PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2025
Contact: Mary K. Baxter
development@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Honors Five Howie Award Recipients at the 28th Annual Celebration of the Arts
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council will honor this year’s Howie Award recipients at the 28th annual Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 6-10pm at the Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College.
The Howie Awards are presented annually by the Arts Council to an Outstanding Artist, Outstanding Arts Educator, and Outstanding Community Supporter of the Arts. Nominees are judged on their contributions to and their impact on the artistic life Howard County. The Howie Committee also awards the Legacy in the Arts Award and the Coleen West Leadership in the Arts Award at their discretion.
This year’s outstanding Howie Honorees are:
Truth Thomas
Outstanding Artist
Poet, Musician, and Photographer
Truth Thomas is an award-winning poet, singer-songwriter, photographer, and former Capitol recording artist born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and raised in Washington, DC. Once known as Glenn Edward Thomas, he is the founder and Managing Editor of Cherry Castle Publishing and the creator of the widely embraced Skinny poetry form, now taught and published around the world. Truth studied creative writing at Howard University under Dr. Tony Medina and earned his Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from New England College.
Truth’s acclaimed collections include Party of Black, A Day of Presence, Bottle of Life, and Speak Water which received the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry. His children’s book, My TV Is Not the Boss of Me, illustrated by Cory Thomas, was a finalist for the Jessie Redmon Fauset Award in 2014. A former Writer-in-Residence for the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo), he is the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Howard County, Maryland.
Truth’s poems have appeared in more than 150 publications, including The 100 Best African American Poems edited by Nikki Giovanni and This Is the Honey edited by Kwame Alexander. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Skinny Poetry Journal. His latest poetry collection, Focal Lengths, will be forthcoming in 2026.
Jennifer Johannes
Outstanding Arts Educator
Art Teacher, Mt. Hebron High School
Jennifer Johannes is a veteran art educator with over 24 years of experience in public schools. She currently brings her creative spark to Mt. Hebron High School, where she also leads the National Art Honor Society, a service-oriented society that empowers students to use their artistic talents in support of both local and global communities.
A trailblazer in her field, Jen was the second art teacher in Maryland to earn National Board Certification. She holds a Master of Art in Teaching from the College of Notre Dame and has shaped arts education through curriculum writing, presenting at state and national conferences, and working for the College Board. Her leadership roles include serving as Vice President of Advocacy for the Maryland Art Education Association, mentoring 16 student teachers over the years, and leading eight international student art tours.
Jen’s latest endeavor is creating and piloting Unified Art & Leadership in her Mt. Hebron classroom. This innovative Howard County Public School System course unites students of all abilities through art and collaboration. Set to expand district-wide next year, this class embodies her classroom motto: Art is for everyone.
Jen’s classroom radiates inclusivity, kindness, and creative problem-solving—a legacy she’s instilled in thousands of students. Beyond teaching, Jen loves spending time with her family, roller skating, and making art. She lives in Ellicott City with her husband, Kevin, their two children, Daphne and Sully, and their beloved dog, Georgie.
Blossoms of Hope
Outstanding Community Support of the Arts
Hope is a small word, but it is boundless. Hope brings people together; it helps to achieve feats never thought possible. In Howard County, cherry and other pink blossoms have become a symbol of hope. Blossoms of Hope (BOH) has become a champion for those coping with cancer and other illnesses including ever-common mental health issues. They have supported people struggling after a devastating flood or grappling with a worldwide pandemic. For many, the pink blossoms are a way to remember someone who has lost their battle or to honor someone special.
Over the past 20 years, BOH has contributed to the community in a variety of ways including many art-oriented events. In its early years, BOH worked with the community to create lanterns to parade during its first Cherrybration Days event. They held a Haiku for Hope contest with the Columbia Art Center and partnered with Ellicott City Partnership to sponsor the Millstown 5K. BOH is also known for its unique events, including Pretty in Pink, Power of the Purse, The Santa Project, and Beer, Bourbon and Blues.
