Maryland Humanities Funds 2024 Programming
The power of live performance reveals itself at The Victorian Chautauqua in 2023.
The Victorian Chautauqua is pleased to be a recipient of a 2024 Marilyn Hatza SHINE Grant from Maryland Humanities. The ten thousand dollar award will go toward live programs at the weekend festival on July 6th & 7th in the Historic District of Mountain Lake Park. The specific programs funded by Maryland Humanities will be announced early in 2024.
“We are so excited to receive much-need program funding from Maryland Humanities,” said Mark Stutzman, the Victorian Chautauqua’s Creative Director. “Since day one, our program committee has been committed to carrying on the tradition established in Mountain Lake Park in 1881, and one that Maryland Humanities carried for 25 years throughout the state.”
Maryland Humanities’ Chautauqua touring program ceased after a 2020 virtual presentation to comply with the global pandemic social restrictions. In 2019, their final live presentation in Garrett County celebrated a quarter-century of bringing enlightening lectures and live performances to communities across the state. For years, Western Maryland’s program was the state’s best-attended and was presented through the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival at Garrett College. But when the 25th Anniversary arrived, a celebratory and traditional outdoor event was staged under a large tent in Mountain Lake Park, Maryland’s original Chautauqua resort community located along the B&O Railroad.
The two summer evenings of presentations were well-received and planted the seeds for a new iteration of Mountain Lake Park’s early Chautauqua movement. Now in its fourth season, The Victorian Chautauqua has grown to be a premiere summer outdoor gathering under three large-scale tents. Each year, fresh programming brings historical portrayals, lectures, and live music to eager audiences who leave entertained and energized. The original Chautauqua that began in Chautauqua, New York is credited as the source of the largest educational movement in America, and one that continues in New York and nearly 20 other locations that have endured the test of time. Mountain Lake Park’s original Mountain Chautauqua lasted for nearly three decades before fading away with passenger rail travel. Remnants of the Victorian resort remain with over 60 original buildings and towering oaks that comprise the designated Historic District.
The 2024 Maryland Humanities grant helps the Victorian Chautauqua continue to highlight the rich history of a distinctive small town in the mountains of western Maryland, according to Mary Helen Spear. She, Mark, and Suzie Sincell are always on the lookout for inspiring performances while planning each programming season.
“In addition to funding the regular programs,” Suzie added, “The Maryland Humanities grant will allow the expansion of the KidTauqua children’s programming, which is unique to our festival.”
Final touches are being added to the 2024 program but the core presentations for the entire family have already taken shape. Adults will enjoy a variety of music that includes jazz, world music, and classical guitar. Live lectures will share the history of playing cards, the songbirds of Garrett County, and the Civil War Battle of Monocacy. Historical portrayals of General George C. Marshall, President Roosevelt’s Secretary of War, Henry Stimpson, and more will have audiences entrenched in living history. And for the little ones, Kidtaquau will return with a new tent location and center additional outdoor activities around the Leo Martin Memorial Park splash pad. A special guitar workshop will introduce children to the basics of string instruments. The popular Beard & Mustache Contest, Women’s Hat Competition, Trolley Tours, The Ticket Office Museum, and added surprises await.
“Because the festival is free to attend,” said The Victorian Chautauqua Chair, Kathleen Gibbs, “a lot of effort goes into grant writing and fundraising throughout the year. Above and beyond the financial backing, Maryland Humanities is a highly respected organization from which we are proud to receive acknowledgment.”
Nonprofit organizations, community associations, and faith-based organizations were eligible to apply for SHINE funding. To qualify, all grant requests had to be rooted in one or more disciplines of the humanities, enlist the participation of humanities scholars or experts, engage communities impacted by structural racism, and be free and open to the public.
This grant was made possible by Maryland Humanities, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this blog do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Maryland Humanities.
About Maryland Humanities
Maryland Humanities is a statewide, educational, nonprofit organization. Maryland Humanities creates and supports educational experiences in the humanities that inspire all Marylanders to embrace lifelong learning, exchange ideas openly, and enrich their communities. For more information, visit www.mdhumanities.org. Maryland Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Maryland, and the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, creator of the Baker Artist Awards.
