Preservation Maryland commends the Maryland Heritage Area Authority for its swift response to the needs of Maryland’s historic and cultural institutions through the Covid-19 Emergency Grant Program.
The Maryland Historical Trust recently announced the grants, sharing that 59 matching grants totaling just over $600,000 were awarded to non-profits across all the state’s Heritage Areas. These grants, ranging from $600 to $20,000, were distributed to help cover operating expenses during the COVID-19 lockdown, causing decreased attendance and other economic challenges ahead for historic and cultural institutions.
A press release by the Maryland Department of Planning, quotes Gov. Larry Hogan in support of Maryland’s cultural organizations, stating, “As we gradually begin to open carefully across Maryland during this pandemic, it is critical that we support struggling nonprofits to help maintain the state’s heritage tourism economy. These grant awards will assist in keeping Maryland’s great heritage available to all during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
This call for and release of emergency funds from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority overlapped with the standing deadline and review of grants in support of heritage tourism – and will add to the agency’s strong and consistent support of Old Line State culture. Funds for both grant programs originated from Maryland’s Program Open Space. Preservation Maryland is a staunch supporter of the program and regularly advocates for the full funding of Program Open Space while opposing any attempts to shortcut, reduce or cap the program in any way.
Moreover, the Maryland Historical Trust and the Maryland Heritage Area Coalition have also signed on to the steering committee of the newly-formed Maryland Heritage Recovery Task Force. Convened by Preservation Maryland with the support of more than one dozen early-joiners, the Task Force will work together to help identify what local, state, and federal policy actions could be implemented to help with recovery of this critical sector of Maryland’s economy from the impacts of Covid-19.
Grantees supported with THE INITIAL RELEASE OF emergency funds from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority:
Prince George’s African-American Museum and Cultural Center at North Brentwood, Inc.
Annapolis Maritime Museum, Inc.
Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Friends of the President Street Station, Inc.
Historic Ships in Baltimore, Inc.
Mount Vernon Place Conservancy, Inc.
Dorchester Center for the Arts, Inc.
Dorchester Skipjack Committee, Inc.
Richardson Maritime Museum, Inc.
Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc.
Historical Society of Frederick County
Maryland Theatre Association, Inc.
The Union Mills Homestead Foundation, Inc.
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
Crisfield and Smith Island Cultural Alliance
The Crisfield Heritage Foundation, Inc.
Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, Inc.
Susquehanna Museum of Havre de Grace, Inc.
The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center, Inc.
The Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, Inc.
The Hosanna Community House, Inc.
Boyds-Clarksburg Historical Society
Historic Medley District, Inc.
Montgomery County Historical Society
Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery
The Germantown Historical Society, Inc.
Oakland Heritage Community Foundation, Inc.
The Frostburg Museum Association
Ellicott City Historic District Partnership
Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park
Howard County Historical Society, Inc
Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco, Inc.
The Cedarville Band of Piscataway Indians, Inc.
Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Inc.
Wildfowl Trust of North America, Inc.
LEarn more about state funding opportunities
Another Opportunity to Apply: “MHAA is still accepting applications for emergency operating grants up to $20,000 for heritage tourism nonprofit organizations that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All available funds for FY 20 have been awarded, but you may still submit an application which would be considered should additional funds become available in FY 21.”