Resident Arts Organization Program

• To provide arts organizations with a space in which they may pursue the production, presentation, or teaching of fine arts. The fine arts include traditional and emerging art forms within, but not limited to, the visual arts, performing arts, and literary arts.
• To support a diverse community of arts organizations working in a variety of fine arts media and disciplines.
• To provide the public with opportunities to meet working artists.

• Private with 24-hour access to workspace.
• Affordable monthly rental rate.
• Physical mailing address and mailbox at HCCA.
• Opportunity to become an active part of a vibrant community arts center.
• Ability to network and engage with an established community of artists.
• Residents receive a reduced rate and priority consideration for renting other spaces in the Center including the dance studio, black box theatre, conference room, and classrooms.

Nonprofit arts organizations that demonstrate a central commitment to the production or performance of fine arts are eligible to apply. In some offices, arts organizations may also teach in their space. 

To be considered for resident status, arts organizations must be incorporated and recognized by the IRS as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.                 

HoCo Arts Board of Directors, full-time staff, HoCo Arts Center Committee, and their immediate family are ineligible to apply.

Arts organizations are selected by a jury process. In general, arts organizations will be selected for available office space based on their artistic merit, discipline, and commitment, and contribution to the diversity of media, style, and discipline representation in the Center. 

In cases where all other elements of candidates’ qualifications are of equal value, Howard County organizations will be given priority.

Interested arts organizations should submit a Resident Arts Organization Interest Form to HoCo Arts. When a space is available, the HoCo Arts Center Committee reviews all submissions and selects an organization based on the above criteria. If no offices are available, applicants will be placed on a waiting list for future consideration.

To hold an office space at the Center, Resident Arts Organizations must, at a minimum, do the following:

• Maintain a $1,000,000 general liability insurance policy for their studio as well as coverage for the contents of their studio.
• Pay rent within five business days of the first of each month.
• Maintain an annual Nonprofit $50 membership with HoCo Arts.
• Maintain a safe working environment in their offices and submit proper MSDS forms for hazardous materials in their offices. Furthermore, they are expected to practice a “good neighbor” policy, using the least harmful materials possible and keeping in mind not only their own health and safety, but also that of the Center community. Residents may be required to install proper ventilation units or other safety features for the use of some mediums.
• Use their offices a minimum of eight hours per week (annual average). Those eight hours must be used for the production, presentation, or teaching of their art and not for other unrelated employment or activities.
• Be in attendance for up to four Arts Council-scheduled Open Studio special events per year when they must be present and open their studios for public viewing.
• Visual arts organizations must use 50% of their offices as exhibit space, which must be free and open to the public. Performing arts organizations are required to have at least one annual free public performance at HCCA.      
• Any changes to the office must be approved by the HoCo Arts Center Committee and residents must return the studio to its original condition when vacating.
• Be fully accessible if offering classes, exhibits, or other public programs.

Teaching is approved in Resident organization offices.

The following are policies on building access:

• Resident organizations will be given up to four side door keys that may be assigned to principal staff or members of the organization. Principal members are those with a long-term or permanent affiliation with the organization, not those hired on a contract or temporary basis.
• For resident organizations, 24-hour access is granted to key holding organization/company members only. 
• No pets are allowed on the premises.
• This is not a live/workspace.

The length of the initial lease will be one year or until the termination of the Center’s Master Lease, whichever expires first. 

Residents are reviewed for compliance with the terms of their lease before each lease renewal. Those residents who have met the requirements will have their lease renewed for two years. 

Residents who do not meet the required terms will be placed on probation and given a minimum three-month to a maximum of one-year conditional lease. 

If the conditional lease requirements are met, conditional leases will be extended with Center Committee approval. 

If the conditional leaseholders are not approved, they will be given one month to vacate the premises.