Howard County Receives Completed Arts Study
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman has released a consultant’s report assessing needs for arts facilities in Howard County. This study will be helpful with future planning, both for Downtown Columbia and the Long Reach Village Center.
The study, conducted by Webb Management Services, was commissioned last fall and points out that Howard County is a strong arts market, but needs improved and expanded facilities for both performance and classroom/studio space.
The study calls for small and mid-sized performance facilities, including one theater with 250 seats and another with 500 to 750 seats located in Downtown Columbia. It also cites strong demand for classroom and studio space in Long Reach.
The consultants, who conducted extensive interviews with artists, performers, audiences and consumers, have developed a list of locations where art facilities could be opened in a redeveloped Long Reach Village Center or in Downtown Columbia.
“Our focus moving forward will be to hold discussions with residents and the art communities to do our best to ensure we meet everyone’s needs,” said Kittleman, whose fiscal 2016 proposed operating budget includes $1.4 million for the Inner Arbor, an arts park in Downtown Columbia. This funding, earmarked to build the “Chrysalis” outdoor amphitheater, will ensure completion of Phase I of the park in spring 2016.
To review the report, go to the “What’s New!” section at www.howardcountymd.gov/dpz.
Open Paint-Out Artists Wanted
Be a part of the Paint It! Ellicott City Open Paint-Out. Set up an easel and enjoy a July weekend in Historic Ellicott City painting alongside Howard County Arts Council’s juried artists.
The Paint-Out will be held July 10–12, with an Exhibit Reception at the Howard County Center for the Arts on July 13, from 6–8 p.m. For a small registration fee, artists can participate in the community exhibition and display their work during the reception and later at the Howard County Welcome Center.
For more details, call 410-313-ARTS (2787).
Resident Visual Artists Exhibit at HCCA
The Howard County Arts Council’s annual Resident Visual Artists Exhibit showcases recent work in a variety of media by artists with studios at the Howard County Center for the Arts (HCCA). This exhibit is located in Gallery I of the HCCA.
“Shimmer,” in Gallery II, features cast glass and iron sculptures by Steven Durow and paintings and mixed-media installations by Jeff Hensley.
A free reception on June 18 in conjunction with Columbia Festival of the Arts includes entertainment by All County Improv at 6:30 p.m. and Resident Artists’ Open Studios from 7–8 p.m.
ARTreach Community Arts Festival Set for June 20
A free, outdoor community arts festival will be held at the Long Reach Village Center on June 20, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the creation of a community mosaic mural and community totems. Featured will be drop-in artist demonstrations and hands-on arts activities for kids and families, plus music on two stages, outdoor art installations, a photo booth, stilt walkers, magicians, face painters and more.
To learn more or to get involved, visit www.artreachhoco.org, e-mail [email protected], like ARTreach on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ARTreachHoCo or follow it on Twitter: @ARTreachHoCo.
ARTreach is a partnership between Celebration Church, Columbia Association, Columbia Association Art Center, Columbia Festival of the Arts, Howard County, Howard County Arts Council and the Long Reach Community Association.
Artists’ Gallery Offers the ‘Shades Of Summer’ for June All-Member Show
After a long winter, the members of Artists’ Gallery present a show that features the warm, lush and sensual “Shades of Summer” for its June 2015 exhibition.
Artists’ Gallery, in the American City Building in downtown Columbia, offers this show as part of its long-standing partnership with the Columbia Festival of the Arts celebration in June. The show will run from June 1–26, with an opening reception on Friday, June 13, from 6–8 p.m. to coincide with the opening night of LakeFest.
The gallery will have special LakeFest hours on Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. All events take place at Artists’ Gallery, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia.
For more information, call 410-740-8249 during gallery hours or visit www.artistsgallerycolumbia.com.
Belmont Manor Hosts Open House, Movies
Belmont Manor & Historic Park, in Elkridge, is hosting a free open house on June 7 and July 19, from 1–5 p.m.
Located within a 68-acre natural setting are the stucco-covered manor house and its gardens, historic outbuildings, cemetery, aqua garden, carriage house and original barn. Visitors may walk through the manor house or stroll through the grounds, where they can play croquet, horseshoes, badminton or other outside games, and may bring a picnic.
The Howard County Conservancy, which operates a nature center in the carriage house, will be open to visitors, showcasing its environmental education programs, hikes, camps and public events.
Additionally, this summer, Belmont will host a new outdoor movie series. Visitors may arrive early to look around the gardens and the historic grounds before selecting a spot on the lawn for movie viewing. The large, blowup movie screen will be set up in the formal garden area behind the manor.
Visitors may bring their own picnic, blanket and lawn chairs. Popcorn and water will be available for a small fee. Maximum attendance is 300.
The movies to be shown are as follows. “Moonstruck” (PG) June 2, 8 p.m.; “Jaws” (PG) June 30, 8:30 p.m.; “How To Train Your Dragon 2” (G) July 14, 8:30 p.m.; “Rear Window” (PG) July 31, 8:30 p.m.; “The Avengers” (PG-13) Aug. 11, 8:30 p.m.
Inclement weather line: 410-313-4452 Information: 410-313-4700
HCAC’s Visual And Performing Arts Camps Offer Creative Summer Fun
Space is still available for visual and performing arts summer camps at the Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) in Ellicott City. Programs are open to the public, regardless of residency in Howard County, for students entering grades K–7. Campers must be a minimum of 5 years of age by Sept. 1, 2015, to be eligible.
Campers are grouped by age and may enroll for a full or half-day. Before-care beginning at 8 a.m. and after-care until 6 p.m. is also available.
HCAC employs experienced teachers who are each aided by one to three camp assistants. Classes are limited to 20 campers.
Summer camps begin June 22 and run in one-week sessions through Aug. 14. Registration is available online at www.hocoarts.org or by phone at 410-313-2787.
Mark Ryder Original Choreography Grant Applications Now Available
Applications for the 2016 Mark Ryder Original Choreography Grant Program are now available. This program was established at the bequest of Mark Ryder’s family, in honor of his life’s work, to recognize individual creative expression and to provide financial assistance to choreographers to create new original work.
The grant award recipients will be announced at HCAC’s Annual Meeting and Grant Awards Ceremony in September 2015. The minimum grant amount will be $500.
The application and guidelines for the Mark Ryder Original Choreography Grant Program are available to view and download at www.hocoarts.org. Hard copies are available for pick-up at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City. E-mail [email protected] or call 410-313-ARTS (2787) for more information. The deadline to submit applications is June 24, 2015.