala concert on March 19, 2022, at the Bowie Performing Arts Center at 2:00pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm. ‘A Celebration of Expression’ gala concert will showcase the 150 student musicians of CYSO and feature award-winning pianist and famed opera stars during the evening performance.

The 2:00pm performance will feature five ensembles: Preparatory Orchestra, String Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Junior Flute Ensemble, and Concert Orchestra. Ranging in ages from 8 to 20, the students in these ensembles have dedicated many hours and worked tirelessly with our conductors to building the foundation of their musical technique.

Doors will open at 1pm for the afternoon concert and 6pm for the evening concert so that everyone may view and bid on the auction items and purchase raffle tickets. At 6pm we will have a cocktail hour for the audience of our evening concert.

At 6:30pm in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center, the CYSO’s Jazz Orchestra will serenade the audience with a selection of both jazz and pop standards that are sure to keep your feet tapping. Jazz is one of the great American art forms, which celebrates freedom of expression through the means of improvising.

The 7:30pm performance features CYSO’s Senior Flute Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra, which are the most advanced ensembles. During this performance, student musicians have the opportunity to perform alongside some of the most talented performers and soloists on the international stage.

Read the full press release HERE.

To learn more about this event and to purchase your tickets, visit www.cysomusic.org/gala-tickets

Join us for ArtFest – our free annual Open House on March 27 from 1-4:00 pm.

ArtFest is a day of creativity for all ages showcasing the arts at Maryland Hall featuring art & dance demonstrations, art sales, live entertainment, exhibitions, and hands-on activities. Chevy’s food truck and an ice cream truck will be on site with delicious food and treats to purchase. ArtFest is proud to be a part of Four Rivers Heritage Area’s Maryland Day celebration. The U.S. Naval Academy Band will close out ArtFest with a performance showcasing its many ensembles. Registration is recommended to guarantee seating for the concert.

We’re excited to welcome Naptown Jazz Kids (and Adults) to our education program and bring transformative music education, community engagement and jazz performances for students of all ages to Maryland Hall. Internationally renowned jazz performers teach alongside professional staff, offering teens and adults a variety of creative programming that helps develop character, leadership, friendships and communities through jazz, America’s original art form. Read more about NJK and their classes and performance opportunities at MD Hall that begin March 14!

The Annapolis Film Festival will hold its tenth festival from March 31st – April 3rd, 2022.

In partnership with the City of Annapolis, Maryland Hall and local Arts and Business Communities, this non-profit Festival brings a major cultural event to our area. For four days, AFF will transform Annapolis with internationally acclaimed filmmakers, exceptional independent films, engaging guest speakers, parties, panels and discussions.The festival will showcase all categories of film and will offer various opportunities for communitywide participation.

HOW TO SUPPORT AFF
The Film Festival could not happen without your support. To become a Sponsor or Patron, please visit our website and click on Support.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED
To learn about many volunteer opportunities, visit our website, click on Support, then Volunteer or send an email to [email protected] for more information

HOW TO FEST
Festival Passes are available now. Visit our website and click on Festival, then How to Fest for more information. Tickets go on sale on March 11th!

Keep up with the Annapolis Film Festival
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Chesapeake Arts Center is hosting its 9th Annual Chip in for the Arts golf tournament on April 13th at the Compass Pointe Golf Course in Pasadena. Golfers from around Maryland will enjoy a fun day of camaraderie and competition, while also supporting the arts. Registration is now open for solo players & teams of four with a deadline to apply by April 7th.

Follow the link HERE to read more about joining our golf fundraiser and help support the arts in Northern Anne Arundel County.

Keep up with the Chesapeake Arts Center: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Mélange
MFA Circle Gallery
Mar 1 – 13

Mélange is an annual show featuring 12 randomly chosen MFA Artist Members who have supported MFA through both their time and talent. Eligible Members donated a piece in MFA’s annual fundraiser, Collector’s Choice, entered a juried exhibition, and volunteered within the past year. A wide range of mediums, from oil and watercolor, to digital art, to ceramics and found object assemblage art and more will be on display from Mar 1 – 13. If possible, an in-person reception will be held Mar 6 from 3 – 5 PM. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/249/ for more details.

Art on Paper
MFA Circle Gallery
Mar 17 – Apr 9

Paper, which was first made in China around two thousand years ago, is the foundation of this exhibition. MFA’s 45^th annual Art on Paper exhibition was open to all 2D or 3D work made on or of paper. This year’s exhibition contains a wide variety of work, featuring paintings and drawings on paper, collages and sculptures made of paper, handmade paper, and artist books. Juror Daniel Shay, former Art Services Manager at the National Gallery of Art selected 52 pieces by 45 artists that will be on display at MFA’s Circle Gallery from Mar 17 to Apr 9. There will be a Virtual Awards Ceremony on Mar 20 at 4 PM via Zoom, and, if possible, an in-person closing reception will be held on Apr 9 from 4 – 6 PM. ­­Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/245/ to learn more.

Lowe House
MFA at Lowe House of Delegates Office Building
Jan 20 – Apr 11

Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) has been invited to exhibit artwork at the Lowe House of Delegates Building in Annapolis. Come see these 40 artworks by 31 MFA Members and Anne Arundel County residents before Apr 11 at 6 Bladen St. Artist, Anne Arundel Community College Professor and Chair of the Department of Visual Arts and Humanities, Wilfredo Valladares selected works that “reflect the variety of mediums submitted and compositions that included interactions between space, form, subject matter, and pieces that implied symbolism and memory.” Learn more at mdfedart.com/portfolio/239/.

Street Scenes
MFA Online in Curve Gallery
Feb 15 – Mar 31

What a view! Juror Margaret Murphy, Director of the Center for Visual Arts at Johns Hopkins University selected an incredible show of street scenes both near and far that represent diverse perspectives of and from the street. Streets, highways, and country roads tell the stories of communities, and what we see there defines that place in our memories. This show shows you what resonates with these artists in towns and cities as well as everywhere in between. See Street Scenes online at mdfedart.com/portfolio/241/ through Mar 31.

Jim EARL and Rae Hamilton at Paul’s
MFA at Paul’s Homewood Café
Feb 9 – end of Apr 

Watercolorist and intaglio and silkscreen printer Jim EARL and landscape, waterscape, animal, and still-life oil painter Rae Hamilton will have a dual show at Paul’s Homewood Café starting Feb 9 through the end of Apr. EARL has a PHD from MIT, and earned an undergraduate degree in studio art with a focus on printmaking when he was teaching at the University of Maryland. He began to make silk screen prints after seeing this technique applied to Brillo Boxes by Andy Warhol that were exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Hamilton received his formal training at the American University and the Zoll Studio School of Fine Art, but says he is grateful to the Impressionists, pre-Impressionist masters, and modern realists who have greatly influenced his work. His work is held in many private collections across the country and is represented by several different galleries in and around Maryland. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants/ to learn more.

#WOMAN
MFA Online in Curve Gallery
Mar 1 – Mar 31

Women breaking through the glass ceiling, women at home, women taking to the streets, women on the bench. Throughout history, women have taken on and challenged many roles. Artists of all genders share their experiences and perspectives about what it means to be a woman living in the 21^stcentury. This exhibition celebrates the achievements of women and brings light to the future. Catch the show online in MFA’s Curve Gallery from Mar 1 – 31, and vote for your favorite piece on our online voting gallery before midnight on Mar 24 at mdfedart.com/portfolio/250/.

Artwork Photos (top to bottom)
Amelia Arria, “The Rain Dragon”, acrylic painting, from Mélange
Scott Newcomb, “Glitch 143”, wax, oil on wood panel, from Lowe House
Jim EARL, “Queen Conch and Cordless Drill”, etching, from Paul’s

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this months post:

• A Call for Visual Artists! MC3 has partnered with the Warrior Music Foundation (WMF) to launch a new project, “A Veteran’s Narrative: Through Music & Art”.
• Live Arts Maryland is excited to start the Spring 2022 season with the Daddy Long Legs at Maryland Hall.
• Check out MFA’s current exhibitions!
• This year (2022) the Annapolis Arts Alliance will award two scholarships to graduating high school seniors.
• Find out what’s UP NEXT at Classic Theatre of Maryland!
• Creating Communities and the REACH program completed a winter mural project now on display.
• The Museum of Historic Annapolis is now open!
• Check out Maryland Hall’s new Winter/Spring classes.
• This month you’ll be in love with Chesapeake Arts Center’s seasonal one-day themed workshops just in time for Valentine’s Day.
• Encore Creativity for Older Adults Brings Online Arts Education to New Heights.
• Ballet Theatre of Maryland will present their mixed repertoire performance Momentum at Maryland Hall.
• The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park’s (AMM) popular Virtual Winter Lecture Series is back.
• The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra is moving forward with their two remaining scheduled concerts while trying to keep everyone safe from COVID-19.