In 2025, in celebration of their 20th anniversary, BOH brought together the Howard County art community to hold a one-month countywide art show. The show placed 500 pieces on display at 14 locations throughout Howard County. This special event was an opportunity to bring a large-scale art exhibit to Howard County while celebrating BOH’s first two decades of fulfilling their mission to provide “Beauty that Heals, Hope that Inspires.”
Doreen Falby
Legacy in the Arts
Founder, Peabody Children’s Chorus
Doreen Falby began singing in choruses as a child in Scotland. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and a Graduate Artist Diploma in piano from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She pursued post-graduate studies at St. Andrew’s College, Scotland, and is a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music in London. Fellowships from Rotary International and Syracuse University enabled Doreen to earn two Master of Music degrees from Syracuse, in Piano Performance and Vocal Music Education.
After moving to Columbia, Maryland, in 1989, Doreen started a chorus called the Maryland Children’s Singers. Within a few years, families were enrolling their children by the hundreds, and in 1992, the choir became affiliated with The Peabody Institute. Since then, thousands of Howard County children have joined the Peabody Children’s Chorus, many staying from age six through eighteen.
Under Doreen’s direction, the Chorus has performed with major arts organizations, including Baltimore Opera, Baltimore Symphony, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, and U.S. Naval Academy ensembles. The Chorus has toured in Scotland, England, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Seattle, and Hawaii, performing in historic venues such as: St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, and Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. Other notable performance venues include the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall. In 2009, their recording of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS with Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony received a Grammy nomination.
Jaye Ayres
Coleen West Leadership in the Arts
Visual Arts Resource Teacher, Howard County Public School System
Jaye Ayres has been a dedicated visual arts educator in the Howard County Public School System since 1991, retiring this past spring. She served as the Resource Teacher for Visual Arts from2014 to 2025. Previously, she taught at Patapsco Middle School, Lime Kiln Middle School, and Marriotts Ridge High School. Jaye holds a Master of Education in Art Education from Towson University and a Bachelor of Art from Wilson College, with additional graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Institute College of Art, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she earned a 2008 Fulbright-Hays Award to study Latin American history and art in Mexico.
A leader in the National Art Education Association (NAEA), Jaye has presented at over a dozen national conferences, was elected to the Board of NAEA, and received the 2008 NAEA Marion Quinn Dix Leadership Award. Her state-level service includes multiple leadership roles within the Maryland Art Education Association, including President and Gazette Editor. She was named Maryland Art Educator of the Year in 2005.
Beyond the classroom, Jaye is passionate about arts advocacy, action research, and teacher mentoring. She is a frequent exhibitor and has been recognized in local juried shows. Deeply committed to advancing student creativity and teacher excellence, her impact spans decades of professional contributions, curriculum innovation, and passionate support for arts education at local, state, and national levels.
About the Celebration of the Arts
Begin the best night of the year with a reception where 15 to 20 local culinary sponsors will showcase their finest foods. Pile your plate high and enjoy the Art Auction featuring work by local and regional artists. Then, at 8pm, guests take their seats for the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition and the presentation of the Howie Awards. Eight talented, local finalists will vie for the audience vote for the $5,000 Rising Star award! In between dazzling performances, the 2025 Howie Awards will be presented to an Outstanding Artist, Arts Educator, and Community Supporter of the Arts in recognition of their contributions to the arts community in Howard County.
Tickets are on sale now and available for $50 and $100. For more information about the Celebration of the Arts and the Howard County Arts Council, please visit hocoarts.org/celebration or call (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2025
Contact: Dana Whipkey
grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Awards Over $600,000 to Local Artists, Arts Organizations, and Schools with FY2026 Grants
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council announced the FY2026 grant recipients for the Community Arts Development (CAD), Individual Artist Merit and Creativity (IAM Creativity), and Artist-in-Education (AiE) programs, among others, on October 19, 2025, at the Howard County Center for the Arts.
