Survey Link
Over 500 community members have shared their voice to shape the Howard County Arts & Culture Plan! Have you?
Howard County Arts & Culture Plan
We are working to develop a collective vision for the role of arts and culture through active engagement with the Howard County community, to define a community-driven strategy for arts and culture in the county, and to identify strategic priorities and action steps to achieve them. Over 500 people have shared their voice to shape the plan, have you?Â
Community Conversations are posted below! Scroll down to learn more and register.
Council Member Deb Jung, Executive Director Coleen West, Delegate Terri Hill with event attendees at The Chrysalis’ Holi Celebration 2025 (HoCo Arts photo)
Defining a Vision
The Howard County Arts and Culture Plan aims to inventory existing arts and cultural assets in the county, identify strategies to grow and engage creative resources, guide future investments in the sector, and address the changing needs of the diverse local arts and cultural communities. The plan seeks to ensure the sustainability of the creative sector and promote economic and community development through the arts and to create a collective vision for the role that arts and culture will play in Howard County by leveraging the existing foundation built by local organizations and creators and conveyed through the Howard County Arts Roadmap.
HoCo Arts’ Core Values will guide the comprehensive planning process.
Ways to Engage
During the planning process, there will be several ways to engage with the planning team and share your vision for Arts & Culture in Howard County. Explore below to attend an upcoming event or virtual session and be sure to take the survey!
Prosperity & The Arts
Tourism, Creative Industries, and Vitality. Join us October 15. This session is for Howard County’s creative industries and business community to explore how arts and culture drive economic growth, attract visitors, and sustain vibrant communities. Registration required.
Community Conversations: Arts
These virtual sessions are an opportunity for community members, artists, organizers, and supporters to share insights, challenges and big ideas for the future of theatre, visual artists, music, dance, literary arts, and community gatherings. Registration required.
Community Conversations: Affinity Groups
These sessions have been designed with hosts from our community to create a culturally specific space for honest dialogue. Registration Required.
State of the HoCo Creative Community
Join us on October 8 at Merriweather Post Pavilion to share your vision for the next ten years of Arts & Culture in Howard County! Registration required.
Mini-Grants
HoCo is offering small grants to support organizations promoting the plan to their networks. Applications due September 29th! Apply now!
Mapping Tool
Where do you want to experience arts and culture in Howard County? Use the mapping tool below to comment and share your vision for the future of arts and culture!
Plan Timeline
Phase 1: November 2024 – April 2025 | Preliminary Research & Analysis
Phase 2: May 2025 – March 2026 | Arts & Culture Community Engagement
Phase 3: December 2025 – July 2026 | Arts & Culture Plan Development
Final Plan: August – September 2026 | Final HoCo Arts & Culture Plan Presentation & Adoption
Commitment to Equity
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.
Steering Committee
The Arts & Culture Master Plan is being lead by Designing Local, an award-winning, nationally recognized firm that has helped more than 50 US communities create vibrant, engaging, and authentic places and guided by a 31-member steering committee.
Steering Committee Members
HoCo Arts & Culture Plan
