Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts is the cultural beacon for the city of Annapolis, Maryland and the greater community offering many types of artistic performances, classes and exhibits. Celebrating its’ 40th anniversary, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts remains one of the premiere arts institutions in the state where the arts come alive.
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts was founded in 1979 by a group of artistic visionaries who believed the former Annapolis High School could best be re-used as a community arts center. Today, the historic landmark building is the community's gathering place for the arts year-round.
Located in the state capital, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts provides a vibrant hub of ideas, dialogue and energy by uniting artists and communities from all corners of the region, and the home of four resident companies including: Ballet Theatre of Maryland, the Annapolis Opera, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Live Arts Maryland/Annapolis Chorale.
Ballet Theatre of Maryland, the state’s premier professional ballet company, presents
full-length professional ballet performances each season of both classical and contemporary works.
Ballet Theatre of Maryland also produces a family series for underserved audiences, delivers lecture/demonstrations known as “Informances” at schools, libraries and community groups, conducts an Apprenticeship Training Program, and educates through Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s School of Classical and Contemporary Dance, offering dance training for students ages two to adult.
Annapolis Opera, founded in 1972, serves the city of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. providing emerging artists of outstanding potential from the Mid-Atlantic region with performance and professional development activities. Annapolis Opera also provides an educational program which serves area residents from elementary school children to senior citizens.
The cast of “South Pacific” performed by Annapolis Opera at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts (photo: Annapolis Opera)
Annapolis Symphony Orchestra features seventy professional musicians performing a variety of symphonic music for audiences of all ages. During the year, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra produces and presents five classic series concerts, four education concerts, two family concerts, one holiday pops concert and one free Pops in the Park community concert. Annapolis Symphony Orchestra also sponsors numerous award-winning education and outreach programs in community schools.
Live Arts Maryland also presents programs at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, including The Annapolis Chorale, the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra, St. Anne’s Concert Series and the local presenter of the Washington Symphonic Brass. Its mission is to enhance community life through performing and producing a wide variety of music. Live Arts Maryland is also home to a vibrant music education program for musicians of all ages. For young singers, the organization includes the Annapolis Youth Chorus, the MusicWorks School partnership and an apprentice program for qualified high-school music students.
“Encore: Rocks” at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
In addition, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts presents art exhibits that engage audiences with curated group and solo exhibits in several galleries: the Chaney Gallery, the Martino Gallery, the Openshaw Balcony Gallery and Hallway Galleries. The galleries are open to the public for viewing, and artists’ receptions.
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts hosts an Artist-in-Residence Program for artists working in a diverse variety of media and styles. They work in their studios throughout the week and can be visited by patrons. The three-year residencies allow the artists to create and sell their work, exhibit in the galleries and participate in community programs. One particular In-House Artist program featured Jay Fleming, a local photographer documenting the Chesapeake Bay.
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts also created the Faith Goldstein and Jesse Cunitz Center for Film and New Media, presenting and producing programs to engage and educate audiences on critical contemporary, historical and cultural issues, with film series education classes to lecture series and workshops.
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts also hosts Encore: Rocks,” a vocal concert featuring a wide range of contemporary music, singing songs from Elvis, The Beachboys, Led Zeppelin, Motown to Woodstock. The annual free Summer Concert Series is sponsored by RPH Architecture.
As a vital part of its’ mission is keeping the arts accessible, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts sponsors a variety of programs each year that are free and open to the public. Annual events include the ArtFest Open House, art gallery talks, music lectures, exhibitions and tours, drawing thousands of community visitors. Their partnership with World Artists Experiences brings thousands of local residents to Maryland Hall for free performances by performing artists from around the world. For more info: Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts 801 Chase St. Annapolis, Maryland 21401, (410) 263-5544, www.marylandhall.org
