“Our investment in the arts organizations in Maryland is another strategy to strengthen small businesses and create and retain jobs in the creative industries,” said Gov. O'Malley. “Support of the operations of these arts organizations stimulates the economy and contributes greatly to the quality of life we enjoy in our state.”

The grants are awarded on the basis of artistic merit, organizational effectiveness and service to the community. After advisory panels (of arts professionals) evaluate all applicants to determine which should receive funding, the Arts Council recommends individual grant amounts to Gov. O'Malley for his approval.

Maryland tourism industry takes sales message on road
Rich Gilbert, travel trade sales manager for the Maryland Office of Tourism, led a group of 15 partners from the state's tourism industry on a sales blitz through parts of Ohio last week. The Maryland on the Road Enterprise (MORE) motorcoach visited Cleveland, Akron and Columbus.

MORE partners had individual sales appointments with 32 representatives from 18 motorcoach and group tour operators during the trip. “This is a soft-sell sales approach,” Gilbert said. “Though we don't sign contracts on the bus, it has proven to be quite effective judging by the quality and quantity of bookings that our partners have gained.”

The MORE group included: D. Morales, Visit Baltimore; Kelly Flanagan, B & O Railroad Museum; Tia Gray, Bernstein Hotels; Barbara Schofield, Crowne Plaza Hotel-Baltimore North; Cammie Kane, Ed Kane's Water Taxis; Megan Potts, Gaylord National Resort; Jamie Moore, Hard Rock Café; Christine Bradley, National Aquarium; Maya Hyman, National 4-H Youth Center; Norma Dobrowolski, Ocean City Department of Tourism; Debbie Morroni, Phillips Seafood Restaurants; Michelle Murphy, Toby's Dinner Theatres of Baltimore & Columbia; Lauri Reynolds, Tremont Hotels; and Tiffany Ahalt, Tourism Council of Frederick County and the Hagerstown/Washington County CVB; and Rich Gilbert.

Digital media community convenes July 28 at UMBC
In celebration of the digital media industry in Maryland, the Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) has arranged a gathering for members of the business and technology communities, Wednesday evening, July 28 at UMBC. DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson will unveil a recent study regarding the economic impact of digital media in the state.

Gaming: A Serious Business in Maryland features a panel of game pioneers discussing the history and growth of the industry. Sid Meier, who co-founded MicroProse and later Firaxis Games, will offer opening remarks. In 1999, Meier became the second person inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Science's Hall of Fame.

“On a global scale, the computer gaming industry is converging with the traditional film industry,” said Jack Gerbes, director of the Maryland Film Office. “We have the capacity in Maryland to take advantage of this dynamic and bolster our creative economy. In fact, Maryland has long been recognized as an East Coast hub for game development.”

The UMBC event is free and open to the public with limited seating. View the invitation online. To reserve a seat, e-mail Jack Gerbes by July 22.

New program director comes to Arts Council
Jesse Rye joins the Maryland State Arts Council staff, Aug. 11, as program director for the Community Arts Development program and the Arts and Entertainment Districts program. Rye has been a policy and program associate with the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) since 2007.

At NASAA, he documented a variety of programs offered by state arts organizations by cataloging planning practices, grant guidelines and state services for artists and arts organizations. He also tracked innovations by creative partnerships and “best practices” in the industry.

Rye has a graduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz School of Public Policy and Management. During his studies, he worked with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Sprout Fund on an investigation of the roles that artists play in post-industrial communities. Rye also has a theater degree from Ripon College (Wisconsin) and has taught drama in public schools.

U.S. match in World Cup propels Baltimore TV ratings
Baltimore had the second largest TV audience for ESPN's broadcast of the U.S.-Algeria match in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. San Diego was the top market. Following Baltimore were: San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; Sacramento; Houston; Las Vegas; Miami-Ft. Lauderdale; New York; and West Palm Beach.

Approximately 112 million U.S. viewers watched at least part of the 2010 World Cup, according to a report by The Nielson Company. This is a 22 percent increase over the 91 million U.S. viewers during the 2006 World Cup.

Baltimore is in the running to be a venue for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup if the U.S. is successful in its bid to host the event. Sign the online petition to register your support for bringing the World Cup to Baltimore.

Tourism tax codes ahead of overall collections
The latest issue of the Maryland Tourism Monitor – the Tourism Office's monthly report that measures visitor activity, advertising response and trends in state travel – is available online.

Among its findings for May: tourism-related tax codes – which declined 1.5 percent for the fiscal year through May – have outperformed overall sales-tax collections, which declined 3.1 percent during that same time period.