Maryland's arts and entertainment options are a great way to explore the state's culture while having a little fun on your vacation. From world-renowned art galleries to professional theater performances and live concerts, the Old Line State features a diverse range of fine arts, engaging entertainment, and a whole lot more.
Arts and Crafts
Maryland's visual arts options are a rich and beautiful part of the state's culture. There are a large number of galleries and museums located throughout the state, but you'll find the most visual arts offerings in larger cities like Baltimore and Annapolis. The Baltimore Museum of Art boasts one of the largest collections of fine art pieces in the state, featuring works spanning over four centuries from all over the world. General admission to the museum is free, but some special exhibits may require a fee. While in the city of Annapolis, check out the Maryland Federation of Art, the oldest operating artists' gallery in the state. Or head to the Annapolis Marine Art Gallery on the city dock for maritime artwork. Along with plenty of places to view art, Maryland also lays claim to a number of well-known native artists, including Hans Schuler and Jane Frank.
If it's art in the more practical sense you're seeking, Maryland's traditional crafts just may do the trick. The state's craftsmanship began with its indigenous, early Native American tribes, including the Nanticoke Indians. Functional crafts for these tribespeople included clothing and pottery, as well as decorative pieces such as jewelry. Vacationers can view and purchase authentic Native American crafts at festivals and Native crafts vendors in Maryland. Modern craft works are available at local crafts festivals and fairs, which are scheduled at various times of year throughout the state.
Performing Arts
The performing arts express Maryland's culture through movement, sound, and drama. Dance, for instance, was a traditional form of celebration for Maryland's native peoples. With the arrival of European settlers to the state came new styles of folk dance, which varied between the upper and lower classes. Now, dance studios, festivals, and performances are the norm for all kinds of people in Maryland. Various dance troupes and organizations like the Maryland Council for Dance offer dance performances as well as dance instruction. Festivals are another facet of dance in Maryland.
Of course, where there's dance, there's music. Like many of the state's cultural aspects, Maryland's music was first influenced by the practices of Native American Indians. Then the colonists arrived in Maryland with their own culture and traditions. Due to the poor quality of life of the settlers, commercial music and other performing arts didn't become popular until slavery was instated in Maryland. More popular forms of early music included various forms of folk music played on instruments like flutes, violins, and banjos. Current hits heard in the Old Line State fall in a number of genres, like hardcore punk, gangster rap, and jazz. Visitors can enjoy performances by their favorite artists at music venues like Merriweather Post Pavilion or the Charm City Art Space. For local musical talent, attend any of the state's music festivals, like HFStival.
Live theater offers a great alternative to the normal movie-night outing. Maryland has plenty of theater houses to satiate the hunger of most theatergoers. Once only a luxury that upper class citizens could afford, theater is now available to almost anyone who wants to experience the stage. Many of Maryland's theater houses are located in the metropolitan city of Baltimore, recognized as the state's capital for culture. The largest professional theater in Baltimore is the Center Stage Theater, which has gained acclaim as one of the leading professional theater companies in the country. Also located in Baltimore, the Everyman Theatre is an award-winning theater house. Theater offerings elsewhere in the state include the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Elliot City and the Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, among others.
Literature and Film
Maryland has a rich heritage in great American literature, and has been home to some of the top names in the country's literary history. African American author and abolitionist Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot County, and Upton Sinclair, the author of the infamous social critique The Jungle, hailed from Baltimore. Along with a legacy of great writers, Maryland also features several literary landmarks. Uncle Tom's Cabin, located in Rockville, was made famous by Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel of the same name. Then there's the George Alfred Townsend Estate, monument to the author and other journalists of the Civil War. These sites and others are available for vacationers to visit on their literary exploration of Maryland.
Another imaginative aspect of Maryland's entertainment culture is film. Filmmakers have taken advantage of Maryland's historic places and natural landscapes to film a number of cinematic hits. Films produced in Maryland include Beloved, Die Hard: With A Vengeance, and Enemy of the State. In addition to popular films, Maryland has also been home to a number of well-known names in cinema, such as Jim Henson, David Hasselhoff, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Linda Hamilton. Aside from checking out the latest release at a movieplex, vacationers can enjoy a number of other film experiences while visiting the Old Line State. Historic movie houses add to the state's film culture and heritage. For instance, The Silver Theatre was designed in 1932 and is a great example of Art Deco cinema architecture. Listed on the roster of the National Register of Historic Places, the theater has been restored and updated by the American Film Institute. The building that now houses the Charles Theatre in Baltimore was built in 1892 as a cable car barn, and has since become a movie house which can host about 1150 patrons.
When visiting Maryland, you'll find yourself in a place where cultural activities and attractions run the gamut. Arts and entertainment make great vacation pastimes, adding unforgettable experiences to your travels.