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

A Call for Visual Artists

MC3 has partnered with the Warrior Music Foundation (WMF) to launch a new project, “A Veteran’s Narrative: Through Music & Art”. WMF is a local non-profit organization that provides free music therapy to wounded veterans, active military, and their families.

The project will pair six visual artists with six local veterans. Each visual artist will paint two guitars (provided by WMF) that interpret the veteran’s story and exemplifies the healing power of music and arts. The project will begin in late February and an art exhibition featuring the guitars will open in September 2022. Artists will be compensated $250 per guitar.

If interested in participating please contact: Riley Hoaglin at [email protected]

Live Arts Maryland is excited to start the Spring 2022 season on February 4th and 5th with the Daddy Long Legs at Maryland Hall. Tickets are $51 and there is General Admission seating to ensure that everyone has space to distance from others comfortably. Tickets can be bought on the Maryland Hall website. If you are unable to attend either performance, you will be able to stream the show for $25. You can buy tickets at the Live Arts Maryland website.

In other Live Arts news, the Live Arts Studio has moved! It is now next to Loft and across from the old studio’s location. It is still in the Annapolis Westfield Mall! We will keep everyone updated with the progress of the new Studio, but until then be on the lookout for pop-up performances and our Maryland Hall concerts!

Digital Directions
MFA Circle Gallery
Jan 26 – Feb 26
The world has gone digital – and so has MFA this month! Computer software and technology have forever expanded the ways artists capture and produce their work. From exploding animation that surrounds you to projection video to 3-D printing and imagery, this show is a celebration of the futuristic road we are driving down (hands-free, of course). The 2D and 3D image-based works on display were created and/or produced through computer software and were selected for exhibition by juror Jonathan Monaghan of The Catholic University of America. Catch Digital Directions on display through Feb 26 at Circle Gallery for a glimpse of the future of art.

Lowe House Office Building
Jan 12 – Apr 11
Maryland Federation of Art has been invited to exhibit artwork at the Lowe House of Delegates Building in Annapolis, Maryland. The work was created by MFA members and/or residents of Anne Arundel County. Works selected by juror Wilfredo Valladares, academic chair of the Department of Visual Arts and Humanities at Anne Arundel Community College, are on exhibition in Lowe House of Delegates Building, near the Anne Arundel County Delegation room and the hallways room 152 to 166, which is open to the public during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Melange
Mar 1 – Mar 13
Melange is a celebration of MFA members who have shown particular dedication to the organization. Twelve artists who work in different media were chosen by lottery to participate in this exciting all-hang exhibition. Works will be on display from March 1 through March 13 at Circle Gallery.

Artwork Photos (top to bottom)

David Allen Harris, “The thoughts that came before”, pigment print using canson infinity aquarelle rag, from Digital Directions 2022 at MFA Circle Gallery

Rosemary Fallon, “Infrastructure I”, monoprint with acrylic print on paper, from Lowe House Office Building Exhibition 2022

Chris Fowler, “Early One Morning”, film photography, from Melange 2022 at MFA Circle Gallery

This year (2022) the Annapolis Arts Alliance will award two scholarships of $1,500 each to graduating high school seniors (including home-schooled and students with a GED) who reside in Anne Arundel County. Scholarship funds are remitted directly to educational institutions on behalf of recipients and must be used to help defray college expenses.

Important Dates
-The scholarships will be awarded during the third week in April 2022.
-Applications will be accepted between February 7, 2022, and March 31, 2022. If submitting the application by mail, it must be postmarked by March 31, 2022.

Learn more about this scholarship opportunity HERE.

UP NEXT at Classic Theatre of Maryland!

Cabaret, the Musical
February 11-March 6, 2022

Welcome to the infamous Kit Kat Club where you can leave your troubles behind. Updated from our popular performance three seasons ago, a raucous ensemble takes the club stage nightly to tantalize the crowd while society ominously unravels beyond. Winner of 4 Tony Awards including best revival (1998). (Suggested age: 16+)

Tickets available HERE.

Creating Communities and the REACH program, part of the City of Annapolis Recreation and Parks Department, completed a winter mural project now on display at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center.

The project was led by REACH director Ron-Shaye Clark and Creating Communities Teaching Artist Scott Clarke. The murals feature scenes from Downtown Annapolis and Rockefeller Center. A banquet was held to celebrate the completion of the murals and students were presented with holiday gifts and a catered meal from Adam’s Grill in Eastport. Creating Communities will continue to partner with the REACH program in 2022 on additional mural projects, Wellness Wednesdays, a musical, and many arts and creative activities.

The Museum of Historic Annapolis is now open! The Museum, located at 99 Main Street in downtown Annapolis, now features a groundbreaking new exhibition from Historic Annapolis: Annapolis: An American Story. This new exhibition is the perfect first stop for visitors to begin their discovery of Annapolis, or for residents to immerse themselves in the rich history of our unique city.

Annapolis: An American Story features an inspiring theater film experience and three floors of dynamic exhibits spotlighting the chronological, diverse history of Maryland’s capital city across more than 400 years. It shares dramatic stories of Annapolis and its diverse people – revolutionaries, visionaries, and champions in our nation’s continuing quest for liberty and justice – who helped to shape our American story. Throughout the exhibition, you’ll also find the opportunity to delve deeper into the narratives and stories of our history at 12 partner sites: the William Paca House and Garden, Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park, Banneker-Douglass Museum, Hammond-Harwood House, Maryland State House, The Mitchell Gallery at St. John’s College, U.S. Naval Academy Museum, James Brice House, Hogshead, and the historic Waterfront Warehouse.

The Museum of Historic Annapolis is currently open Fridays through Mondays, 10 am – 4 pm. Be sure to visit us at 99 Main Street and experience Annapolis: An American Story. Book your entry in advance at museum.annapolis.org.

New Year – New You! Check out Maryland Hall’s new Winter/Spring classes on our website open for registration. You’ll find many popular classes along with new wellness classes to jump-start your new year. Don’t wait, register now!

December was a superb month of creative arts in our main theatre, galleries, and classrooms.  Patrons enjoyed holiday performances by our Resident Companies; Live Arts Maryland – Celebration of Christmas, The Ballet Theatre of Maryland – The Nutcracker, and the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra – Holiday Pops concert. Visitors are welcome inside our historic building to enjoy self-guided tours of the Chaney, Martino and Openshaw Balcony Galleries. We’re happy to announce a new exhibit coming to the Openshaw Balcony Gallery February 3 – Phases + Faces with paintings by Luis Bello. Luis is the first artist to create and show work through the new Openshaw Artist-in-Residence program.  For current and upcoming Gallery exhibits visit our Exhibitions Calendar.

Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. And join our email list to receive our E-News to stay in the know with happenings at your region’s cultural core.

Artwork Photo:

Luis Bello, HINT, oil pastel, Openshaw Balcony Gallery

This month you’ll be in love with Chesapeake Arts Center’s seasonal one-day themed workshops just in time for Valentine’s Day.

From Circuit Board Cards, to a FREE Family Workshop where kids get to make Ceramic Hearts, to Silk Screened Heart Pillow Cases, all the way to the always popular Holiday Bunting where you’ll make an adorable banner (featured in photo). Workshops vary in age from all ages to 8+, so check us out on the web to see what creativity you & your kids can get into this February.

More information about this workshop can be found HERE.

Older Adult Choral Organization Brings Online Arts Education to New Heights

As America’s largest choral organization for adults over 55, Encore Creativity for Older Adults, begins its winter/spring session of in-person singing on the East Coast in February, 2022, the Annapolis, Md.-based nonprofit is also expanding and transforming its popular online Encore University into a multidisciplinary enrichment program with a holistic approach embracing all the arts. Facilitated by top performers and educators, the 10-week virtual program will launch February 14, 2022.

From ear training, sight singing and vocal technique to music history, art, and dance, Encore University offers up to 15 live courses and up to 150 individual classes and is open to arts enthusiasts over 55 from across the country. Prior experience is not needed.

