Local art organizations face budget cuts after Maryland approval

Maryland approved a 1% budget cut to local art organizations, for the fiscal year, with the cut of the Maryland State Arts Council, which gives grant money to many organizations across the state. Local groups and advocates alike are not pleased with the new changes.

The Art League of Ocean City Executive Director Rina Thaler said this funding is pivotal for the success of their programs. “Like the art league, the state funding is crucial for our operations, we need it to support so many populations, particularly the youth”

The art industry has faced many problems over the years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Executive Director of Maryland’s Citizens for the Arts Nicholas Cohen feels like organizations are being shafted.

“We’ve been weathering a storm since COVID-19, when you look at national data and national trends, the arts have been hit the hardest of any industry.”

Even still, Cohen remains hopeful things can still change in future state sessions.

“Our message is going forward the arts can’t weather any more cuts, we are resilient and it’s going to be a challenge for sure, but we are saying we’re in this together, and the arts love to support and uplift the entire state.”

Both Thaler and Cohen think the arts bring so much economic value to any city and encourage the state to change its decision. “It’s also economic development, and it’s part of tourism, and it’s part of what we want to bring people here on the eastern shore to experience,” said Thaler.

The cuts are back in negotiations, with changes and more reviews to be made at a later date.

“If you want the arts to continue to provide terrific return on investment which we do and continue to have terrific support from communities which we do, we need to see that budget be restored eventually and not be cut again.” Said Cohen.