Annoucements

Maryland Arts Day 2011 Scheduled

February 1, 2011

On Wednesday, February 9, 2011, Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA) will host the 13th Maryland Arts Day in Annapolis. Over 400 arts advocates and leaders from across the state will converge on the state capital to meet with legislators to emphasize the importance of public support of the arts and the critical role the arts play in an economically and culturally vibrant Maryland.

The day-long session will begin with greetings and remarks from Maryland lawmakers including Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Speaker of the House Michael Busch and Department of Business and Economic Development Secretary Christian Johansson.

MCA will also present the “Sue Hess Maryland Arts Advocate of the Year Award” at Maryland Arts Day. The award is presented to an individual whose advocacy efforts have significantly increases support for and public recognition of the arts in Maryland. The 2011 recipient is E. Scott Johnson, attorney and immediate past chair of the Maryland State Arts Council. Johnson has served on or chaired boards of many Maryland Arts organizations including: Maryland Lawyers for the Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, City Lit Project, The Maryland Film Industry Coalition, Creative Alliance, Young Audiences of Maryland, and was appointed to the Maryland State Arts Council Board in 2004 by Governor Ehrlich and re-appointed in 2007 by Governor O’Malley. His leadership of these organizations has helped to raise the level of awareness and public support of the arts around the state. “Maryland Citizens for the Arts is a national model of what an effective arts advocacy organization should be. Receiving an award named for Sue Hess, a stellar arts advocate if ever there was one, is quite humbling and I’m very honored.” said Mr. Johnson.

The day’s keynote speaker is legendary political cartoonist and Maryland resident Kevin “Kal” Kallauger. Kevin Kallaugher is the international award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Economist magazine of London. He worked in England until 1988 when he was invited to join The Sun in Baltimore as its editorial cartoonist. In 2006 Kal left The Sun to become the Artist-in-Residence at UMBC and start his animation production company Kaltoons LLC.
Kal’s distinguished career includes 5 published collections of his work, one man exhibitions in six countries (including The Walters Art Museum), International honors and awards in seven. In 1999, The World Encyclopedia of Cartoons said of Kevin “Commanding a masterful style, Kallaugher stands among the premier caricaturists of the (twentieth) century.”

Several breakout sessions are scheduled in the afternoon, providing attendees with an opportunity to learn from other attendees. For example, Shuan Butcher, executive director of the Frederick Arts Council will co-present a session with Carol Trawick, president of the Trawick Foundation, entitled “Cool Collaborations and Mind Melds. This session will focus on how arts groups can fulfill their mission and maximize their resources during a touch economic climate through partnerships and other methods. For a full schedule of activities or to register for Maryland Arts Day, visit www.mdarts.org.