More information can be found HERE.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland will present our mixed repertoire performance Momentum on February 25th and 26th at Maryland Hall.

This performance showcases the versatility of our dynamic dancers with newly commissioned and existing classical and contemporary works. We are thrilled to bring back works by founding Artistic Director, Edward Stewart as well as the classic Pas de Deux from Paquita. There will be three new work premieres with choreography by company dancers, Lindsey Bell and Isaac Martinez, and former company dancer, Roman Mykyta. This show will push the boundaries of dance as an art form to explore emotions and themes relevant to all of us presented through a medium that reaches beyond words and into the soul. In person and virtual tickets are available at balletmaryland.org/momentum.

Photo Credit Joanne Marie Photography

The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park’s (AMM) popular Virtual Winter Lecture Series is back.

Every Thursday at 7:00 PM from January 13th-March 3rd, an intellectual group of lecturers will present on eight stimulating and educational topics. Each wintertime lecture showcases a diverse and relevant range of topics, including the Maritime Mosby Rangers, courageous expeditions, oyster ecosystems and fisheries, and more. The public is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about Annapolis’ rich maritime heritage and the Bay ecology.

Lectures will take place virtually on zoom. Pre-registration will be required–amaritime.org/events/wls.

The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra is moving forward with their two remaining scheduled concerts while trying to keep everyone safe from COVID-19. It isn’t easy to blow a horn through a mask!

The first of these is “All Together Now” on March 26. This will be an important and extraordinary concert for two reasons. First, this will be a cooperative effort with The Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA). CAAPA’s mission is to help “Bring Color to the Classics!” and they do this by promoting opportunities for Black classical musicians and others in the performing arts through arts performances, education, and outreach. This concert will feature Black musicians and music written by Black composers and will include Copland’s Lincoln Portrait.
The second reason this concert should not be missed are the three high school winners of the LSO’s state-wide concerto concert who will perform with the orchestra. These “Rising Stars” are always a pleasant surprise with their musical maturity.

So, the “All Together Now” concert will bring cultures together and ages together. Our audience will also span many cultures and many ages and will be thrilled to be a part of “All Together Now.”

The last concert of our season will be “Celebrating Annapolis Green” on June 11. We have all been influenced by the commonsense solutions to environmental concerns promoted by the Annapolis Green organization and their followers, and the LSO is proud to promote their efforts. All music will have some connection to our environment.

The Eastport Oyster Boys will be joining the orchestra at this concert to bring their music and message to our audience. The Boys are a collaboration of four of the Chesapeake region’s finest and most experienced performers and bring with them a wide variety of instrumentation including acoustic/electric guitars, keyboards, banjo, fiddle, melodica, trombone and even hammered dulcimer. The Eastport Oyster Boys have been known for their engaging and interactive presence with audiences for over two decades.

Both concerts will be at Maryland Hall, and students are always free at LSO concerts. For more information visit lso-music.org.

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this months post:

• Don’t miss the gallery open house and hot chocolate bar at ArtFarm.
• Creating Communities delivered over a dozen community and school-based arts programs in 2021.
• Chesapeake Arts Center has an exciting announcement about their Makerspace.
• Ballet Theatre Of Maryland returns the magic of The Nutcracker to Maryland Hall.
• The Classic Theatre of Maryland is thrilled to be offering a variety of shows for this holiday season!
• November was an eventful month at Maryland Hall full of inspiring performances in the Main Theatre as well as the Bowen Theatre.
• Join Hammond-Harwood House for an evening of music, poetry, and merrymaking at their annual tradition!
• The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra to Salute Our Veterans in January.
• Join The Talent Machine Company as they celebrate their 30th anniversary musical “Holiday Magic 2021”

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

Gallery Open House and Hot Chocolate Bar
December 3rd (5-7pm) at ArtFarm

Join us for our closing reception for Neil Harpe’s ‘Hindsight 2020’ gallery show, featuring work created during lockdown. We will also be showcasing new and familiar work of Charles Lawrance and an array of jewelry by Kristi Allen.
Hot chocolate bar and light refreshments available. Bundle up and join us at the studio for a cozy evening of art. More information HERE.

Creating Communities delivered over a dozen community and school-based arts programs in 2021, more programs than any other nonprofit of our size in Anne Arundel County. With our network of partnerships, amazing mentors, and LARC operating model (Lean, Agile, Creative and Responsive), we have been able to rapidly put highly effective programs in schools and communities that lack access to arts programs.

Here are just a few of our 2021 and 2022 program highlights:

• The Family Arts Cohort shipped arts supplies to over 15 families per month and followed up with monthly live arts sessions via Zoom.
• A brand new STEAM program began at Southgate Elementary, a Title I school in Glen Burnie, with state-of-the-art VEX Robotics kits with enrollment of 25+ students. Creating Communities will be launching a Ukulele Club at Southgate in January 2022 and are excited about the rapid success of our partnership and collaboration with Southgate.
• In 2022, Creating Communities will launch a world-drumming and mentoring program at Monarch Global Academy in Laurel. At long last, Creating Communities can say we have programs in nearly every corner of Anne Arundel County, fulfilling our mission of “direct access to the arts.” This new program will mirror the success of our Arts Ambassadors program at Georgetown East Elementary, a Title I school in Annapolis, that currently has 25+ students enrolled and participating in world drumming, creative writing, and mentoring.
• We continue to collaborate with the REACH program where we had an amazing mental health counselor work with the students on “Wellness Wednesdays” in addition to painting amazing murals, creating hip hop poetry with Femi the Drifish, and putting on a live broadcast “Souls of the Decade” variety show.
• Our programs in Eastport – at 1000 Madison and Harbour House/Eastport Terrace – continue to serve children directly in the neighborhoods in which they live. Creating Communities has been serving in Eastport since our inception with a broad array of visual arts activities and programs.
• Finally, we delivered multiple summer programs in neighborhoods and community centers with our partnerships with the City of Annapolis and Center of Help, reaching 123 students across four sites. Students received instruction in art, robotics, creative writing and music.

Creating Communities – since 2007 – has been the leading edge of progressive, robust, and meaningful arts programs for students and families in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. We will continue to lead the way in innovation and equity through the arts far into the future!

Chesapeake Arts Center is ecstatic to announce that our Makerspace is officially accepting new members, and running tool safety programs for folks 16+ for only $25!

What is a makerspace you ask? Well, it’s a community workshop where folks take classes for the equipment they want to use, and then they are able to come back during open studio to work on their personal projects. We have everything from a full woodshop, to a screen press room, to a 24″ vinyl cutter, and even a CNC laser – perfect for creating custom pieces for hobbyists & small business owners alike. We are located just minutes north of the Glen Burnie MVA, and 5 minutes south of Locust Point, with ample free parking. Check us out on the web, we just might be the dose of creativity you’ve been craving.

Keep up with the Chesapeake Arts Center: Website|Facebook|Instagram

Ballet Theatre Of Maryland Returns The Magic Of The Nutcracker To Maryland Hall
Magic, storytelling, and classical dance meld in this beloved holiday classic, brought to the stage by professional company dancers and local student performers.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland will present the holiday classic The Nutcracker, December 11th-19th. This yearly tradition from Maryland’s premier ballet company takes the stage at Maryland Hall with a live, in-person audience for the first time since 2019. It will feature performances from the company’s 38 professionals alongside 47 student and trainee dancers from BTM’s Conservatory and the local community. To purchase tickets or learn more, visit www.balletmaryland.org

Read the full press release here.

The Classic Theatre of Maryland is thrilled to be offering a variety of shows for this holiday season!

We just opened our 5th annual production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” which will be running through December 26th and is a great show for the entire family. We also have a Christmas Cabaret happening live in our cabaret room on Sunday, December 5th at 7:30pm, featuring all of our favorite cabaret artists singing and dancing to classic holiday hits!

And finally, CTM is proud to bring the 3rd year of our original musical, “A Broadway Holiday,” featuring song, dance, and tap dance while jumping rope! “A Broadway Holiday” will open on December 9th and run until December 26th.

Come and see all of the wonderful offerings we have over the next month at the Classic Theatre of Maryland! For more information, visit classictheatremaryland.org

November was an eventful month at Maryland Hall full of inspiring performances in the Main Theatre as well as the Bowen Theatre. Much to the delight of many, the Annapolis Opera opened its season with Gioachino Rossini’s Cinderella. The following weekend, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra delivered its second Masterworks Concerts conducted by former Music Director Peter Bay. And Live Arts Maryland added performances of film and music, Voices of Light, to complete our main stage performances. Looking ahead check out all of the holiday performances to come in December here.

