How much funding does Baker Artist Awards provide?

Baker Artist Awards provides $10,000 - $40,000 in funding.

When is the deadline for Baker Artist Awards?

The funder has not published the next deadline; based on past cycles it is expected around January.

How often is Baker Artist Awards offered?

Baker Artist Awards runs on an annual cycle. The next deadline is expected January 17, 2027.

Baker Artist Awards

Howard County Arts Council

Foundation Annual Grants for Arts Grants for Visual Artists

Funding Amount

$10,000 - $40,000

Deadline

Expected ~January

Based on past cycles

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle: Annual
Current deadline: January 17, 2027
Tracked since: April 2026

Deadlines typically fall in: January

From the program guidelines: “Deadline: January 17 (annually) at 5pm”

Overview

Funder: Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (promoted by Howard County Arts Council)

Geographic Scope: Six-discipline award program

The Baker Artist Awards honor exceptional artists across six creative disciplines: Visual Arts, Film/Video, Interdisciplinary Arts, Literary Arts, Performance, and Music. These awards recognize artists who demonstrate excellence in three key areas: Mastery of Craft, Depth of Artistic Exploration, and Unique Vision.

Award Structure:

Mary Sawyers Baker Prize: One artist from each of six disciplines receives $10,000 (2025)
Mary Sawyers Imboden Prize: One artist from the Baker Prize winners receives an additional $30,000 (total $40,000)
Exhibition Opportunity: Awardees in Visual Arts and Interdisciplinary Arts categories may showcase their work in a bi-annual exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art

Disciplines:

Visual Arts
Film/Video
Interdisciplinary Arts
Literary Arts
Performance
Music

How to Apply

Visit bakerartist.org for guidelines and information
Create or update an active portfolio on the Baker website
Portfolio must be active by Friday, January 17 at 5pm (deadline)
Submit through the Baker website portal

Deadline: January 17 (annually) at 5pm

Apply with Grantable Learn more

What Howard County Arts Council actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025: 33
Total given: $603K
Median grant: $10K
Range: $5,500–$60K

By dollars: Maryland 100%. Top recipient cities: Columbia, MD; Baltimore, MD; Ellicott City, MD.
0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
6% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts · Columbia, MD

Community arts development

$60K
Columbia Festival · Columbia, MD

Community arts development

$56K
Columbia Orchestra · Ellicott City, MD

Community arts development and jrt subsidy

$56K
Chamber Music Maryland · Columbia, MD

Community arts development

$43K
Kinetics Dance Theatre · Ellicott City, MD

Community arts development and jrt subsidy

$41K