Over 170 arts supporters were on hand at the Arts Council’s Annual Meeting and grants were awarded to 25 Howard County organizations, nine Howard County public schools, and 12 Baltimore City arts and cultural organizations in support of general operations, artist residencies, and special projects in the arts.
Grantees were congratulated by Howard County Arts Council Executive Director Coleen West, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, State Delegate Jessica Feldmark, County Councilmember Deb Jung, State Senator Clarence Lam, and State Delegate Natalie Ziegler.
Grants were presented in these categories to the following organizations:
Community Arts Development (Operating)
· Chamber Music Maryland – $44,000.00
· Columbia Center for Performing Arts – $60,000.00
· Columbia Festival of the Arts – $23,000.00
· Columbia Orchestra – $50,000.00
· Columbia Pro Cantare – $30,000.00
· Howard County Poetry and Literature Society – $18,000.00
· Kinetics Dance Theatre – $36,000.00
· Silhouette Stages – $9,000.00
Community Arts Development (Project)
· Columbia Bands – $6,000.00
· Columbia Vantage House- $2,752.00
· First Evangelical Lutheran Church – $6,000.00
· Glen Mar United Methodist Church – $6,000.00
· HopeWorks of Howard County – $6,000.00
· Howard County Chinese School – $6,000.00
· Howard County Concert Odyssey – $6000.00
· Howard County Summer Theatre – $5,980.00
· Inner Arbor Trust – $6,000.00
· Little Patuxent Review – $6,000.00
· ManneqART – $5,000.00
· Maryland Winds – $6,000.00
· Misako Ballet Company – $6,000.00
· Movement in Music Ensemble – $6,000.00
· ShowTime Singers – $5,500.00
· Sundays at Three – $6,000.00
· Winter Growth – 6,000.00
Jim Rouse Theatre Subsidy
· Columbia Orchestra – 5,500.00
· Columbia Pro Cantare – $3,660.00
· Howard County Chinese School – $1,740.00
· Kinetics Dance Theatre – $7,500.00
· Misako Ballet Company – $1,760.00
·
Artists-In-Education
· Burleigh Manor Middle School PTA – $2,500.00
· Clarksville Elementary School PTA – $2,024.00
· Dunloggin Middle School PTA – $2,500.00
· Elkridge Landing Middle School PTA – $1,500.00
· Glenwood Middle School PTA – $4,200.00
· Lime Kiln Middle School PTA – $2,100.00
· Patapsco Middle School PA – $2,250.00
· Running Brook Elementary School PTA – $2,500.00
· Talbott Springs Elementary School PTA – $2,936.00
Baltimore City Arts & Cultural Organizations
· American Visionary Arts Museum – $4,751.00
· Baltimore Center Stage – $20,497.00
· Baltimore Museum of Art – $24,013.00
· Baltimore Museum of Industry – $12,067.00
· Baltimore Symphony Orchestra – $23,963.00
· Maryland Center for History and Culture – $6,125.00
· Maryland Science Center – $19,212.00
· Maryland Zoological Society – $24,878.00
· National Aquarium – $13,469.00
· Port Discovery Children’s Museum – $14,000.00
· The Walters Art Museum – $18,517.00
Outreach Howard
· American Visionary Arts Museum – $2,040.00
· Baltimore Symphony Orchestra – $13,627.00
· Chesapeake Shakespeare Company – $13,597.00
· Maryland Science Center – $11,333.00
· Maryland Zoological Society – $6,627.000
IAM Creativity – Film/Video & New Media
· Kelli Williams – $5,000.00
· Christopher Heady – $2,000.00
· Willy Conley – $1,000.00
IAM Creativity – Music & Music Composition
· Evan Nicole Brown – $5,000.00
· Diana Cantrelle McKinney – $1,000.00
· Junghoon Park – $1,000.00
· Jason Wilson – $1,000.00
Each year, the Arts Council awards nearly $1 million in operating and special project grants to artists, local arts organizations, K-12 schools, key Baltimore City arts and cultural institutions, and others. As the primary funder for the arts in Howard County, the Arts Council is committed to investing grant funds wisely, broadening opportunities in the arts, and encouraging greater public participation in the arts. For more information and to all the Arts Council grant programs, please visit hocoarts.org/grants or call (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2025
Contact: Miles Warren
artcenterdirector@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Announces Two New Exhibits: Art Howard County 2025 and Sibling Revelry
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is pleased to announce two new exhibits opening October 10 and on view through November 15: Art Howard County 2025 and Sibling Revelry.
