Two people are sewing in front of a wall with dolls on the shelves.

Maryland Traditions

Maryland Traditions, the state's traditional arts program, identifies, documents, supports, and presents traditional arts.

Activities include grants to organizations and individuals, festivals and other events, direct outreach to artists, and archival activities to support community-based living cultural traditions handed down by example or word of mouth.

Maryland Traditions Archives

The Maryland Traditions Archives (MTA) is a community center full of thousands of stories featuring folk and traditional artists across Maryland. Housed at the University of Maryland Baltimore County with MSAC oversight, it holds a treasure trove: oral histories, audio and video recordings, historic and contemporary photographs, papers and manuscripts, textiles and clothing, many objects, and original artworks documenting Maryland’s community-based living cultural traditions.

Opportunities

Folklife Apprenticeships support traditional arts education by funding a mentor artist and apprentice artist to work together for one year. Read more.
Folklife Network grants fund organizations serving as regional folklife centers in Maryland. Read more.
Awards are given through Maryland Traditions and annually recognize six recipients in three categories: Person/People, Place, and Tradition. Heritage Awards recognize long-term achievement in the traditional arts. Read more.