Save the Date for the 2017 Celebration of the Arts in Howard County

Howard County's signature event, the Howard County Arts Council's Celebration of the Arts in Howard County gala, will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Centerat Howard Community College.

Come help us Celebrate...the festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a reception where you'll sample luscious delicacies from area restaurants and caterers and bid on works of art by local artists while enjoying wonderful live musical performances. At 8 p.m. guests will be invited inside the Smith and Studio Theatres for the Rising Star Competition and the presentation of the 2016 Howie Awards. Performances and awards are presented live in the Smith Theatre and simulcast in the Studio Theatre. Tickets will be available for purchase in January 2017.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Celebration of the Arts, the 2017 Rising Star Competition will feature past winners of the competition vying to recapture the title of Rising Star and take home a $5,000 professional development award. The audience will select a winner to receive this prize.

The 2016 Howie Awards will also be presented on the Main Stage during the Celebration. Presented annually, the Howie Awards recognize an Outstanding Artist, Outstanding Arts Educator, and Outstanding Business or Community Supporter of the Arts. Nominees are judged on their contributions and the impact they have had on the artistic life of Howard County. Nomination forms are available online at hocoarts.org. Nominations must be received no later than October 26, 2016.

Sponsorships, volunteer, and internship opportunities are available. Celebration Tickets are $100 (Reception and Smith Theatre) and $50 (Reception and Studio Theatre). For more information, visit us online athocoarts.org or call 410-313-ARTS (2787).