Maryland Hall’s partnership with the Annapolis Film Society brought a private screening of King Richard, starring Will Smith in an inspiring true story of the coach/mentor/father of tennis stars Venus & Serena Williams. Monthly film screenings will continue in the Bowen.

We are thrilled to announce our newest exhibit in the Openshaw Balcony Gallery, “The Art of Criticism”. The show is presented in partnership with artist and youth mentor Dee Ward’s B.L.A.C.K. Excel program. Enjoy art from our talented Teaching Artists and visit the all-new Artisan Pop Up Shop showcasing their original artwork in the Chaney Gallery.

Finally, we’re excited to unveil our Winter/Spring Class Catalog. View all classes and register on our website here.

Twelfth Night by Candlelight
Saturday, January 8 at 4 p.m and at 7 p.m

Join Hammond-Harwood House for an evening of music, poetry, and merrymaking at our annual tradition! This year will feature cantatas and arias by Italian composers Claudio Monteverdi, Alessandro Scarlatti, and Claudio Merulo, along with traditional carols of the season. Critically acclaimed soprano, Elissa Edwards, is joined by Dr. Joyce Chen on harpsichord and dramatic poetic recitations by Katrina Atsinger in the ballroom of the historic Hammond-Harwood House.

Edwards is an artist-in-residence at the museum and is hailed for her ‘pliant, seductive, free-ranging voice’ (Gramophone) and her ‘glistening tone’ (Early Music America). The close of the Christmas season on the 6th of January was known in the past as Old Twelfth Night and it was a moment given over to mischief and merrymaking.

This is Hammond-Harwood House’s most popular event of the year and due to COVID restrictions, there is limited seating for a live audience-early booking is encouraged. This event will also be live-streamed. For more information, visit hammondharwoodhouse.org/event/twelfth-night-by-candlelight-2

The Londontowne Symphony To Salute Our Veterans

A program of music celebrating our veterans and current military personnel will be presented by the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra at Maryland Hall on January 15, 2022, at 7:30 pm. “Veterans serve us all the time and should be recognized not just on Veteran’s Day”, said Anna Binneweg, Music Director/Conductor of the LSO. “So, we are having our own Veteran’s Day to salute them again.”

Joining the orchestra will be vocalist Dana Robinson and the Archibald Spalding High School Chorus. And the military theme will be enhanced by the presence of the USO and George Owings, Secretary, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs.

The music will all be military-based, and will include “Variants on the Navy Hymn”, “Victory at Sea” and “the Battle Hymn of the Republic”.

The LSO hopes that many people will join in this celebration through wonderful music. Tickets may be purchased from Maryland Hall at www.marylandhall.org/events/ or call 410-263-5544. Maryland Hall requires audience members to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. Individual concert tickets are $25 each. Students are always free but still need a student ticket ordered through Maryland Hall. Tickets will also be available at the door on January 15.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Join The Talent Machine Company as we celebrate our 30th anniversary musical “Holiday Magic 2021”. This high energy production will feature holiday classics with a local Annapolis twist! Featuring The Talent Machine Kids, Rudolf, the Elves, Frosty, and a magical toy room that comes to life! Traditional holiday favorites will be performed as well as some new high energy dance numbers that will delight audiences of all ages. Come experience this 30 year Annapolis tradition with the Talent Machine Company.

The production will be performed by a cast of 47 talented children, ages 6-18 from all over the region, and will open Friday, December 11th-12th and 21st- 23rd at Indian Creek High School in Crownsville. Evenings and Matinee show times available, ticket prices are just $20.00 and can be purchased at the door, online at www.talentmachine.com or by emailing the box office.

Photography by Eye Opening Photography (Nyai Curtis)

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this months post:

• Captain Avery Museum held its 24th Annual Oyster Festival on the shores of the West River on October 16.
• Celebrate International Education month with World Artists Experiences and don’t miss their fall virtual Symposium.
• This is the final weekend to see Classis Theatre of Maryland’s production of Romeo and Juliet.
• Catch up with Maryland Hall and their recent event-filled month!
• The Colonial Players to present By The Way, Meet Vera Stark.
• Chesapeake Arts Center shares exciting news happening soon.
• Take a look at some upcoming events coming up at the Hammond-Harwood House.
• Encore Creativity for Older Adults Announces New Chief Executive Officer.
• The Maryland Cultural & Conference Center is HIRING!
• Plan a visit to see the new exhibitions at Historic Annapolis.

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

Captain Avery Museum held its 24th Annual Oyster Festival on the shores of the West River on October 16.

It was a memorable day! After having to cancel last year due to covid, those of us at the Captain’s were thrilled with the turn-out this year! Over 850 people enjoyed fried oysters, steamed oysters, stewed oysters, raw oysters, hamburgers, and hotdogs from our friends at the Anne Arundel Waterman’s Association, Skippers Pier and Chesapeake Grille. For dessert, folks enjoyed a selection of yummy baked goods from the Captain’s culinary volunteers! The music and storytelling of the Oyster Boys started us off with their unique brand of entertainment. Next came the incredible sounds of the Eastman String Band, with the clear tones of singers Savannah and Tim Finch. In our boathouse, Hat Trix kept the 60’s and 70’s alive with their renderings of classic rock tunes.

Threats of bad weather didn’t dampen our Oyster Festival goers. Our thanks go to our musicians, restaurants, Rob Howes and the Anne Arundel watermen and shuckers, Forward Brewing, Chesapeake Bay Roasters, George’s Mixes, Artist Kate FitzGerald, Project Oyster West River, and the Community Alliance of South County.

To all our sponsors, grantors, and especially our Board of Directors and all our wonderful volunteers – thank you for a fabulous Oyster Festival!

World Artists Experiences (WAE) believes that the arts are an international language.

Annually, International Education month is declared in Maryland in November. This is encouraged in schools, colleges, and communities. We hope that you will celebrate the month and find new ways to bridge the people and cultures of our world. WAE welcomes ideas to include on the website International Education. The Website is located under International Education on worldartists.org or sites.google.com/view/world-artists-experiences

We hope that people will join World Artists Experiences to learn both the value of storytelling and hear stories from people in Maryland and around the world.

Three storytelling sessions, presented virtually in November, will be available to the public at 7 p.m. Nov.1, 8 and 15 through the efforts of World Artists Experiences.

This three-session symposium will be opened at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 by the president of the International Institute of Storytelling and world leader in storytelling, Kiran Sing Sirah. The meeting will focus on the importance of storytelling and culture and feature rapper-beat boxer Shodekah along with Mari-Ann and Tunne Kellam presenting from Estonia the story of the singing revolution.

The second session, at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 will explore how location impacts stories and storytelling and how land influences stories of identity, kinship, economics, cooperation, and peace.

The concluding session at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 will examine how cultural heritage connects into the future. Guest artists will share stories ranging from health and well-being to artistic practices, to political unrest, social justice, climate change and racial and gender equity.

The symposium is designed to show how storytelling both establishes and challenges a culture. The following link HERE is good for all three sessions. More information can be found at worldartists.org

The final weekend to see Classis Theatre of Maryland’s production of ROMEO AND JULIET

Friday, Oct. 29th at 8pm
Saturday, Oct. 30th at 2pm
Saturday, Oct. 30th at 8pm
Sunday, Oct. 31st at 2pm

Come experience Shakespeare’s most famous tale of “star-crossed lovers” who defy the feud that divides their families and are driven toward tragedy. We are excited to reimagine a masterwork that has long captured the souls of artists and the hearts of audiences around the world. Purchase your tickets HERE.

An event-filled month at Maryland Hall!

On October 26, Maryland Hall was the very proud host of the 21st Annual Annie Awards! With so many of this year’s honorees being a part of the fabric of the Maryland Hall community and its history, the event was the perfect fit for the main stage and a lovely evening to gather in recognition of the arts. Attendees capped off the affair with a celebratory reception in the Bowen Theatre. Also gracing the Main Stage in October was the exciting return of two Resident Companies: Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. MD Theatre Guide called the Ballet’s performance of Giselle “sublime.”

