We are grateful for your support and inspiration.

THANK YOU!              Muchas Gracias

አመሰግናለሁ                Grazie

MERCI MILLE FOIS    شكرا

谢谢         TAKK!

A work in progress!....

INDIVIDUAL DONORS: DC AREA
FRIENDS OF CARPE DIEM ARTS

Albert Hotton
Allen Perper
Andres Salguero
Anna and Lillian Pintea-White
Anne Harrison
Barbara Pequet
Beth Bienvenu
Betsy and Jamie Platt
Busy Graham
Carla Passarelli
Carol Lite
Carol Reagan and Dave Snapp
Chris and Will Slattery
Coletta Youngers and David Lebow
Deborah Spielberg and Tom Block
Dick Graham
Elizabeth McMeekin
Ellen and Roger Lewis
Ellie and Tom Hamburger
Emily Glazer amd Karl Kosok
Eric Maring
Erin and Arthur Fulham
Flawn Williams
Heidi and Roger Coleman
Iane Yani
Jamie and Betsy Platt
Jamie Raskin
Janet Rumble
Janie Meneely
Jayne Park
Jean Bergey
Jenni and Jim Voorhees
Jim Baird
Joe Uehlein
Joseph Uehlein
Julia Frank
Karen McGee
Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh
Kathleen Heller
Kathleen Zaffina
Kathy and Richard Lorr
Kenneth Davis
Lane Smith
Lanita Whitehurst
Lisa Martin
Marcia Sprague
Margaret Walker
Marsha G. Meehan
Mary Brugh
Maureen Malloy
Megan Gallagher and Kevin Perese
Michael Bucci
Michael Graham
Michelle Mosher
Nancy Graham
Robert Bettmann
Sandra Miller
Sandy Moore and Mark Felsenthal
Sebastian Johnson
Shizumi and Andy Manale
Stephanie Jefferson
Stewart Hickman
Sue Mingus
Susan and Greg Lewis
Sybille Prinz
Tad Czywewski
Tali and Bob Stopak-Mathis
 
 
DC AREA: PUBLIC GRANTS, PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSES
Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County
Blessed Coffee
City of Takoma Park
Impact Assets
Mi Casa
Montgomery County Recreation Department
Takoma Foundation
Wells Fargo
 
plus 21st Century Grant Funds -- in partnership with the Collaboration Council of Montgomery County
in support of the African Arts, Culture and Education (ACE) Academy after-school program.

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INDIVIDUAL DONORS: EASTERN SHORE
FRIENDS OF CARPE DIEM ARTS OUTREACH FUND
c/o Mid-Shore Community Foundation

Abigail Cureton
Amy Haines and Richard Marks
Andrea Poe
Ann and Charlie Yonkers
Ann and Greg Farley
Anna and Tim Larkin
Arnie and Zena Lerman
Barbara Brown
Carla and Peter Howell
Carol and Bill Gordean
Carolyn Jaffe
Cecilia Nobel
Chris Koch
Constance del Nero
David Weinstein
Dick Graham
Doreen Getsinger
Ella and Michael Bracy
Ellen and Roy Rosenthal
George Klein
Hilary Henry
Jane McCauley
John Graham
Judy and Jack Harrald
Kim Sedmak and Bruce Lee
Laverne and Allen Webb
Leslie and Fred Israel
Leslie Westbrook and Paolo Frigerio
Liz Fisher
Lori Cuthbert
Margaret and Dick Welch
Nancy Graham
Rima Parkhurst
Ruth and Donald Saff
Sue Stockman
Marie U’Ren
Mary Ellen Carter
Mr. and Mrs. Philip D. Caraci
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Boicourt
Nancy and Carl Tankersley
Pat Sheehy
Ronya Driscoll
Ruth and Donald Saff
Ruth and Ed Decker
Sarah and Ken Sadler
Suzanne and Rob Todd


EASTERN SHORE: PUBLIC GRANTS, PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSES
Artistic Insights Fund c/o MSCF
Dock Street Foundation
Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Talbot County Arts Council
Women and Girls Fund

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ARTISTS
A sampling of those with whom we have had the great pleasure and privilege of working