Art Howard County 2025 is a biennial, multi-media juried exhibit showcasing the impressive depth of artistic talent right here in our community. The exhibit features visual artists, 18 years of age or older, who live, work, or study in Howard County. This year’s juror is Liz Henzey, Director of the Columbia Association Art Center.
Art Howard County 2025 will feature the work of Trudy Babchak, Amy Bandel, Joyce Bell, Cori Bowen, Stephanie Boyer, Patricia Buck, Warren Chambers, Pamela Chase, Susan Concannon, Diane Dunn, Betty Foreman, Kerin Forsyth, Howard Garrett, Cheri Glover, Julie Gross, Mary Hahn-Jacob, Nancy Hannans, Beth Higgins, Hima Jain, Nishita Jain, Karen Jury, Brian Kennedy, David Knipfer, Edna Knox-Davin, Lisa Kozel Mangione, Judith Krauthamer, Taube Kravitz, Patricia Lang, Tammy Leffler, Cheryl MacLean, Kevina Maher, Susan Mason, Mary Jo Messenger, Amanda Milliner, Lynda Mitic, Katherine Nelson, Wendy Ng, Marcia Palmer, Helen Pappas, Zina Poliszuk, Linda Press, David Pumplin, Wiley Purkey, Constance Rankin, Michelle Reuster, April Rimpo, Rebecca Rothey, Lisa Scarbath, Chaya Schapiro, Cathy Schwarz, Susan Sonde, Jessica Taylor, Vickie Thurston, Andrei Trach, Jay Delnegro, Barbara VanRossum, Katherine Wah, JoAnn Weiss, Jonathan West, Karen Winston-Levin, Marcie Wolf-Hubbard, Allyssa Yamaguchi, and Rebecca Zeligman.
Sibling Revelry features work from Laura Douglas Howell and John Mark Howell, sibling artists who approach abstract painting in radically different ways.
Both exhibits will be on view from October 10 through November 15, 2025, with a free public reception on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 6-8pm. This reception will be the Arts Council’s final reception at the 8510 High Ridge Rd location!
Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, and Sunday 12-4pm. For the most up-to-date information on holiday and weather-related closures, or to learn more about HoCo Arts programs and exhibits, call (410) 313-2787 or visit hocoarts.org.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2025
Contact: Dana Whipkey
grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Seeks Submissions from Local Artists for Cultural Arts Directory
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is seeking submissions from local visual and performing artists who offer workshops, performances, and residencies for its 2026 Cultural Arts Directory.
The Cultural Arts Directory provides information about artists and arts organizations including programming overviews, pricing, and contact information to cultural arts presenters such as PTA representatives, Recreation and Parks Representatives, festivals, and libraries. Through the Cultural Arts Directory, organizations can identify visual, literary, and performing artists that fit their programming needs.
Interested artists and organizations can learn more and submit at hocoarts.org/showcase. Submissions are due October 21, 2025. Please direct any questions to Dana Whipkey at grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org or call the Arts Council at (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2025
Contact: Dana Whipkey
grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Additional Artists-in-Education Grant Funds Available for PTAs from Howard County Arts Council
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is accepting a second round of applications for the FY2026 Artists-in-Education (AiE) grant program. The AiE grant program provides funding for professional artists in residence at Howard County private and public K-12 schools to help students foster creative exploration through hands-on experiences in the arts.
