The document summarizes the state of the arts and humanities in Montgomery County, Maryland. It discusses how the arts enhance quality of life, drive the local economy, and convene communities. Montgomery County has many performing arts venues, galleries, theaters, and historical sites that attract tourists and make the county an attractive place to live and work. The arts and humanities sector has grown the county's employment and is an important part of its growing economy. The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County provides funding to support local artists and organizations and is developing a new strategic plan to further promote the arts.

1. STATE OF THE
ARTS & HUMANITIES
IN MONTGOMERY
COUNTY
APRIL 2, 2014
the arts & humanities council of montgomery

2. Enhance Quality of Life
Drive the Economy
Convene Communities
In Montgomery County arts, heritage and culture

3. Quality of Life
“Montgomery County is one of the Top 50 Best Places To Live”, CNN
Money 2013
"Artists and art making in Maryland fuel our creative economy and
expand opportunities for cultural engagement across the state,"
Dominick Murray, Secretary, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
World-class performing centers and culturally-diverse
neighborhoods make MC Maryland’s SMART Business Location
says MCDED
Tourists rank attendance at cultural events and venues in the top 10
reasons to visit MC

4. Driving Our Economy

5. Montgomery County Economic
Trends
Economy is growing
By 2017, the County’s employment base is
projected to grow 5.9 percent
The arts and humanities are an important part
of that growth

6. Convening Communities
58 performing venues
60 galleries
22 theatres
50 historical venues
150 small, midsize and emerging arts
& humanities groups
27 book stores
33 dance studios
28 music stores
14 recording studios
9 art supply stores
32 music schools
1500 independent artists & scholars
And growing!

7. Montgomery County
Arts &Humanities Funding History
2002-2014

8. Our Extraordinary Demography
48% White
52% People of Color
Population Estimates:
2013 = 1,016,677
2012 = 1,004,476
Population percent
change, 4/1/10 to 7/1/13
=
4.6%

9. Seven Grant Categories
Advancement
Capital Improvement Project
General Operating Support
Mid Size Organization
Small Organization
Individual Artists and Scholars
Artists and Scholars in the Community
Matching Grants
Eight Grant Categories

10. FY15 Budget Recommendation
$5,483,700

11. Dynamic Thinking About the
Future
In forming its new Strategic
Plan AHCMC should…

12. As a grant maker
As an advocate
As a capacity building, fiscal
sustainability expert
To foster incubators and growth
with an emphasis on nascent
organizations
To integrate technology with
strategic plan
Think Strategically…

13. Think Strategically…
To identify "arts deserts"
To help align hubs of cultural
development with areas of
economic development
To encourage, enable and
convene collaborations between
organizations and individual artists
To support diversity and advance
equity with an awareness of
changing demographics

14. To focus on intergenerational
education
To encourage public/private
partnerships
To find & maintain rehearsal,
performance spaces
To develop more impactful support
for Individual Artists and Scholars
To mine data and measure/assess
against stated goals
To adopt an Adaptive Strategy
Think Strategically…

15. NEXT STEPS
Solicit community feedback through meetings
with grantees and other stakeholders
Integrate resonate themes into the new strategic
plan framework
Present framework to AHCMC Board for review
AHCMC Board to adopt in FY16
Next Steps

16. Questions?
Thank You!

17. Providing leadership that sustains arts and
humanities organizations, artists and scholars
and inspires participation in our County’s rich
cultural assets