Harford County Cultural Arts Board Moves Into New Offices and Operations with Harford County Public Library

From the Harford County Cultural Arts Board:

Effective December 7, 2015, Harford County Cultural Arts Board has moved its offices and operations from the Harford County Government Department of Community Services to its new home, under the umbrella of Harford County Public Library.

In August, County Council Bill 15-021, introduced by Harford County Council President Slutzky at the request of the County Executive, Barry Glassman, repealed and reenacted legislation to provide the Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board shall now make recommendations to the Harford County Public Library.

Jessica Cleaver has been named Coordinator of the Cultural Arts Board. Working from the administrative office in Belcamp, Mrs. Cleaver is responsible for the Cultural Arts Board’s overall performance and resources. Mrs. Cleaver has been employed by the Library since 1999, most recently in Children’s Information Services at the Fallston Branch. Prior to that, she worked as a graphic designer for advertising specialty companies. Mrs. Cleaver, a resident of Baltimore, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Environmental Planning from Towson University and a Library Associate Training Institute certificate from the Division of Library Development and Services, Maryland Department of Education.

Kelley Dilworth, Vice Chair, Harford County Cultural Arts Board expresses her approval of the change, “Having the Cultural Arts Board fall under the umbrella of our amazing Harford County Public Library system just makes sense. We are so grateful to Mary [Hastler] and her vision for this collaboration. Jessica [Cleaver], our new Coordinator, brings new ideas and a new energy to the Cultural Arts Board. Sometimes, heading in a different direction, and changing the way things have always been done is needed for progress. Every once in a while, doing things a little different in Harford County is not such a bad idea. It’s what the Arts are all about.”

Janet Fox, Cultural Arts Board and Harford Artists’ Association member, echoes her enthusiasm. “I have always loved our Library system and was encouraged for HCCAB’s future to be moved under their umbrella. Since the move, with the energy provided by HCCAB’s new director, Jessica Cleaver, I see it to be both positive and progressive for the ARTS in Harford County. ?”

As the government-appointed local arts agency, Harford County Cultural Arts Board is the premier local resource for arts, cultural, and historical organizations, individual artists, and the residents of Harford County, Maryland. We provide advocacy, financial, and administrative support to local arts and cultural groups. The Board administers several grant programs for local nonprofit organizations, sponsors workshops and promotional events, and hosts a Cultural Arts Calendar. Alongside and in partnership with local government, schools, artists, and arts organizations, and the general community, the Cultural Arts Board’s vision is to “preserve, enhance, and promote the culture of Harford County.”