Maryland Hall’s partnership with the Annapolis Film Society was reignited with monthly film screenings once again taking place in the Bowen. Patrons have enjoyed two special screenings so far this Fall with many more chances to watch pre-release films to come! Closing out an event-filled month is the City of Annapolis’ Dia De Los Muertos/Day of the Dead Festival on Saturday, October 30th. The public is invited to come out for the outdoor festival organized by the City’s Hispanic Community Services office.

To come in November is the launch of the Winter/Spring Class Catalog and preparation for a new group exhibition, “The Art of Criticism.” Opening in the Openshaw Balcony Gallery, the show is presented in partnership with artist and youth mentor Dee Ward’s B.L.A.C.K. Excel program.

The Colonial Players to present By The Way, Meet Vera Stark

The Colonial Players, Inc. of Annapolis, Maryland is pleased to announce their upcoming fall production of Lynn Nottage’s By The Way, Meet Vera Stark, directed by Eleanore Tapscott.

By The Way, Meet Vera Stark takes us to the Golden Age of Hollywood and shines the spotlight on Vera Stark, a headstrong African American maid and aspiring starlet. Vera’s life is transformed when she’s cast in a trailblazing role… in a movie starring her boss. Decades later scholars and historians grapple with Vera’s legacy in Hollywood and the impact race had on her controversial career. This spritely, sly satire is a journey through Vera’s seventy-year life and a sharp take on race and culture — both in the past and today.

Performances will run October 22 – November 13, 2021, and are held Thursdays through Sundays at our historic theater-in-the-round in the heart of downtown Annapolis. Tickets for By The Way, Meet Vera Stark are $23 for Adults, $18.00 for Senior Citizens 65 and older, full-time students with ID, and Active Military with ID.

Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.thecolonialplayers.org, or by calling the Box Office at 410-268-7373, and selecting option 2. Season Subscriptions and Flex Tickets are also available for a limited time.

We wanted to take this month to talk about something awesome coming to Chesapeake Arts Center.

Not only is it our 20th anniversary of Building Community Through Creativity in Anne Arundel County, but we are also in the midst of installing a new mural on the side of CAC. This mural was generously funded by grants from the Greater Bay Brook Alliance as well as the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County and was constructed by the artistic team at Future History Now, alongside CAC’s Teen Art Club. Come check out this community mural come late November, 2021 at Chesapeake Arts Center at 194 Hammonds Ln., Brooklyn Park, MD, or check us out on social media to be kept up to date on all of our exciting events & news.

Keep up with the Chesapeake Arts Center: Website|Facebook|Instagram

Holiday Greens Sale at the Hammond-Harwood House
Final date to pre-order November 24.

Brighten your holiday décor with festive, fresh boxwood centerpieces and wreaths made to last through the holiday season. All orders will be made from boxwood grown in the historic Hammond-Harwood House garden.

This event will benefit the Hammond-Harwood House.

Completed centerpieces can be picked up at Hammond-Harwood House between Monday, December 6 through Friday, December 10.

Collectors’ Day
George Washington Remembered: An Enduring Legacy in American Decorative Arts
Saturday, November 13 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Admission: $75

The fifth annual Hammond-Harwood House Collectors’ Day will focus on how the reverence for George Washington influenced American decorative arts in the early nineteenth century. Since the creation of the United States, George Washington has been an iconic figure. Revered during his lifetime for his bravery leading the Continental Army and helping shape American democracy, his popularity has endured to this day.  After his death, commemorative objects helped his countrymen and women to mourn. Prints, jugs, clocks, and other pieces produced with his image adorned the homes of early Americans and several items, like a French-made clock and a porcelain punch bowl, can be found in the Hammond-Harwood House collection.

Collectors’ Day will feature two expert scholars, an optional themed Washington tour, and a curated wine and appetizer reception in the garden.

Lectures by Brian Scott Miller, Associate Curator, Historic Odessa Foundation, Delaware and Catherine E. Kelly, Editor of Books at the Omohundro Institute for Early American History and Culture and Affiliate Professor of History of William & Mary.

Jane Austen Tour
Wednesday, November 17 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Admission: $12 | HHH Members: Free

Tour of the Hammond-Harwood House that compares the customs and social graces of the Loockerman family, who lived in the Hammond-Harwood House in the early 19th century, with those of characters in Jane Austen novels.

Architecture Tour
Saturday, November 20 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Admission: $20

The Hammond-Harwood House offers a two-hour in-depth tour of the architecture of the house. The house located at 19 Maryland Avenue was begun in 1774 by the gentleman planter Matthias Hammond. Ardently favoring the cause for freedom, Hammond was elected to the Maryland government in 1773. At the same time, he had begun working with renowned architect William Buckland on plans for a new, elegant townhouse in the most fashionable area of Annapolis. Hammond-Harwood House was the only one of his many commissions that Buckland designed and executed in its entirety.

Encore Creativity Announces New Chief Executive Officer

Annapolis, MD— September 23, 2021 — Encore Creativity Corporation has named Vickery as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the organization. Vickery began his tenure as leader on October 18, 2021.

“The Board of Directors of Encore is very pleased to present Joshua Vickery as the new CEO of Encore,” said Anthony Tambasco, President, Encore Board of Directors. “Joshua is the right person at the right time to take over the reins and move Encore from its founders to the next generation. He was himself a founder of a very diverse arts community, so he comes with vast experience and a passion for continuing, growing, and leading Encore. His conversations with the Board reveal that he wants to hit the ground running. We welcome him and relish the promise he brings for the future.” READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE.

The Maryland Cultural & Conference Center is HIRING!

MC3 is looking to bring on an Administrative Assistant that is enthusiastic and passionate about the arts community in Anne Arundel County.

Job Description
Under the general supervision of the Executive Director, this position provides a variety of support services, manages office, art gallery and venue operations, volunteers, and assists with program development and delivery. Requires excellent customer relations skills, knowledge of office systems, procedures, computers and facility management.

For a full description of the job position email Mattie Fenton at: [email protected]

Exhibitions at Historic Annapolis

“Why did Paca Chase Carroll with a Stone?” The answer doesn’t matter, but the question does, because it’s an easy way to remember the names of the four Maryland men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776: William Paca, Samuel Chase, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and Thomas Stone. Each of them lived in Annapolis at one time or another, and Annapolis is the only city in the nation that still has surviving houses of all of its state’s signers. But that’s only scratching the surface of their story. We Hold These Truths: Maryland’s Signers and the Declaration of Independence is a new exhibition now on display at the William Paca House and Garden in downtown Annapolis that explores the stories of these men. Visitors can view historic objects associated with each signer and learn the surprising “truths” about the personal and political lives of these four patriots. We Hold These Truths is included with admission to the William Paca House and Garden, which is open daily.

In addition to this new exhibit, be sure to visit HA’s special exhibition on display at the Maryland State House, Founding Freedoms: The Essential American Documents before it closes. This is a rare opportunity to see four of the most important founding documents in American history. Founding Freedoms consists of 18th- and 19th-century printings of the Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and Bill of Rights alongside the State House’s permanent display of George Washington’s hand-written 1783 Resignation Speech. The exhibition, presented in partnership with the Maryland State Archives and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, ends on November 14, 2021, so be sure to visit soon!

Visit annapolis.org/other/founding-freedoms-the-essential-american-documents to learn more about visiting, guided tours, and group tours for Founding Freedoms.

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

New season, new art programs! We can’t believe fall is here. Time is certainly not slowing down, but neither is the arts community. Prepare yourself for a post filled with a ton of news and happenings around the county!

Here’s a look into this months post:

• Grab your beach chairs, umbrellas, blankets, and kick-back while enjoying Tony Spencer & The Sunset Band at MC3, the final performance of the series!
• Enjoy a Family Concert by the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra.
• Meet Encore Creativity for Older Adults new Artistic Director.
• Building Better People Productions announces their Fall touring show, Feeling All The Feelings!
• Come experience Shakespeare’s most famous tale of “star-crossed lovers” at the Classic Theatre of Maryland.
• Join Children’s Theatre of Annapolis for an Open House to see what CTA is all about!
• Historic Annapolis, in partnership with philanthropist and Maryland native David M. Rubenstein and the Maryland State Archives, is pleased to share with Annapolis a special exhibition this fall.
• Grab your tickets for Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s performances of Giselle and The Nutcracker.
• Chesapeake Art Center’s signature free outdoor art festival returns with live performances, art, vendors, hands-on arts workshops, food trucks and fun for the entire family.
• Maryland Hall shares their recent fundraiser success and a new mural on campus!
• Hammond-Harwood House has several events to mark on our calendars this October.
• For 24 years, The Captain Avery Museum Oyster Festival has been a Community Celebration – see what’s in store this year!
• Classes, workshops, sketch nights, open studio…ArtFarm is buzzing again!