Interested applicants should visit hocoarts.org/aie for guidelines, additional information, and to apply. Applications are due November 12, 2025. The AiE grant is open to all Howard County Public School System’s 501c3 K-12 schools and independent 501c3 schools where a PTA is not in place.
The Howard County Arts Council is dedicated to serving and enriching our community by advancing the arts. To carry out its mission, the Arts Council awards operating and project grants to eligible organizations. HoCo Arts is committed to helping promote, improve, and strengthen the structure of community arts organizations by providing operating funds for established arts organizations and by supporting the development of small and mid-sized arts organizations through project-specific funds.
The Arts Council’s grant program is supported through grants from the Howard County government and the Maryland State Arts Council as well as through its own foundation, corporate, and individual giving initiatives.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2025
Contact: Mary K. Baxter
development@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Eight Local Performing Artists Will Compete for Rising Star at the 28th Annual Celebration of the Arts
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Eight local performing artists will participate in the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition as part of the Howard County Arts Council’s 28th annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 6-10pm at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College.
The Rising Star Performing Arts Competition showcases performers aged 18-35 who live, work, train, or perform in Howard County. Following the performances, the audience will cast their votes for the winner of the $5,000 prize.
This year’s Rising Stars are:
Rachel Cahoon
Rachel Cahoon is a musical theatre performer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. She has previously performed with Next Stop Theatre, Gretna Theatre, Media Theatre, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and starred in multiple productions at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. She plans to continue pursuing her acting career at Toby’s and around the DMV.
Emily Tate Daniel
Emily Tate Daniel is an American soprano on the rise. This season, she performs opera scenes in Mosset, France; sings a concert of arias at The Hague Central Library; and portrays Nedda in Pagliacci with Greve Opera. Previous performances include the title role in Luisa Miller with Verismo Opera, Alice (cover) in Falstaff with Opera San José, Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte with Asheville Lyric Opera, and Micaëla (cover) in Carmen with Long Island Opera. A Maryland native, Emily is an alumna of the Peabody Conservatory, and she currently coaches her repertoire with Joy Schreier, a coach in Laurel, Maryland.
Danielle Delgado
Danielle Delgado’s passion for music began at a young age, singing alongside her mother who instilled in her a deep pride for her Latina heritage. Danielle believes in using music to celebrate culture and build community. She has performed in various vocal styles including musical theater, contemporary, and jazz, but is most passionate about sharing traditional Mexican music. She currently works in Howard County doing sales and marketing for The Little Gym of Columbia, where she previously served as Assistant Gym Director. Her dream is to one day form a full mariachi group to share her cultural pride with more audiences of all backgrounds.
Kelly Dornan
Kelly Dornan is a ballet dancer from Howard County, Maryland, receiving early training in Columbia and Ellicott City. While a student at Glenelg High School she attend the Washington School of Ballet’s Professional Training Program on scholarship studying with esteemed teachers Kee Juan Han, Kristina Windom, and Vladimir Djouloukhadze. As a student, she performed with The Washington Ballet in Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker and George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes. Kelly has danced with Colorado Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater, and Boulder Ballet; in new works by Andrea Schermoly, Caili Quan, and Sidra Bell; performed at Vail Dance Festival alongside principal dancers from American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet; and has recently begun dancing for Lexington Ballet in Kentucky.
Toby Ichniowski
Toby Ichniowski is a vocalist who completed their Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Towson University and is now working towards their Master of Music at Temple University. Originally from Baltimore, MD, Toby’s past operatic experience includes playing Adele in Die Fledermaus, Rose Maybud in Ruddigore, Fanny in La cambiale di matrimonio, and covering Le Prince in Cendrillon and Aline in The Sorcerer. They have also performed in scenes as Bess from Breaking the Waves and Frasquita from Carmen.