Abby Newton
Alessandra Mantovani
Al Petteway and Amy White
Amadou Kouyate
Anansegromma of Ghana
Andes Manta
Andrea Hoag
Andrei Pidkivka
Andres Salguero
Andrew Marcus
Ali and Steve Quillen
Andrew Marcus
Anne Watts and Boister
Arturo Ho
Audrey Morris and Rick Engdahl
Baakari Wilder
Becky Linafelt
Behfar Bahadoran
Bill Wellington
Bintou Kouyate
BlackJacks
Bruce Hutton
Carien Quiroga
Carrie Rose
Charlie Pilzer
Chic Street Man
Chris Noyes
Cindy Kallett and Grey Larsen
Cindy Reuben
Claudia Schmidt
Connie McKenna
Coral Cantigas
Dan Ssuuna
David Griffiths
Deborah Thornton
Devin Walker
Diana Saez
Donald Tillery
Downwire
Duo Blanco y Negro de Cuba
Elise Witt
Althea Grey-McKenzie
Andes Manta
Beau Soir Ensemble
Behfar Baharanjan
Billy McComiskey, Shannon Dunne and friends (Irish music & stepdance)
BlackJacks
Boister
Calico Jenny: Janie Meneely, Chelle Fulk, Molly Hickman
Carrie Rose
Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer
Cecilia Ferneborg Group (4 members: guitars, mandolin, upright bass and vocals)
Cheick Hamala Diabate
Chris Noyes
Christylez Bacon
Coral Cantigas
Dance Bands (numerous to choose from)
Dawn Avery & friends
Downwire
Duo Blanco y Negro de Cuba
Elijah Balbed & Friends
Eme Awa
Ensemble Galilei
Eric Byrd Trio
Eugene Friesen
Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble
Foty Family Fusion Band
Free Minds Poet Ambassadors
Genticorum
Gerdan: Soul of Ukraine
Glen Velez
Glyn Collinson
Grace Griffith
Greater U  Street Jazz Collective
Helicon
Howard Bass and Barbara Hollinshead
Howard Levy
Huda Asfour
ILYaimy
James Fellows
James Hill
Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
Jelly Roll Mortals
Jennifer Cutting and Ocean Orchestra
Jonathan Williams
Julia Ferneborg
Karen Ashbrook
Karim Nagi
Ken and Brad Kolodner
Kevin Locke
Kim and Reggie Harris
Kinobe of Uganda
Kofi Dennis
Kwame Ansah Brew
Ladybird (trio with Cecilia Ferneborg out of Philadelphia)
Last Train Home
Laurence Juber
Lea Morris
Lena Seikaly
Le Vent du Nord
Lilo Gonzalez
Lisa Moscatiello
Liz Brinker and Sister Uke
Maggie Sansone
Magpie: Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner
Mairi Rothman
Malcolm Dalglish
Mariachi Los Amigos
Mariama Conte
Marika Partridge
Mark Jaster
Mary Amato
Mary McCaslin
Matthew Holsen
Maureen Andary
Melissa Running
Michael Shereikis
Michele Valeri and Ingrid Crepeau
Mingus Big Band and Mingus Dynasty
Moira Smiley and VOCO
Monique Griffiths
Mr. Gabe
Nada Brama
Nana Malaya
Natalie Haas and Alasdair Fraser
Nick Smiley
Nina Koltnow
Ocean Orchestra and Quartet
Orfeia
Parkington Sisters
Paul Oorts
Peggy Seeger
Phil Wiggins
Princess Mhoon
Ramzi Aburedwan and Dal'ouna Ensemble
Randy Welch
Ricardo Loaiza
Ritchie Porter
Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo
Roger Coleman
Rosalie Sorrels
Royal Oak Musicians (Ed Klein, Jay Brown, Lynn Henderson)
Ruthie and the Wranglers
Sabrina Mandell
Sally Rogers
Samite 
Sara Curtin
Scott Douglass Quartet
Seth Kibel
Shannon Dunne and Alex Boatright
Sheryl Southwick
Shizumi Manale
Solomia Gorokhivska
Sparky and Rhonda Rucker
Spread Love Band
Squeeze Bayou
Starry Mountain Singers
Steve and Ali Quillen
Steve Winick
Sue Richards
Sue Stockman
Suzannah Armstrong-Park
Sweater Set
The Grandsons
Tinsmith
Tracey Eldridge
Trio Globo
Ulrika Leander
Unified Jazz Ensemble
U. Utah Phillips
Victoria Vox
Walt Michael
Wendy Lanxner
 


 

Expansion of thanks for Sue Hess Award at Maryland Arts Day, February 14, 2017

First and foremost, I want to give thanks to the extraordinary visual, literary and performing artists I have had the immense pleasure and privilege of working with over the years. It is their exemplary work and dedication that is most deserving of recognition. (Many of them are listed above.)

