SOMD Folklife

06/01/2026

Join us this Sunday at Pier450 Restaurant, Boutique Motel & Shop! Registration is below, can't wait to see you there!

Fun fact: Li’l ole St. Mary’s County, Maryland played an outsized role in keeping the Eastern Seaboard afloat in moonshine during Prohibition. 🤫😉🫢

We’ve partnered with the SOMD Folklife Center’s Slackwater Project for our next speaker series talk — with experts on the subject to tell us all about it!

Join us Sunday June 7th for an hour-long talk plus reception with wine and snacks (who’s got the h***h?!?). Just $25/person. Reserve here: https://sevn.ly/x7Bk22I3

See you soon! 🥃🥃🥃

Historic St. Mary's City Ridge Maryland Visit St. Mary's MD Town of Leonardtown Scotland Yards (Scotland, MD) Lexington Park, Maryland St. Mary's College of Maryland Everything Southern Maryland St. Mary’s Insider

05/28/2026

This Saturday, we'll host our Folklife Summer Workshops at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and we still have a few spots left!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/folklife-summer-workshops-tickets-1987619885583

Genealogy with family historian Dante Eubanks, exploring migration routes, regional ties, and lesser known family histories.

Historic Embroidery with Historic St. Mary's City, learning and practicing 17th century needlework.

Resist Dyed Textiles (Batik) with Eric Jackson of Bay Fibers Studio, creating patterned hand-dyed textile pieces.

Looking forward to a great day of traditional arts, history, and community!

05/26/2026

The Kocen Arts Center is turning one year old! Over the past year, we have proudly served the community through arts classes, live music, exhibitions, workshops, and creative events that have brought people together through the arts. We invite you to join us as we celebrate this exciting milestone on Thursday, June 18 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Come enjoy a FREE evening of creativity, community, refreshments, and celebration as we look back on an incredible first year and forward to many more to come!

This is a free event, but we do require you to RSVP.

RSVP Here: https://www.calvertarts.org/event-details/bubbles-and-berries

05/20/2026

Have you tried batik? Join us and Eric Jackson of Bay Fibers Studio on May 30th at St. Mary's College of Maryland!

Learn the basics of wax resist dyeing (batik) using natural fibers and vibrant dyes in this hands on, beginner friendly workshop. Plus you'll leave with your own one of a kind creation!

Registration link is in the comments, sign up now, spots are limited!

05/13/2026

We're just a couple weeks away from our Folklife Summer Workshops on 5/30 at St. Mary's College of Maryland! If you've been thinking about joining us for embroidery, batik, or genealogy, now is a great time to register before spots fill!

These small group workshops are perfect for history lovers, artists, and curious beginners! Details are in the post below, see you there!

05/07/2026

Start your summer off with our 5th Annual Folklife Summer Workshops on Saturday, 5/30! Join us for embroidery with Historic St. Mary's City batik with Eric Jackson, and genealogy with Dante Eubanks!

On Sunday, 6/7 we're partnering with Pier450 Restaurant, Boutique Motel & Shop for their Mind > Blown speaker series on the history of moonshining in St. Mary's County!

Tickets are linked below, we'd love to see you there!

Join us for the 5th annual Folklife Summer Workshops! Enjoy a day of culture, history, and community showcasing beautiful Southern Maryland!

02/02/2026

We're back for our first workshop of 2026 🥳 Check out our Oral History Workshop on February 21st from 10am-12pm at the La Plata Branch of the Charles County Public Library!

Register for FREE today!

Learn how storytelling and oral history preserve community memory in this hands-on workshop.. Event starts at February 21, 2026 10:00 AM EST

11/17/2025

Roots & Resilience: Black & Indigenous Histories of Western Charles County
Wed, Nov. 19 | 6-7PM | Potomac
Learn more: https://ccplonline.libnet.info/event/14985068 or click the calendar link in our bio!

Discover the untold stories that shaped Western Charles County. Drawing on newly released research from the Black and Indigenous History of Charles County project, research Steering Committee member Dawud Abdur-Rahman will guide attendees through a compelling story of resilience, community, and cultural identity that reveals how these communities built lives, sustained traditions, and influenced the region’s development from the 18th century to the present.

Learn about:
- The enduring presence of the Piscataway people and their deep connections to the land.
- The rise of African American land ownership and institutions, schools, churches, and civic life following emancipation.
- The significance of sites such as Pomonkey High School and the Indian Head Naval base in shaping the region’s social fabric.
- Ongoing efforts to document burial sites, develop heritage trails, and preserve community stories for future generations.

Much of the history of Western Charles County has remained unheard, what researchers call the “quiet stories” that deserve to be told. This program highlights those voices, connecting the past to the present and inspiring reflection on how history informs identity, belonging, and stewardship today. Registration is not required.

11/06/2025

🎨 We're looking for Public Art panelists!

Panelists will evaluate up to 50 applications for up to 45 minutes each, and must attend one of two panel meetings scheduled in late February.

Compensation: up to $975 depending on assignments completed, including panel and training attendance.

Apply on SmartSimple, link (in bio): msac.org/about/ways-get-involved

10/28/2025

We are hiring!

Grant Programs Assistant

$62,220.00 - $96,790.00/year

MSAC is hiring a Grant Programs Assistant to support grants administration for the Arts in Education and Maryland Traditions programs.

Please submit application and supplemental questionnaire no later than Monday, November 10, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Link (in bio): bit.ly/4oace82