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

MC3 Concert Series: October 8 | Tony Spencer & The Sunset Band

Grab your beach chairs, umbrellas, blankets, and kick-back while enjoying LIVE outdoor performances again at MC3’s outdoor venue StageOne.

For the final performance of the series, enjoy traditional and contemporary jazz and r & b with Tony Spencer and The Sunset Band.

Food and drinks from multiple on-site vendors will be available including the famous Annapolis Tiki bar! Guests will not be permitted to bring their own food or alcohol into the venue.

Doors open at 5:30 PM and the concert begins at 6:00 PM. Get your tickets here!

Halloween Spooktacular!
A Family Concert by the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra

The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra will offer its annual fun-filled Halloween concert on Sunday, October 17, at 3pm at Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St. in Annapolis. Kids, adults and orchestra members can choose to wear their finest costume to this family-oriented concert and participate in a costume contest with prizes.

The music will follow the Halloween theme with selections from Little Mermaid, Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Star Wars and more.

In addition, the LSO will be recognizing the great work that local Rotary Clubs do in our community. Whether it is providing grants to worthy local organization, dictionaries to third graders, assistance at food pantries, keeping young trees alive at a new library, or keeping used books alive by sending them to underserved parts of the world, a Rotarian will be involved with service above themselves. There are 62 Rotary clubs in the mid-Maryland and Washington DC area with over 2,100 members, and the LSO is proud to recognize them for their positive involvement in each of their local communities.

For more information visit www.lso-music.org.

Encore Creativity Announces New Artistic Director

Encore Creativity Corporation, Inc., is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian J. Isaac as the new Artistic Director for the organization. Isaac will be onboard beginning September 7, 2021 to fill the vacancy of retiring Founder and Artistic Director, Jeanne Kelly.

“The Board of Directors of Encore is very pleased to present Brian Isaac as the new Artistic Director of Encore,” said Anthony Tambasco, President. “Those who participated in Encore University last fall already met Brian in the courses he offered. He is smart, well organized, impeccably trained, experienced, sensitive in his work with chorales, and committed to the mission of Encore Creativity. We welcome him and look forward to his taking over the leadership of our many chorales.” Read Full Press Release Here!

Building Better People Productions is excited to announce our Fall touring show, Feeling All The Feelings!

Written by and starring our founding artistic director, Lynne Streeter Childress this brand-new original show is available to come to schools, libraries, and other groups, both in-person and virtually! In this funny, emotional, interactive one-person play, Building Better People Productions explores the enormous range of kids’ emotions, the pressure they feel to be accepted, and the awesomeness that comes from feeling ALL of your feelings. Our play was written with the advice and input of professionals in child mental and physical health. Run-time: 40-minute show and 15-minute post-show workshop. Comes with a Teacher’s Guide.

The show is geared toward PK-5th graders, and also comes with a separate in-school residency that further explores the themes of the show. All of this was made possible through a Fall 2021 Mini-grant from the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County. For more information, go to bbpproductions.com/2021-22-touring-show-feeling-all-the-feelings/, and to book a show, contact us at [email protected] or 443-906-0099.

ROMEO AND JULIET
October 8 – October 31, 2021

Come experience Shakespeare’s most famous tale of “star-crossed lovers” who defy the feud that divides their families and are driven toward tragedy. We are excited to reimagine a masterwork that has long captured the souls of artists and the hearts of audiences around the world.

Tickets are available HERE!

Join Children’s Theatre of Annapolis for an Open House. Come see what CTA is all about!

Get the behind the scene tour of our theatre and learn more about our productions, education programs, volunteer opportunities and sponsorship ideas. There are many ways to be involved and we need you to keep our 60+ theatre running!

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or 410-757-2281.

We will see you there!

Historic Annapolis, in partnership with philanthropist and Maryland native David M. Rubenstein and the Maryland State Archives, is pleased to share with Annapolis a special exhibition this fall.

Founding Freedoms: The Essential American Documents is on display and accessible to the public in the rotunda of the Maryland State House from September 10 to November 14, 2021. The State House is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm and entry is free of charge.

Visitors have the rare opportunity to see, all at once, the four most important founding documents in American history. Founding Freedoms consists of 18th- and 19th-century printings of the Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and Bill of Rights presented in a historical context alongside the State House’s permanent display of George Washington’s hand-written 1783 Resignation Speech. Together, these four documents tell the story of the formation of the United States from the patriotic ideals of the Thirteen Colonies in the Revolutionary War to the democratic principles of the Founding Generation in their creation of our government.

Historic Annapolis is pleased to offer several ways to enhance your viewing experience at the exhibition. Visit annapolis.org/other/founding-freedoms-the-essential-american-documents to learn more about visiting, guided tours, and group tours for Founding Freedoms.

Individual tickets for Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s performances of Giselle and The Nutcracker are on sale now!

On Oct. 22-24, the curtain will rise at Maryland Hall for the Arts on Giselle, one of the most popular Romantic ballets of all time. The Nutcracker, with choreography by former artistic director Dianna Cuatto, will provide magic and wonder to the holiday season Dec. 11-12 & 18-19 at Maryland Hall. Tickets can be purchase at www.balletmaryland.org.

Subscriptions for our 2021-2022 season are still on sale. To purchase a virtual subscription, please visit www.balletmaryland.org. To purchase an in person subscription, please call 410-224-5644.

Photo is by Joanne Marie Photography

Arts in the Park | October 2nd

Chesapeake Art Center’s signature free outdoor art festival returns with live performances, art, vendors, hands-on arts workshops, food trucks and fun for the entire family. Don’t miss the kick off to our 20th Anniversary celebration. Featuring live performances from Alison Thoms & Hardnett Seven, Old Eastern Band, the Grilled Lincolns, DJ Bunny, and The Encounter LLC, DBA School of Magic Arts. The festival is held in front of our Hammonds Lane Theater on October 2nd from 10am-3pm.

Chesapeake Arts Center | 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, Md

Rain date: October 3rd, 10am-3pm

Tickets are free, but please register here.

Keep up with the Chesapeake Arts Center:
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Maryland Hall: Fundraiser Success and a New Mural on Campus!

Maryland Hall kicked off the Annapolis arts season with the return of its biggest fundraiser of the year, Arts Alive! on Friday, September 10. This year’s guests spent “A Night Under the Stars” celebrating the power of the arts and community and raising over $100,000 for MD Hall’s Art for All mission. Board Chair Debbie Mayer, Honorary Event Chair Senator Sarah Elfreth and First Lady Yumi Hogan warmly welcomed guests back to the Hall for an exciting season of shows and programming. Dramatic lighting and live music set the scene for dancing, drinks and dining on the Hall’s front lawn.

In time for the season, a new mural has been completed on the Maryland Hall/Bates Middle School campus. The “One Annapolis” mural is a reimagining of the original piece painted in 2013 by Jovenes Artistas, a part of Maryland Hall’s Outreach program made up of Bates Middle schoolers. Now 8 years later, Jovenes Artistas (featuring two of the SAME artists from the original piece) teamed up with Jeff Huntington and Julia Gibb’s Future History Now, Anne Arundel County Public School’s PVA magnet program under the direction of Emily Miller, Comacell Brown and Deonte Ward to create a one of a kind collaborative piece representing “One Annapolis” Like the original, the mural reads “Art is el lenguaje universal” (Art is the universal language).

A corresponding ArtReach Exhibit in the Martino Gallery features the story of the mural along with individual pieces by the artists. Additionally, the Chaney Gallery has reopened to feature a community project by Mēlani Naim. Naim’s project “Color Stories: A Community Conversation on Color” was introduced during Annapolis Arts Week. The hallway galleries feature new works by Fearless Girls Photography and students in the ArtReach Empower program.

Stretch and Sketch
FREE Yoga & Drawing at the Hammond-Harwood House garden.
Saturday, October 2, from 10:30 a.m to 12:00 p.m
Free thanks to The Winifred M. Gordon Foundation. Part of the Art & Wellness series.

In the second program of the Art and Wellness Series, Stretch and Sketch, you will:

• View and discuss a painting of George Washington by Rembrandt Peale.
• Choose a painting in the museum’s first floor and sketch while discussing drawing techniques (materials provided).
  Do a stretching session in the garden with breathing techniques to help promote good posture and relieve stress.

