The Maryland State Arts Council is seeking applications for its Conservation Grant is to support organizations in the conservation, preservation, and relocation of public artworks in Maryland.
Donor Name: Maryland State Arts Council
State: Maryland
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/12/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Public Art Across Maryland Conservation grant provides support for conservation planning efforts, including collection inventories, digitization of records and databases, community outreach, research, and assessments, as well as the implementation of conservation and relocation efforts that maintain or improve public access to artworks.
MSAC defines Public Art as artwork that is created intentionally for a place and space in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property. Located indoors or outdoors, public art is available to everyone at no cost and is accessible to all. Public art can include: expressions of community values or enhancements to an environment and can raise awareness of an unseen narrative.
Types of Grant
- Planning Grants
- Project Grants
Funding Information
- For Planning Grants: Up to $10,000
- For Project Implementation Grants: Up to $30,000
Uses of Funds
Grant funds may be used for:
- Planning grants support collection management and inventory work, research, community engagement, technical assessments, and other tasks necessary in preparing a conservation project proposal.
- The planning grant can support costs associated with:
- Community engagement and organizing activities (may include: accessibility accommodations, public meetings, community education or information campaigns, child care, or refreshments to encourage public participation)
- Inventory work
- Digitizing records and or creation of a collection management database
- Purchase or lease of collection management software.
- Consultant or specialized service fees for a public art consultant, professional conservator, artist fees, structural engineer, material specialists, local historian, or preservationist.
- Facility or equipment rentals for meetings and gatherings
- Licensing fees for specialized software or online services ( may include software for virtual meetings, application & portfolio review, and digital design)
- Printing of flyers, maps, and photographs that are helpful in the planning process.
- Organization administration/project management fee (cannot exceed 15% of the total grant request) Project Implementation supports the work of the conservation team, including the original artist (if available), in taking a project from the proposal stage through to the successful conservation or relocation of the public artwork.
- The project implementation grant can support costs associated with:
- Artist fees for the original artist to consult on the conservation effort.
- Relocation of a public artwork within, or to, the state of Maryland in a way that preserves or increases public access to the artwork and contributes to its long-term preservation (it is intended that any relocated artwork include a maintenance or conservation treatment as part of relocation).
- Conservation and maintenance treatments that will contribute to the long-term sustainability, public access and ability to appreciate an artwork. This includes but is not limited to:
- Cleaning, waxing, re-coating, and painting conducted by a professional service provider or contractor.
- Replacement, refabrication, or rebuilding of components to restore the work and improve structural stability to the artwork, frame, plinth, pedestal, base or foundation that is integral to the safety and public accessibility of the artwork.
- Landscape site improvements such as drainage, plant pruning, maintenance, and/or replacement.
- Lighting and electrical work that contributes to public accessibility by increasing visibility and safety, or improves energy efficiency of outdated lighting and other digital lighting controllers/components
- Conservation of existing or the creation of new identification and interpretive signage, including writers, designers, fabricators, or installers.
- Organization administration/project management fee (cannot exceed 15% of the total grant request).
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants must meet the requirements listed below
- Arts organizations or arts programs may apply for either Planning or Project Implementation grants, and ust be one of the following:
- Nonprofit organization (i.e., an organization with an IRS-designated 501(c)3 status)
- Nonprofit, Maryland-based fiscal sponsor organization applying on behalf of a Maryland-based group, project, or artist with whom it has a Model A fiscal sponsorship agreement in place (i.e., comprehensive sponsorship, in which the assets, liabilities, and exempt activities collectively referred to as “the project” are housed within the fiscal sponsor)
- Unit of government (e.g., town, city, county, state, etc., with the capacity to undertake an arts program)
- College or university (i.e., an established higher education institution in Maryland)
- School (i.e., a public or private school serving students in grades pre-Kindergarten through 12)
- Public Artwork Eligibility:
- Planning efforts and Projects funded through the Public Art Across Maryland grant program must fit within MSAC’s definition of Public Art as described above under “Purpose” and included in the MSAC glossary.
- Artworks supported through Public Art Across Maryland grants should be either an architectural enhancement of artistic significance or an installation of artwork. Eligible mediums include, but are not limited to: murals, tile mosaics, paintings, or sculptures. Functional amenities such as benches, bike racks, creative way-finding, fences, screens, gateways, light-based works, shading and trellises, etc. are also eligible as long as they meet MSAC’s definition of public art and are manufactured by an artist or artisan.
- All conservation efforts and projects supported through Public Art Across Maryland grants are expected to comply with all local regulations, permit procedures, and permitting requirements as mandated by the local jurisdiction or property owner where the work will be installed. Applicants and grantees are required to conduct their own research to fully understand and meet the requirements for installing and/or conserving artwork, whether temporary or permanent, at the specified location.
For more information, visit MSAC.
