Grants and Scholarships

The Howard County Arts Council is authorized by Howard County Government and the Maryland State Arts Council to administer public funds designated for the arts. As the official grant-giving agency for the arts in the county, we administer several grant programs and award more than $300,000 annually to local arts organizations, PTAs, key regional arts and cultural institutions, college-bound high school seniors, and others. Through these grant programs, the Arts Council helps ensure stability and growth in the arts community.

Current grant programs are listed below with links to the most current applications and guidelines.  Artists-in-Education, Baltimore City Arts and Cultural Organizations, Community Arts Development, Jim Rouse Theatre Subsidy, and Mark Ryder Original Choreography applications for the next fiscal year become available February 1, 2009.  

FY09 AiE Final Report

FY09 BCAC Final Report

FY09  CAD Final Report    

Artists-in-Education Grant Program, a partnership between the Arts Council and local PTAs, places professional artists in residence at private and public K-12 schools to help students foster creative exploration.

FY10 AIE Grant Program Application and Guidelines

FY09 Artists-in-Education Grantees: Atholton Elementary School PTA, 'green' mural residency with Nancy Scheinman, Bollman Bridge Elementary School PTA, book making residency with William J. Sachs, Dunloggin Middle School PTA, history resiency with Mary Ann Jung,  Folly Quarter Middle School PTA, poetry residency with Gayle Danley, Guilford Elementary School PTA , book making residency with Karen O'Brown, Harper's Choice Middle School PTA, Shakespeare residency with Maryland Shakespeare Festival,  Hollifield Station Elementary School PTA, mixed media residency with Bradford Sweet, Laurel Woods Elementary School PTA, storytelling residency with Dovie Thomason, Longfellow Elementary School PTA, Chinese Opera residency with Washington Chu San Chinese Opera, Manor Woods Elementary School PTA, illustrating residency with Steven Kellogg, Rockburn Elementary School PTA, mixed media residency with Karen O'Brown, Running Brook Elementary School, literature residency with The Shadow Puppet Workshop, Stevens Forest Elementary School PTA, an American folk culture residency with Slim Harrison and Waterloo Elementary School PTA, mixed media residency with Donna Darcy.

The Community Arts Development Grant Program funds day-to-day activities for county arts organizations, as well as arts-related projects for new arts organizations or non-arts groups.

FY10 CAD Grant Program Application and Guidelines

FY09 Community Arts Development Grantees: Candlelight Concert Society, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts,  Columbia Concert Band & Jazz Band, Columbia Festival of the Arts, Columbia Orchestra, Columbia Pro Cantare Ltd., Howard County Ballet, Howard County Poetry & Literature Society, Hua Sha Chinese Dance Center, Kinetics Dance Theatre, Misako Ballet Company, Orchestra of St. John's, Rep Stage/HCC Educational Fund, Showtime Singers,  Sundays at Three & The Columbia Orchestra.

The Technical Assistance Grant Program provides leadership, education and training to assist with arts management and arts administration functions. Applicant organization must be a current FY2010 Community Arts Development Grantee with an operating budget not exceeding $300,000.

FY10 Technical Assistance Grant Program Application and Guidelines

The Jim Rouse Theatre Subsidy Program assists community arts groups by partially underwriting theatre rental fees at The Jim Rouse Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Jim Rouse Subsidy Program Application and Guidelines

FY09 Jim Rouse Theatre Subsidy Grantees: The Columbia Orchestra, Columbia Pro Cantare,  Howard County Poetry & Literature Society, and Kinetics Dance Theatre. 

The Baltimore City Arts & Cultural Grant Program provides funding to key Baltimore City organizations that serve the citizens of Howard County. At this time, only previous recipients of HCAC’s Baltimore City Arts & Cultural Grant Program are eligible to apply to this program.

FY10 BCAC Grant Program Application and Guidelines      

FY09 Baltimore City Arts & Cultural Grantees: Baltimore Museum of Art,  Baltimore Museum of Industry, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Center Stage Associates, Inc., Maryland Historical Society, Maryland Science Center, Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, National Aquarium in Baltimore, and The Walters Art Museum.

The Mark Ryder Original Choreography Grant Program recognizes individual creative expression and provides financial assistance to choreographers to create new original work.

FY10 MROC Grant Program Application and Guidelines

FY09 MROC Grantee: Scott Rink

Arts Scholarships provides funding to college-bound seniors committed to pursuing a career in the arts.  Applications for the next academic year become available in November.

Art Scholarships Application and Guidelines


Rising Star Emerging Performing Artist Award recognizes individual creative expression and provides financial assistance for emerging performers to further their career. 

RSEPAA Application and Guidelines