Megan Houst will be guiding a gentle yoga flow, accessible for all-levels. The practice will be focused to help students tap into their creativity, and connect deeper with mind, body, and soul. Please dress comfortably, bring a mat or a towel and any other props that you use to honor your practice.

St. Anne’s Cemetery Tour
Saturday, October 9, from 11:00 a.m to 12:30 p.m
Price: $20 | Members: $10

Did you know that several of the Hammond-Harwood House’s former occupants are buried in St. Anne’s cemetery?
On this cemetery tour, visitors will discover the fascinating lives of the men and women who called the great house home. Stories of love, tragedy, and insanity will be unearthed in this hour-long tour through the winding hills of the burying ground.

Participants will receive a half hour admission ticket to the Hammond-Harwood House Museum.
The Tour begins at the cemetery entrance, between Northwest Street and College Creek. 20% of the profits go towards preservation of St. Anne’s Cemetery.

“All My Coat of Arms China”: Armorial Ceramics in the Chesapeake
Wednesday, October 20 at 2 p.m
FREE, online presentation by Ron Fuchs, Senior Curator of Ceramics, Washington & Lee University.

In memory of Hammond-Harwood House Museum’s late President Reverend Richardson (Dick) Armstrong Libby Jr. (1932-2020).
Coats of arms, cyphers, monograms, and other insignia have long been used on ceramics to show ownership, status, identity, and pride. From the very beginning of permanent English settlement in 1607, armorial items were present on the tables of wealthy families of the Chesapeake. This talk will provide an overview of the history of coats of arms, a quick primer on how to decipher a coat of arms, and a survey of armorial ceramics in the seventeenth and eighteenth century Chesapeake region.

Pumpkin Walk Reimagined
Thursday, October 28 and Friday, October 29 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m
Price per child: $10 | Members: $5

Are you looking for something fun and different to do with the whole family this Halloween season? Families are invited to make some memories at the historic Hammond-Harwood House Museum at our annual Pumpkin Walk, which has been a staple in Annapolis for over twenty years! Families will begin by enjoying a superstitions tour of the mansion to learn about curious customs of the 18th century. The fun will continue with a parade and end with activity stations in our fenced-in garden: witch storytelling, pumpkin toss, and a take-home craft. Costumes encouraged!

For 24 years, The Captain Avery Museum Oyster Festival has been a Community Celebration! It is always a great time; with lots of fresh oysters, music, fun, and games! From 12:30 to 5 PM on Saturday, October 16, the grounds and museum of Captain Avery Museum will be turned into a waterside extravaganza. Admission is $10 for Adults and $5 for Children. This year, there are a few new twists.

We’ll welcome back Tim and Savannah Finch and the Eastman String Band with sweet vocals and amazing musicians. In the boat house, Hat Trix will also be doing an encore. They are a classic rock band with blues guitar and a 5-string cello bass.

New this year… we are joined by the Oyster Boys, who love to share their music and stories of life on the Chesapeake Bay. Along with original music and songs of the area, they recount their slightly modified history of the Bay. These boys cross musical genres from swing to waltzes, and from island rhythms to good ol’ rock-and-roll!

What would you do with $5,000?  Try your hand for just $5 to win the $5,000 Raffle and help Captain Avery Museum continue to offer events and services at little to no cost. You do not need to be present to win but be sure to keep your stubs and fill out your contact information!

Captain Avery made his living by oystering here in the Bay and selling his oysters up in Baltimore. You won’t have to go that far to get a taste of these succulent bivalves! This year, in partnership with the Anne Arundel Watermen’s Association, we have gathered lots of bushels of fresh Bay oysters. They are delicious raw, with sauce, or in a shooter!

If raw oysters aren’t your favorite, we have two great restaurants for you to enjoy. Skipper’s Pier will serve food from their renowned menu, and Chesapeake Grille will have its crab soups, burgers and hotdogs. Top it off with a beer from Forward Brewing. Wine, soda and water will be available from Captain Avery’s bars. Delicious, brewed coffee from Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co. will be the perfect drink to enjoy with the wonderful cookies and cakes of the Avery Bake Sale.

Choose It!, an area-wide favorite, will once again be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis starting at 12:30 PM on October 16. Here’s your chance to purchase unique entertainment (like Herman’s Hermits at Rams Head), gourmet dinners (like a Crab Feast at Silver Water, or a homecooked Italian Dinner), family vacations (on the coast of Maine), airplane rides and much, much more. Thanks to our generous donors, all Choose It! sales benefit Captain Avery Museum.

Some vital community groups, like the Anne Arundel Watermen’s Association, the Project Oyster West River, and the Community Alliance of South County, will join us that day. We support our community!

Kids will enjoy free crafts – decorating a picture frame or painting an oyster shell. They can also get in touch with their inner-pirate – posing at our selfie-spots.

And, Oh Yeah, we are a museum! Visit our newly-reopened museum that day, and learn more about Three Centuries of Chesapeake History. Come early, leave happy!

Our Rain date is Sunday, October 17^th

ArtFarm is buzzing again!

In person classes are starting next week for kids and adults. This semester for the kids there is Graphic Design, Stop Animation, 3D Sculpture and Theater classes to choose from.

For the adults, there are workshops such as Improv, Abstract Painting, & Virtual Botanical Drawing classes. No experience is ever needed to take a class here, so try something new or refine your skills, it’s just what you need right now in this busy world, a moment to slow down and create for fun.

Also this Fall, the Monthly Sketch Night is back! It’s a time for adults to work on their drawing skills with a live model for a two hour session. It’s always a fun time with good tunes and great company.

A new offering to come this Fall will be an open studio for adults and teens. The teens will have the studio all to themselves on Wednesday evenings, but the time for the adult open studio is still up for debate, so if you want to participate and have a big open space to work, let them know when is the best time for you. Once they hear from enough interested people, dates will be announced with the aim to have it be a weekly offering. Email Alison your preference: [email protected]

Finally, Neil Harpe’s newest works are on the wall and they just celebrated with a great opening reception. The work will be up til early November, so stop by and see it for yourself (appointments encouraged) or stay tuned for an online gallery where you can browse the works (and purchase) right from your couch.  Stay up to date with all things ArtFarm, find out more about their classes and events at www.artfarmannapolis.com or follow them on social media @artfarmannapolis.

This year, the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County will award $500,000 to 43 organizations through the Community Arts Grant (CAG) program. These grants are critical to the local arts community because they provide general operating income that helps to support the day-to-day overhead of these organizations. Unlike most grants, which are project-based, this program promotes organizational sustainability by funding basic costs such as rent, staffing, and utilities.

Providing this support to our arts community is especially important now, as we recover from the pandemic. The arts are an important economic driver in Anne Arundel County, and these grant recipients have a significant impact on the local economy. Collectively, their budgets total $16.5 million, and together they support 2,137 full and part-time jobs.

For 23 years the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County (ACAAC) has supported arts organizations in Anne Arundel County through grantmaking. In addition to Community Arts Grants, the ACAAC also offers Mini Grant, Strategic Grant, Cultural Resource Grant, and Arts in Education Grant programs.

Fiscal Year 2022 Community Arts Grant recipients include:

• All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis | $6,550
• Annapolis Arts District | $7,500
• Annapolis Film Festival, Inc. | $26,250
• Annapolis Maritime Museum Inc. | $19,000
• Annapolis Opera Company | $27,000
• Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre | $9,000
• Annapolis Symphony Orchestra | $30,000
• Anne Arundel Community Concert Association | $2,800
• Anne Arundel County Trust for Preservation | $5,550
• Arundel Vocal Arts Society | $1,250
• Ballet Theatre of Maryland  | $23,000
• Banneker-Douglass Museum Foundation | $14,600
• Bay Winds Band | $1,000
• Captain Avery Museum | $10,000
• Chesapeake Arts Center | $64,000
• Chesapeake Children’s Museum | $3,000
• Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra | $12,400
• Children’s Theatre of Annapolis | $2,500
• Classic Theatre of Maryland | $21,000
• Compass Rose Theater | $10,000
• Creating Communities | $12,400
• Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble | $4,200
• Future History Now | $5,500
• Galesville Community Center | $2,500
• Hammond Harwood House | $4,800
• Historic Annapolis | $14,000
• Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation | $2,500
• Live Arts Maryland | $26,000
• London Town Foundation | $14,000
• Londontowne Symphony Orchestra | $5,100
• Maryland Concert Series | $3,300
• Maryland Federation of Art | $16,000
• Maryland Hall | $50,000
• MC3 | $3,000
• National Ballet Institute for the Arts | $1,800
• Performing Arts Center for African Cultures | $5,500
• SoCo Arts Lab | $2,500
• South County Concert Association | $4,900
• The AngelWing Project | $4,500
• The Creative and Performing Arts of South County | $4,350
• The Mitchell Gallery | $7,500
• The Talent Machine Company | $2,500
• World Artists Experiences | $6,700

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

This month the arts community has some exciting news and happenings. It’s time to soak up these last days of summer and get ready for a new season FALL of art!

