HoCo Arts Executive Director Coleen West joined Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Jake Day, State Senator Guy Guzzone, and numerous stakeholders on April 8 for the groundbreaking of the new Performing Arts Center (PAC) and Artists Flats in Downtown Columbia.
The PAC will be built on the site of Toby’s Dinner Theatre, a 46-year cultural landmark in Columbia. It will feature a 340-seat dinner theater, two 200-seat black box theaters, a public art gallery, classrooms and dance studios. HoCo Arts will managea gallery and community black box theater as part of the project.
The PAC will complement existing Downtown venues such as the Merriweather Arts & Culture Center and the Chrysalis. Toby’s will also become part of the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA), continuing its legacy by offering performing arts education to local youth.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2025
Contact: Coleen West
coleen@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Share your thoughts regarding the future of arts and culture in Howard County!
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council and the arts and culture consulting firm Designing Local are working to develop an Arts & Culture Plan for Howard County and are now seeking community feedback to help shape plan recommendations. Community members are invited to take a survey about the county’s arts and culture, available at http://www.hocoarts.org/support/arts-culture-plan/, and to share the survey with their social networks.
Highlights:
- The team developing Howard County’s Arts & Culture Plan now seeks feedback from community members regarding their vision for art and culture.
- A survey is available at http://www.hocoarts.org/support/arts-culture-plan/
- Community members will be invited to join informal and facilitated conversations at various events.
- Arts and culture organizations will be able to seek small grants that allow them to promote the plan’s engagement opportunities.
Feedback will also be collected at multiple events to which Howard County residents will be invited over the coming months (TBD). Designing Local’s nationally recognized engagement coordinator will lead a series of interviews with key stakeholders whose responses will inform themes for broader, facilitated community conversations. The planning team will also attend popular community events to speak with as many members of the public as possible.
Small grants for arts and culture organizations to connect community members to the Arts & Culture Plan’s planning process will be available; more information on this opportunity is forthcoming.
Coleen West, Executive Director of the Howard County Arts Council said, “Arts and culture are essential to the history, vibrancy, and cohesion of Howard County. They inspire us and bring people together to uplift our communities, improve our well-being, and enhance our social ties. The county has grown and changed dramatically since the last comprehensive arts and cultural plan was adopted. It is time to develop a new plan that can address these changes and set a framework for advancing arts and culture and strengthening Howard County’s position as a hub for innovation and creativity in the region. I look forward to working with as many people as possible to develop new goals, strategies and policy recommendations that align with the aspirations and insights of our diverse communities and chart a course for a sustainable and inclusive arts and culture eco-system where creativity can flourish, and everyone can participate.”
To help the Arts Council chart a course for arts and culture in Howard County fill out the survey and share the survey with your friends and neighbors on social media using the following information:
Social post
Share your thoughts about arts and culture in Howard County!
https://www.hocoarts.org/support/arts-culture-plan/
Hashtag
#HoCoArtsPlan
About Howard County Arts Council (HoCo Arts)
The Howard County Arts Council was created in 1981 to enrich and uplift our communities by advancing the arts, artists, and arts organizations for the benefit of all. We are devoted to nurturing local artists and arts organizations, furthering the public’s appreciation of the arts, and ensuring that the arts are accessible — regardless of age, ability or economic status. Our vision is a diverse and vibrant community where the arts are central to our lives. https://www.hocoarts.org/
About Designing Local
Designing Local is a certified woman-owned business, founded in 2014, that helps communities create beautiful, functional places that engage and inspire. Our firm was born of the belief that design, art, culture, history, and narrative are too often overlooked in planning processes; we are now nationally recognized for successfully weaving these elements into dozens of plans and designs. https://www.designinglocal.com/ Jasmine Metcalf jasmine@designinglocal.com
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2025
Contact: Miles Warren
artcenterdirector@hocoarts.org
(410) 313-2787
Howard County Arts Council Announces Two New Exhibits: Resident Visual Artist Exhibit 2025 and The Light Ekphrastic: Creative Spark
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Arts Council is pleased to announce two new exhibits opening April 11 and on view through May 25, 2025: Resident Visual Artist Exhibit 2025 and The Light Ekphrastic: Creative Spark.
Resident Visual Artist Exhibit 2025 is the Arts Council’s annual showcase of recent work by artists with studios at the Center for the Arts.
The Light Ekphrastic is a non-profit quarterly online journal dedicated to the creation of new written and visual artworks through collaboration between artists. Curated by founder and editor Jenny O’Grady and Melissa Penley Cormier, this exhibit celebrates the completion of over 50 issues of The Light Ekphrastic and features works by artists who have contributed over the years.
Both exhibits will be on view from April 11 through May 25, 2025, with a free public reception on Friday, April 25, 2025, from 6-8pm featuring live music, refreshments, and open artist studios. 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 HCAC programs and exhibits, call (410) 313-2787 or visit hocoarts.org.
Rybee House 4 is the fourth installment in the ‘Rybee House’ series of roofed sculptural bench designs, blending whimsy, fantasy, and stylized archetypal imagery of shelter and nature. The roof symbolizes a sense of home, while the bench, adorned with a raised relief leaf graphic, offers a resting place in nature. The houses and doorways evoke themes of transition and change—paths of entry and emergence.
ARTsites 2024 will be on display through July 2025 at various locations throughout Howard County. Sculptures and sites are listed here.
