Adopted June 2023
About
As a local arts council, we work for the collective benefit of arts organizations and artists in Howard County. We advocate for the arts on a local and state level – communicating the value of the arts to elected officials and community leaders. We provide affordable space to exhibit, create and perform – a resource that many artists and small art organizations rely on. And we fund the arts – as the designated arts agency for Howard County, we award grants and provide the financial support necessary to deliver high-quality arts programming to the public.
Mission
The Howard County Arts Council enriches and uplifts our communities by advancing the arts, artists, and arts organizations for the benefit of all.
Vision Statement
A diverse and vibrant community where the arts are central to our lives.
Equity Statement
We believe everyone should have access to the creative, intellectual, spiritual, and healing benefits the arts provide. The arts celebrate our diversity, connect our shared humanity, uplift individuals, and transform communities. We are committed to creating opportunities for artists and arts organizations and to fostering an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible arts culture in Howard County.
Core Purpose
To connect people and the arts.
Core Values
- Creativity – Support freedom of expression and encourage innovation in traditional, emerging, and underrepresented art forms.
- Education – Promote participation and life-long learning in the arts.
- Equity – Actively learn to identify and dismantle barriers to successful arts–making and engagement.
- Inclusion – Nurture the social fabric of our community by providing essential resources, opportunities, and access.
- Integrity – Cultivate trust through respect, honesty, and transparency.
- Sustainability – Manage resources to ensure the viability and growth of the arts.
Strategies
- Advancement – Expand public awareness, financial resources, and advocacy to advance the arts in Howard County.
- Organizational Capacity – Build organizational capacity to strengthen HCAC’s impact in our community.
- Community Engagement – Increase and deepen community engagement to strengthen the arts ecosystem.
- Evaluation – Evaluate HCAC programs and services to better serve artists and audiences.