Starting Oct. 1: make a Heritage Award nomination honoring long-term achievement in the traditional arts

MSAC will begin accepting nominations for 2023 Maryland Heritage Awards on Wednesday, October 1. We invite you to nominate individuals, places, and traditions that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in traditional arts and culture. Awards are $10,000 each. Nominations are due Tuesday, November 15, at 5 p.m. Begin a nomination using MSAC’s application system, SmartSimple.

Maryland Traditions, the traditional arts program of MSAC, has given Heritage Awards annually since 2007. Awards are given based on a nominee’s sustained commitment to a particular traditional practice, current importance to communities in which that traditional practice is important, and past contributions to that traditional practice. Each year, winners are chosen in the categories of Person or People, Place, and Tradition. Click here to see a past list of winners and read the Heritage Awards guidelines and evaluation criteria.

Those interested in making a 2023 nomination can attend the free webinar “Heritage Award Information Session,” hosted Thursday, September 29, from 1-2 p.m. The session will cover nomination strategies and address any questions shared by participants. Click here to register.  

For questions, contact Folklife Specialist Ryan Koons at [email protected] or Senior Program Director Chad Buterbaugh at [email protected].

The Maryland State Arts Council is committed to making sure all Marylanders can access its programs and services. For grant application assistance, please contact the appropriate Program Director. Guests with further accessibility questions or who require accommodations may fill out the Accommodations Request Form or contact the MSAC Office Secretary at [email protected]. If you have questions about the SmartSimple application system, please contact Grants Management Associate Tammy Oppel at [email protected].