Robert Rocheteau
Robert Rocheteau is a contemporary classical musician with a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland. A percussionist, Robert is based in Columbia, Maryland, and known for diverse and engaging performances. He has started teaching percussion at Gettysburg College, teaching private students in Howard County, and building up a full-time performance calendar. Recent highlights include performances in Washington DC at the Fête de la Musique Festival at the French Embassy, the Sound Scene Festival at the Hirschorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and performances at the Kennedy Center.
Jaylin Smith
Jaylin Smith is an Honors Junior double majoring in Theatre and English at McDaniel College. Performing since age ten, Jaylin has trained at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and worked as a Musical Theatre Repertoire Coach. She received the Ben Vassiliev Memorial Scholarship, Celonia B. Walden Award for the Performing Arts, and the Outstanding Theatre Arts Student in Acting and Performance Awards upon graduating from Centennial High School in 2022. Her recent roles include Oscar Wilde in Gross Indecency and Margot in Legally Blonde. With a deep passion for performance education, she hopes to one day found a performing arts center for underprivileged children.
Lynique Webster
Lynique Webster completed her Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. While at the University of Maryland she sang with the mixed vocal ensemble, Faux Paz. She’s recognized as a standout soloist in both live performances and recorded media and is featured on the ensemble’s release Lithium. Currently, Lynique is a choral music educator at Oakland Mills and Clarksville Middle Schools in Howard County while also serving as a worship leader at the Interdenominational Church of God. She is also a performer with Bachelor Boys Band and Sound Society band, and is a founding member in the six-person vocal band NOMADIC.
About the Celebration of the Arts
Begin the best night of the year with a reception where 15 to 20 local culinary sponsors will showcase their finest foods. Pile your plate high and enjoy the Art Auction featuring work by local and regional artists. Then, at 8pm, guests take their seats for the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition and the presentation of the Howie Awards. Eight talented, local finalists will vie for the audience vote for the $5,000 Rising Star award! In between dazzling performances, the 2025 Howie Awards will be presented to an Outstanding Artist, Arts Educator, and Community Supporter of the Arts in recognition of their contributions to the arts community in Howard County.
Tickets are on sale now and available for $50 and $100. For more information about the Celebration of the Arts and the Howard County Arts Council, please visit hocoarts.org/celebration or call (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2025
Contact: Dana Whipkey
grantsandprojects@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Accepting Applications from Individual Artists for IAM Creativity Grant
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is now accepting applications for the Individual Artist Merit and Creativity (IAM Creativity) Award in the disciplines of Theatre and Literary Arts. IAM Creativity supports artists, 18 years of age and older, living in Howard County by providing unrestricted funds to support the creative work of Howard County artists and recognize excellence in a broad spectrum of artistic practices, backgrounds, and disciplines.
A maximum of four awards, including one $5,000 and three $1,000 awards, will be awarded in each discipline. The deadline to apply for Theatre and Literary Arts is 11:59pm EST on December 17, 2025. For further information, guidelines, and to apply, please visit hocoarts.org/iam-creativity.
Applications will open for Folk & Traditional Arts in 2027. Funds were awarded in Dance and Visual Arts in 2024 and Music and Film, New Media, and Video in 2025.
Please direct any questions about this program or the application to Michelle Grazio, IAM Creativity Grant Administrator, at [iamcreativity@hocoarts.org]iamcreativity@hocoarts.org or call the Arts Council at (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2025
Contact: Miles Warren
artcenterdirector@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council General Exhibit Applications Due October 1
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Artists wishing to be considered for an exhibit in 2027-2028 in the Howard County Arts Council (HoCo Arts) galleries are invited to submit a general exhibit application. The HoCo Arts Exhibits Committee meets quarterly to review applications and select artists for the exhibit space. Artists, ages 18 and older, working in all media and styles including time-based and installation artists, are encouraged to apply either individually or as a group. Individual artists selected for a show will be paired or grouped with other artists as determined by the committee. The Committee also welcomes proposals from curators and organizations.