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced several impactful investments for the Elkridge community in his Fiscal Year 2026 Capital budget.
The proposal includes $25 million for the new Elkridge Community and 50+ Center, a 67,000-square-foot facility with a gym and spaces for older adults. Transportation upgrades include safer sidewalks along Montgomery Road and the HoCo RapidRide service connecting residents to Route One. The budget also allocates $120,000 for restoring the Brumbaugh House and creating an Elkridge History Museum.
In addition, the proposed budget includes $500,000 for Arts For All, funding permanent public art installations at the Elkridge Community Center featuring a new, iconic public art installation through the Arts For All program in partnership with the Howard County Arts Council. The nationally recognized public art firm, MIG, has been commissioned to help procure the public artwork for the Elkridge Community Center.
“Today, with County Executive Ball’s announcement of $500,000 for Arts For All in Elkridge, we are not only making a strong commitment to integrating art into public spaces – we are taking a significant step forward in making the arts accessible to all,” said Coleen West, Executive Director of the Howard County Arts Council. “With this investment, we will be commissioning one or more permanent sculptures at the Elkridge Community Center that will leave a lasting legacy.”
“Public art has the power to transform spaces, foster community pride, and create lasting cultural connections. With the launch of the Arts For All program and the selection of Elkridge Community Center as a public art site, we are ensuring that creativity is woven into the fabric of everyday life in Howard County,” said Ann Berchtold, Director of Public Art and Placemaking, MIG.
“As the Public Art Consultant for this procurement, my role is to guide a process that is inclusive, transparent, and reflective of the community’s vision. This initiative is about more than just installing art—it’s about engaging residents, amplifying local voices, and making art accessible to all. We are excited to collaborate with the community to bring this vision to life and create a piece that truly reflects the spirit of Elkridge.”
“These investments will help build a connected, creative, and sustainable community for Elkridge,” said Ball.
You can view photos of the announcement on the County’s Flickr webpage and video on the County’s YouTube webpage.
On Wednesday, March 18th, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball revealed the new official flag of Howard County, selected through a year-long, community-driven design process. The winning design, created by local resident Esen Paradiso of Ellicott City, was chosen from among three finalists.
The flag features a blend of gold, white, green, and blue, symbolizing the county’s rich agricultural history, cultural diversity, and vibrant future. The arch design reflects both Howard County’s historical past, represented by the Thomas Viaduct, and its dynamic future, symbolized by the Chrysalis. The golden circle signifies the energy and optimism of a diverse community, while the colors evoke the county’s natural resources and commitment to environmental preservation.
“This stunning design embodies the energy, diversity, and growth of our county,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “I’m proud to select it as a symbol of Howard County’s bright future.”
Ms. Paradiso, the owner of Columbia Creative Services and a nearly 50-year resident of Howard County, received a $1,500 honorarium for her design. The other top designers recognized include Patricia Elia, Grace Yang, Kim Clarke, and Jennifer Murphy, among others.
The selection process included public input, with over 1,200 votes cast. A final decision will be made pending approval by the Howard County Council.
All images courtesy of Howard County Government.
We are pleased to welcome Jonah Brock as the Exhibits & Programs Assistant. Originally from Illinois, Jonah earned a B.A. in Visual Art and Art History from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. His work has been showcased at the Museum of Art Fort Collins in Fort Collins, CO, GOCA (Galleries of Contemporary Art) in Colorado Springs, CO, and Night Owl Gallery in Baltimore. Now based in Baltimore, he continues to develop his artistic practice while also contributing to the arts community through curation and exhibition preparation. Welcome Jonah!
FY26 Grants Available & Information Session Dates for Community Arts Development and Artists-in-Education Grant Programs
- Community Arts Development (CAD) Grant Deadline: May 8
- Info Session: April 14 at 7pm
- Artists-in-Education (AiE) Grant Deadline: June 5
- Info Session: April 7 at 7pm
HoCo Arts awards nearly $1m annually in grants to local arts organizations, nonprofits, PTAs, and artists. Join an Info Session for application tips and to ask questions for the CAD or AiE grant programs – register today!
Infinity, installed at the Howard County Medical Center, has the feeling of internal interaction as it folds and rotates within its cosmic sphere of development. The shades of aluminum integrate and emphasize the structural organization of the elements in the composition.
ARTsites 2024 will be on display through July 2025 at various locations throughout Howard County. Sculptures and sites are listed on hocoarts.org.
Maryland has stood as a beacon of arts and cultural support for decades. It is recognized nationally for its robust investment in the arts, consistently coming in the top five in the country. This distinction is not accidental but deeply rooted in the Arts Stabilization Act of 1994. This legislation has ensured that the Maryland State Arts Council’s (MSAC) funding grows in tandem with the state’s General Fund, creating a stable foundation upon which the arts sector has flourished. The potential removal of this act threatens to undermine this legacy, impacting not only arts organizations but the fabric of our communities across Maryland. Any cuts in MSAC’s funding would disproportionately impact smaller organizations, those in rural areas, and those who serve underserved populations, ultimately leading to a less diverse and accessible arts landscape.
For more information about how important the Arts Stabilization Act is, see the Maryland Citizen’s op-ed piece here.
And join the Howard County Arts Council at Maryland Arts Day hosted by Maryland Citizens for the Arts in Annapolis on February 13 to advocate for arts funding by registering here.