Carpe Diem Arts facilitates a broad range of visual, literary and performing arts programs in educational and community settings on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and in the greater D.C. area.  The goal is to provide increased access to affordable, high quality and culturally diverse arts programming with a primary focus on arts outreach to under-served audiences through the coordination of block-bookings and partnerships with area arts presenters.  Activities include school assembly programs, artist residencies, summer camp programs, workshops and master classes, community dances, public performances, community sings, and other special events.

  (a)    to organize multi-day engagements with artists, taking advantage of block-booking and travel discounts, while also providing artists with an opportunity to work with diverse audiences: elementary, middle and high school students and teachers, special needs populations, at-risk youth, and seniors – culminating in public performances;

(b)    to produce concerts and special events at various venues, representing a broad range of cultural traditions and artistic disciplines;

(c)    to host community dances with live music and dance callers (contra, circle, square and Ceilidh dances);

(d)    to facilitate arts enrichment activities (workshops, master classes, residencies, after-school programs) for all ages and levels of ability, with both local and visiting artists – in the visual, literary and performing arts;

(e)    to produce choral arts residency projects with master composers and recording artists working with school and community choirs, culminating in major public performances -- as well as a monthly community sing, with guest artists/song leaders;

(f)    to provide summer arts camp experiences for children and youth, and weekend retreats for adults and families, with opportunities to work closely with professional teaching artists;

(g)    to host artist retreats on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and organize an informal network of property owners willing to share their guest houses with artists seeking opportunities to create new work in the visual, literary and performing arts;

(h)    to establish a fund to support cultural arts programs and artist residencies in schools and under-served communities;

1. (i)    to bring the “Hoop & Holler for Health: Jump Start with the Arts” project into area
   

schools to educate children about the importance of health and nutrition, physical fitness and exercise, with the goal of reducing the dramatic rise in obesity, diabetes and other associated diseases, and mounting healthcare costs.  The project involves outstanding professional teaching artists: musicians, dancers, storytellers, theater companies with dynamic and engaging programs to convey the “Let’s Move” message (www.LetsMove.gov), along with nutrition workshops, cooking classes, school garden projects.

(j)   to partner with other area non-profits to produce fundraising events, showcases, festivals, summer arts institutes, and other cultural offerings ~ celebrating the arts and building strong living-learning communities. 

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Carpe Diem Arts is temporarily housed under the umbrella of the Mid-Shore

Community Foundation.  Tax-deductible donations can be made at www.mscf.org by earmarking support for the Carpe Diem Arts Outreach Fund for Talbot County.  We are currently seeking funds to bring arts programs to special needs facilities and senior centers on the Eastern Shore, to support arts enrichment activities in-school and after-school, to fund the “JUMP stARTS for HEALTH” initiative, to provide a scholarship fund for the Carpe Diem Summer Arts Camps on the Shore, to revive the Chesapeake Community Dance series.  Other efforts are underway to support continued activities in the DC area.