For detailed entry guidelines, visit https://hocoarts.submittable.com/submit/or email exhibits@hocoarts.org. The next deadline for submissions is October 1, 2025.
The Howard County Arts Council is moving to the former circuit courthouse in Historic Ellicott City this fall. The Arts Council’s new home will feature brand new galleries with over 1930 square feet of exhibit space. The HoCo Arts gallery program was established to enhance the public’s appreciation of the visual arts, provide a venue to exhibit the work of local, regional, and national artists in a professional space, and provide leadership in the arts by presenting a broad spectrum of arts in all media from both emerging and established artists.
HoCo Arts presents 11-12 exhibits per year of national, regional, and local artists, including two-person, small and large group, juried, curated, and community shows.
Current gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, and Sunday 12-4pm. For the most up-to-date information on holiday and weather-related closures, or to learn more about HoCo Arts programs and exhibits, call (410) 313-2787 or visit hocoarts.org.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2025
Contact: Miles Warren
artcenterdirector@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Sculptures and Sites Selected for ARTsites 2025
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is pleased to announce the 12 sites and sculptures selected for ARTsites 2025. ARTsites is an annual, year-long public art exhibit that takes place throughout Howard County. Placing public art throughout Howard County engages the community and enhances public spaces. The sculptures also create visual anchor points and increase accessibility to the arts.
The selected works and sites for ARTsites 2025 are:
· C-Birds by Bobby Donovan, on view at COPT Defense Properties
· Moon Beacon by Bobby Donovan, on view at Savage Mill
· Creatures of the Sky Arch IV by Jim Gallucci, on view at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods
· Earth Song by Cathrin Hoskinson, on view at Howard Community College
· Light Cone by Hanna Jubran, on view at the Glenwood Branch of the Howard County Public Library System
· Sunburst by Hanna Jubran, on view at the Robinson Nature Center
· Twister by Ray Katz, on view at the Columbia Association, Slayton House
· Skyway by Richard Pitts, on view at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
· Twirling by Richard Pitts, on view at the George Howard Building
· Terrestrial Horizon by Chris Plaisted, on view at Lake Elkhorn Park
· Dragonfly by Kirk Seese, on view at the Howard County Public School System Administration Building
· Core Revisited by Adam Walls, on view at the North Laurel Community Center
ARTsites 2025 will be installed throughout August and will remain in place until July 2026. For a free brochure, visit hocoarts.org or email info@hocoarts.org. For more information, visit hocoarts.org/artsites or call (410) 313-2787.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2025
Contact: Mary K. Baxter
development@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Call for Volunteers for the Howard County Arts Council’s 28th annual Celebration of the Arts!
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is seeking volunteers to assist at the 28th annual Celebration of the Arts gala on October 24 and 25, 2025, at the Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD. Volunteers will help with set-up, breakdown, hospitality, the bar, and so much more. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved, support one of Howard County’s premier arts events, and have fun while doing it!
Volunteer shifts are:
- SET UP – Friday, October 24, 2025, from 4-7pm
- SET UP – Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 11am-2:30pm
- SET UP – Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 2-5:30pm
- EVENT – Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 5-11pm
- USHERS – Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 6:45pm-11pm
The Celebration of the Arts is the Arts Council’s signature event and a major source of annual corporate support. In its 27 years, the event has netted more than $1.9 million. The evening begins with a reception from 6-8pm featuring food from 15-20 local culinary sponsors, live entertainment, and a local and regional Art Auction. At 8pm, guests take their seats for the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition and the presentation of the 2025 Howie Awards in recognition of those who support the arts in Howard County.
Interested volunteers should visit hocoarts.org/celebration-volunteer for more information and to fill out the Volunteer Form. Please direct any questions to Deputy Director Mary K. Baxter at development@hocoarts.org or (410) 313-2787.