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The HoCo Gallery Program

HoCo Arts manages two galleries with over 2,100 square feet of exhibit space. Our 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.

We present 10-12 exhibits per year of national, regional, and local artists, including two-person, small and large group, juried, curated, and community shows. We rarely present solo exhibits.

Youth Art Month 2024 exhibit reception (HoCo Arts photo)
Visitors stand and socialize inside the gallery as they view the hung collections of artwork.

How It Works

Eligibility

Proposal Requirements

Review of Works & Selection of Artists

Gallery Information

Gallery Hours

Terms of Exhibition

Promotion

General Exhibition Policy

Exhibit Opportunities

Want your artwork considered for future exhibits in our galleries? Submit a General Exhibit proposal or apply to one of our signature exhibits today.

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Set up your easel and paint the town!

Paint It! Ellicott City is an annual event that brings artists and spectators interested in the plein air tradition to Historic Ellicott City. Both juried and Open Paint artists set up their easels around the historic district, enjoying a summer weekend as they capture the picturesque mill town and all its charms.

Paint It! culminates in an exhibit of juried artists’ work in our gallery, which features an opening reception and juror’s award presentation. Artists and visitors may view and purchase the finished pieces during the reception. Work created by Open Paint artists will be on view at the Howard County Welcome Center on Main Street.

An artist participates in Paint It! Ellicott City 2024 (photo by Ray Urena)
Man stands in nature under an umbrella, with an easel, painting the scene near the edge of rocky water.

Paint It! Ellicott City Schedule

  • Wednesday: Kick-off ceremony, 5-5:30pm via Zoom
  • Thursday – Sunday (all day): Paint-out in Historic Ellicott City
  • Monday, 6 – 8pm: Juried artist exhibit reception and awards ceremony 
  • June – August: Paint It! Ellicott City exhibit of juried artists’ work on display in Gallery I at HoCo Arts
    • Open Paint exhibit at Howard County Welcome Center
    • Open Paint exhibit reception and award ceremony at Howard County Welcome Center

About the Paint It! Ellicott City 2025 Juror

Partners & Sponsors

Paint It! Ellicott City Special Awards

How to Participate as a Paint It! Ellicott City Artist

Call for Juried Artists

How It Works

Eligibility

How to Enter

Selection

Entry Fee

Sales

Awards

Liability

Agreement

Timeline

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A salon-style, non-juried exhibit showcasing Howard County artists

HoCo Open takes place annually, opening in December. Eligible artists are invited to submit one piece of ready-to-hang original artwork completed in the past two years for inclusion in the exhibit.  Entries will be accepted online beginning early November on a first-come basis, one entry per artist, until 100 submissions have been received. Accepted artists will be provided with instructions for scheduling a specific day and time to drop off their artwork at the Center for the Arts.

HoCo Open applications will open November 2025.

HoCo Open 2025 (HoCo Arts photo)
A gallery with various colorful paintings on the wall and a display case containing jewelry.

How It Works

Eligibility

How to Enter

Entries

Drop-Off

Sales

Awards

Presentation

Liability

Agreement

Timeline

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Helps us integrate art into the community and energize public spaces with innovative sculptures.

Join the competition! ARTsites takes artwork out of our galleries and places it in public spaces across Howard County. Each year we select 12 new sculptures, which are installed in August and remain in place until July of the following year.

Golden Oak Leaf Arch by Jim Galluci on display as part of ARTsites 2024 (HoCo Arts photo)
Gold metal leaf shaped objects assembled into a 3D arch structure, installed on grass to the left of a brown wooden building.

About ARTsites

Every year, HoCo Arts seeks up to 12 artists to participate in its annual juried public art competition for a temporary outdoor exhibit from August -July. Our goal is to make art more accessible to the entire community by placing sculptures at sites throughout Howard County. The sculpture will serve as major visual anchor points that will enhance and activate community spaces and generate interest in public art.

HoCo Arts will administer the selection process and provide an identification plaque for each work and promotional support for the exhibit. Our staff will serve as a liaison with site administrators. Sale of artwork will be encouraged; a 20% commission of work sold as a result of the exhibit will go to HCAC. Work must remain on view for the duration of the entire exhibit.

A premier showcase for regional artists.

Art Maryland, a multi-media statewide juried exhibit, is open to all artists 18 years or older, residing in Maryland or within a 100-mile radius of Ellicott City, Maryland.

The exhibit began in 1984 as Maryland’s Best, an annual show running through 1989 and open to all Maryland artists. In 1990, when the show became a biennial, its name was changed to Art Maryland. In 2000, it was expanded to include Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania in addition to Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC Art Maryland is one of the longest-running juried exhibits of Maryland artists in the state.

Art Maryland is on view every other year October-November with entries accepted June-July.

Art Maryland Entries open July 2026.

Juror Dr. Kevin Tervala, 2nd place award winner Mark West, and HoCo Arts Executive Director Coleen West at the 2024 Art Maryland reception (HoCo Arts photo)
Two men, one holding a certificate, and one woman, stands together in front of a painting on a art gallery wall.

About the Art Maryland 2024 Juror

How It Works

Eligibility

How to Enter

Entry Fee

Awards

Sales

Presentation

Liability

Agreement

Timeline

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Shining a spotlight on Howard County artists!

Art Howard County is a biennial, multi-media juried exhibit showcasing the impressive depth of artistic talent right here in our community. Visual artists, 18 years of age or older, who live, work, or study in Howard County, Maryland are eligible to apply. 

Art Howard County is on view every other year, October–November, with entries accepted in July.

Patrons attend the 2023 Art Howard County exhibit (HoCo Arts photo)
Visitors socialize inside the gallery as they view the artwork.

About the Howard County 2023 Juror

How It Works

Eligibility

How to Enter

Entry Fee

Awards

Sales

Presentation

Liability

Agreement

Timeline

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