Survey Links
Take the survey today to share your voice and shape the Howard County Arts & Culture Plan!
Howard County Arts & Culture Plan
Our aim is to develop a collective vision for the role of arts and culture through active engagement with the Howard County community, define a community-driven strategy for arts and culture in the county, and identify strategic priorities and action steps to achieve them. Take the survey to share your voice and shape the plan!
Mini-Grants are now open! Scroll down to learn more!
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.
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.
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!
Mini-Grants
HoCo is offering small grants to support organizations promoting the plan to their networks! Click to learn more and apply!
Focus Groups
Stay tuned for opportunities to engage with the planning team in small focus groups.
Public Workshops
Public engagement is on the way in locations throughout Howard County. Stay tuned!
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!
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