I also want to give special thanks to John Schratwieser, our visionary leader, and his great team at Maryland Citizens for the Arts, who work hand in hand with the Maryland State Arts Council and our elected officials, to help ensure continued funding for the arts.
 
The movers and shakers for arts advocacy! 
You make us proud to live and work in this great state.
 
As do our elected officials – to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude for staying the course vis a vis arts funding.
 
A very BIG thank you also to Gerry Early and the Talbot County Arts Council for nominating me for the arts advocacy award – and for always going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure a healthy proliferation of the arts.
 
And to the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and their continued support of arts outreach to underserved audiences.
 
Thanks to my friend David Eisner at the Institute of Musical Traditions who played a key role in the launching of Class Acts Arts (now Artivate) -- back in 1995 -- and who continues to help out with our Carpe Diem "Ukes on the Move" project and more.
 
To Rima Parkhurst who played a key role in getting my first ever MSAC grant for IMT and Class Acts Arts.
 
To Richard Marks and Amy Haines who have been so supportive of my work in Talbot County.
 
To Jim Modrick and the Class Acts Arts/Artivate staff and board – and Joan Burns -- for keeping the boat afloat and for bringing the arts where they are most needed.
 
A major shout-out also to my outstanding associate director Michelle Mosher, Carpe Diem Arts staff – as well as to our fearless leader Allen Perper and the Carpe Diem Arts board and advisory council. And to Jo Rasi, Denise Jones, Alé Mantovani, Binta Coulibaly. They, together with the artists and audiences we serve, inspire and motivate me to stay the course, despite the formidable challenges.
 
Thanks to all those who help keep the arts alive by attending events, volunteering, and contributing financially. 
 
And to all of YOU in this room who understand and appreciate how essential the arts are to a civilized society:
– to cultivating creativity, imagination and critical thinking;
-- building community and strengthening education;
-- promoting health of mind, body and spirit;
-- encouraging a lifelong love of learning;
while also celebrating diversity and inspiring hope for a brighter future.
 
I also wish to acknowledge the vital support of the private sector: the philanthropists and businesses in our state and nation. May you go forth and multiply a million times!
 
* * * * * *
I also want to give very special thanks to my beloved husband, my Valentine, Stew Hickman – artist, writer and poet, drummer, ukulele and hammer dulcimer player, philosopher and photographer, journal keeper and teacher, Dad extraordinaire to our children, trustworthy advisor and change implementor, comedian, coach and cairn-builder -- who keeps me buoyed and makes it possible for me to do this work -- and reminds me to laugh and go for walks.
 
To my amazing mom, Nancy Graham who is here today at age 90 -- and who has been my lifeline, literally and figuratively! She was a catalyst for change during her years with the Peace Corps administration, when she increased exponentially the number of women country directors worldwide. And she was the director of the Institute for Soviet American Relations during a time when cultural diplomacy was a key factor in promoting peace between our nations. She prepared John Denver and Paul Winter, among many others, for their first visits to the former Soviet Union.
 
To my dad, Dick Graham, whose life and work remain a source of great inspiration to me. After working with Sargent Shriver and Bill Moyers at Peace Corps headquarters and then serving as Country Director in Tunisia (such a life-changing experience for all of us!), he was appointed by President Johnson as one of the first Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioners, in charge of Latino and women’s rights. It was during that time that he gave Betty Friedan the idea and the name for the National Organization of Women. Soon afterward, he became the founder/director of the Teacher Corps which later served as the model for Teach for America.
 
To my brother John, one of the best teachers and thinkers on the planet – and my brother Dick for his generosity in supporting my work with Carpe Diem Arts; also to my amazing sister Nan and brother Hoey for their great work in the world.