MSAC Call for Panelists, Judges, and Coaches – Heritage Awards, County Arts Development, Poetry Out Loud

Maryland State Arts Council has recently announced four paid opportunities to become involved with their Heritage Awards, County Arts Development, and Poetry Out Loud programs. Please see below for additional information for details on each opportunity.

Heritage Award Panelists

By reviewing and scoring nominations, Heritage Award panelists recognize long-term achievement in traditional arts, or community-based living cultural traditions handed down by example or word of mouth. Awards annually recognize one recipient in each of three categories: Person/People, Place, and Tradition.

Seeking Maryland residents with a familiarity with MSAC’s Heritage Awards program, traditional arts, and/or folklife.

County Arts Development Panelists

By reviewing and providing feedback on applications, County Arts Development (CAD) panelists support the work and long-term planning of county arts agencies throughout Maryland to ensure service to their diverse communities. 

Seeking Maryland residents with experience with arts service organizations, strategic planning, local arts agency management, multidisciplinary arts, and/or arts programming. 

Poetry Out Loud Judges

By reviewing and scoring poetry recitation videos, judges determine the regional and state finalists for the Maryland State Poetry Out Loud competition. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry.

Seeking Maryland residents who are theater artists, educators, writers, actors, librarians, slam poets, arts journalists, professors and general poetry lovers.

Poetry Out Loud Coaches

By facilitating recitation practice sessions and materials, coaches assist high school students in preparing poems from the POL Anthology for the Maryland State Poetry Out Loud competition. Coaches will offer competitors guidance on physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, and overall performance.

Seeking Maryland residents with experience performing poetry, especially recitations, and working with performers of all levels on analysis, memorization, and presentation.

General Information

What to Expect:

• Serving between six and 16 weeks, depending on role, with assignments spread throughout the service period. 
• Attending a required virtual orientation and training. 
• Receiving compensation of a minimum of $350, assuming the completion of all scheduled assignments.

How to Apply:

• Submit your application via MSAC’s online grants management system, SmartSimple. 
• Click the “Apply Here” button to log in or create a free account in SmartSimple; be sure to log in as an individual, rather than an organization, as organization-based accounts do not have access to panelist applications. If you do not have an individual account, you may create one for free by registering as an “Independent Artist.”
• Click on “Funding Opportunities” 
• Under “Public Call,” click “Apply Now.”
• From the dropdown menu labeled “I am applying as a,” select “Panelist Call,” and click “Save Draft” to populate the application.
• Select your desired Program from the drop down menu, and fill in the remainder of the form.
• Click “Submit.”

Deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. EST, October 22nd, 2021.