Here’s a look into this months post:

• Join the Chesapeake Arts Center for their FREE Summer Concert Series.
• The new Fall Semester Schedule is out for ArtFarm Studios!
• Banneker-Douglass Museum is back and ready to celebrate their grand re-opening with you!
• August was a big month at Maryland Hall!
• Chesapeake Children’s Museum (CCM) is open for outdoor activities and programs!
• Enjoy An Afternoon of Romance with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland at the Hammond-Harwood House Museum
• Go on a Jane Austen Tour with the Hammond-Harwood House
• Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is ready to make some noise at Quiet Waters Park for their first live, in-person, concert.
• The Revolutionists are coming to The Colonial Players.
• The Company at MC3 Annapolis along with Greater Annapolis Ballet and Level Dance Project are hosting a HOPE DANCE CONCERT this October.

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

Join us for our FREE Summer Concert Series at Chesapeake Arts Center just minutes north of the Glen Burnie MVA.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and come enjoy an evening of stellar Maryland music every Thursday night in September starting at 6pm. Also, don’t forget to save the date for our FREE family friendly Arts in the Park festival full of artists, music, food trucks, and free STEAM activities on October 2nd. 194 Hammonds Ln, Brooklyn Park, MD.

9/9 Nelly’s Echo {featured on The Voice} | 6p-7:30p
9/16 | Caleb Stine | 6p-7:30p
9/23 | The Island Breeze Band | 6p-7:30p
9/30 | Domenic Cicala | 6p-7:30p
10/2 | Arts in the Park | 10a-3p | rain date 10/3

Keep up with the Chesapeake Arts Center:
Website | Facebook | Instagram

The new Fall Semester Schedule is out for ArtFarm Studios!

This Fall we have several classes for ages 8-16 years old and lots of great art workshops for teens and adults.

In addition to our classes this Fall, we have our monthly Sketch Night (9/10 at 6:30 pm) where adults can join us for an evening of figure drawing with a live model and some great tunes. Sketch Nights are every second Friday of the month.

This month in the gallery, we will be having an opening featuring the work of local painter, Neil Harpe. Neil will be showing a selection of his watercolors alongside his large graphic paintings that are Washington Color School studies on canvas. An opening will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19th from 5-7 pm.

You can find out more at www.artfarmannapolis.com or follow up on Instagram

We are back! Come join us on Saturday, September 18th for a Grand Re-Opening Block Party!

BDM has been closed since March of 2020 and we are re-opening with a brand new exhibit; Freedom Bound: Runaways of the Chesapeake, which explores resistance and freedom from the past, present, and future. Enjoy music, food, shop local Black-owned businesses and much more! This event is FREE to the public. Register today at bdmuseum.maryland.gov

In following the CDC guidelines and the State of Maryland regulations, guests will be required to wear a mask when entering the museum. Please watch for your emails for further information as we get closer to the program. Though the Block Party activities will be outdoors, we encourage visitors to wear face masks. A maximum of 100 guests will be allowed into the museum at one time. Sanitation stations will be available throughout the museum.

August was a big month at Maryland Hall!

The region’s cultural hub officially reopened their Main Theatre to live audiences. Presenting partner Rams Head had the honor of putting on the first shows since the covid-19 pandemic shuttered the theater. Ann Wilson and Tower of Power delighted audiences. Resident Company Annapolis Opera followed shortly after with Sunder, setting the stage for an exciting season of performance art at the Hall. Celebrate this resurgence at Arts Alive! A Night Under the Stars on Friday, September 10, 2021. The outdoor event is Maryland Hall’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

During the week of August 9th, over 1,300 musicians from around the world tuned in to the MD Hall stage for the 3rd Annual Paul Reed Smith Music School. Smith and his incredible team of professional musicians, including YouTube’s top guitar teachers’ Tyler Larson and Tim Pierce, led another year of the exciting school teaching the foundations of music to a lively virtual audience.

The Maryland Hall Outreach team spent their summer partnering with Action Annapolis to launch #GoVoteAnnapolis, a video project which will feature interviews with candidates running to serve on the Annapolis City Council. The #GoVoteAnnapolis videos will be posted by early September and distributed throughout the City leading up to the September 21 primary city elections.

Chesapeake Children’s Museum (CCM) is open for outdoor activities and programs!

We have an exciting line-up of regular programming from Creek Critters Nature Walks on Thursdays, Meet the Animals on Tuesdays, and Girl Scout Workshops (in-person and online) for all levels. CCM Members can enjoy all of these and more at no cost to them – and if you’re interested, memberships cost as low as $30 per family! Other pricing plans are available. Members also earn free access to take-home, rentable activity kits. Email us [email protected] for details.

This fall 2021, special events include: Smithsonian Day at CCM where visitors receive free printed guides of our scenic park and walking trails; Lead On, Harriet!, an interactive evening tour of the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman’s legacy; Cavar En/Dig In, a volunteer event held at CCM to plant butterfly bushes around the museum; and free children’s activities all day at this year’s Kunta Kinte Festival. Email [email protected] for details.

Keep up with the Chesapeake Children’s Museum:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Join Ballet Theatre of Maryland for An Afternoon of Romance in the gardens at the Hammond-Harwood House Museum
Sunday, September 12th at 3 PM

This program will feature a selection of dances for two or three dancers, centering on underlying themes of relationships and love portrayed through the beauty of classical ballet.

*This is a VIP event not included in the season subscription, however, subscribers receive a special rate. Tickets include a glass of wine.

Purchase tickets HERE

Jane Austen Tour at the Hammond-Harwood House

Wednesday, September 15 from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Admission: $12 | HHH Members: Free

Tour of the Hammond-Harwood House that compares the customs and social graces of the Loockerman family, who lived in the Hammond-Harwood House in the early 19th century, with those of characters in Jane Austen novels. Register here 

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra: Pops in the Park – Celebrate Heroes
Saturday, September 4, 2021 | 5:30 PM
*with a rain date of Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 5:30 PM
Venue: Quiet Waters Park

The ASO is ready to make some noise at Quiet Waters Park for our first live, in person, concert in over a year. Join us as we “Celebrate Heroes.” Taking special care to honor the essential workers who have been so instrumental in helping bring us back together for this concert. Our concert begins appropriately with John Williams’ Olympic theme “Summon the Heroes” The program also features audience favorites by Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Scott Joplin, Leroy Anderson, Duke Ellington, and more…

We encourage concert goers to use the abundant open space of the park to spread out and continue to practice safe distancing. Picnics, chairs, blankets, strollers are welcome. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Concessions are available.

Show your support for essential workers who have helped bring us back together to #CelebrateHeroes by wearing a mask when you can at the concert. #MasksAndCapes4Heroes.

Door Prizes for ticket holders.
Get FREE TICKETS online here.

The Colonial Players to present The Revolutionists

The Colonial Players are thrilled to be bringing this powerful and hilarious play to Annapolis audiences. Director Jennifer Cooper has assembled a fierce cast that will enchant, intoxicate and leave people begging for more, and an all-volunteer crew that runs like a well-oiled machine. Put simply, this is not one to be missed.
Available for in-person viewing and Live Stream, don’t miss your chance to revel in Revolution. Get your tickets HERE!

Keep up with The Colonial Players:
Facebook | Instagram

Read the full press release

Performing Arts for Cause

The Company @ MC3, Greater Annapolis Ballet, and Level Dance Project (all Annapolis based dance programs) are hosting a HOPE DANCE CONCERT on October 22 from 6 to 8 pm at MC3’s outdoor venue, StageOne, in support of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and it’s Annapolis Out of the Darkness Walk.

MC3 is encouraging the artistic community to help spread the power of the arts as a tool for healing and awareness by attending this evening of dance and hope.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide.

REGISTER OR DONATE HERE