We’ve Done It Before and We’ll Do It Again

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Dear Colleagues, 

As 2025 nears, I find myself reflecting on the past and looking ahead at what is to come in this pivotal moment for the arts and humanities in America. The stakes for arts funding and cultural programs have never been higher. But fear not, together, we will meet these challenges head-on just as we have overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges before. 

A Year of Meaningful Impact 

Photo Courtesy of Docs in Progress

Thanks to your hard work and advocacy, the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County helped channel over $6.7 million in grant funding directly into our creative community in 2024, supporting artists, educators, and cultural initiatives that inspire and connect us all. Programs like the Wheaton Cultural Project Grants and Arts Residencies in Schools empowered diverse voices and increased accessibility to creative and cultural experiences for all residents across the county.

Facing Challenges, Standing Strong 

As the political landscape shifts in the new year, funding for arts and culture programming at the federal, state, and local levels could encounter significant hurdles. But we’ve faced this before and if history taught us anything, it’s that this community, our community, knows how to persevere. During my tenure—thanks to advocates like you—AHCMC not only survived the 2008 economic downturn and the pandemic, but our budget increased, and our sector is thriving. We stayed the course, advocated fiercely, emerged stronger, and we’ll do it again!

2022 Strength of the Creative Economy

Our Vision for 2025 

As we look ahead to 2025, AHCMC’s goals are bold and essential: 

  • Advocate for programs like Arts Education Assistance Grants, which help foster creativity in our schools. (After all, a school without music, theater, or art is just a building full of desks.) 
  • Secure funding and counteract budget cuts to protect arts and humanities programs from proposed budget-slashing initiatives that could impact local, state and federal funding to programs that bring creativity and culture into every community. 
  • Champion cultural equity and accessibility, ensuring everyone has a seat at the creativity table. 
  • Develop a new cultural plan, Montgomery County’s first in over two decades, to guide AHCMC and county government in policymaking, fund allocation, and cross-agency collaboration to further cultivate Montgomery County’s creative sector, foster an increased sense of belonging and improve overall wellbeing for residents. 

You Are Our Strength 

Our sector is more than entertainment, we are a vehicle that transforms lives, gives voice to the unheard, fosters healing, dissolves differences, builds empathy, strengthens communities, and enriches academic performance by improving well-being, resolves challenges creatively, boosts the economy, and shines light on us all, even in the most challenging times. Be assured, AHCMC will continue to stand with you and work alongside you, as we always have. 

Take a moment this holiday season to reflect and celebrate your invaluable contributions to your family, friends, neighbors, community, and fellow Montgomery County residents. Know that we remain steadfast in our commitment to you and ensuring that our cultural sector thrives. Together, we will meet the challenges ahead, turn ideas into action, and create a stronger, more connected community.

Community Event for Resilience Through Art, an Artist Residency about Climate Resilience
Location: Department of Health and Human Services 
Artist in Residence: Dinah Myers Schroeder 
Photos Courtesy of Dinah Myers Schroeder 

From my heart to yours, thank you for all you do. Wishing you and your loved ones peace, restoration, and inspiration this season. 

Onward with hope and gratitude, 

Suzan Jenkins