On October 24, over 400 attendees gathered at the Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College, coming together to raise more than $100,000 in support of the arts in Howard County, Maryland.
The Howard County Arts Council’s 29th annual Celebration of the Arts was a tremendous success, generating approximately $119,000, alongside an additional $58,000 from donated goods and services.
Since its inception nearly three decades ago, this event has accumulated over $2 million, which has been reinfused into the community to foster the arts. The funds raised have been instrumental in supporting artist awards, grants, scholarships, exhibitions, various arts programming, and other initiatives.
The evening was graced by the presence of Christa Kerrigan, the principal architect for Michael Graves, who served as the honorary chair. Terry N. Eberhardt, a musician and music coordinator within the Howard County Public School System, took on the role of emcee for the gathering.
As part of the Rising Star Performing Arts Competition, eight talented finalists showcased their skills, competing for the audience’s support and a $5,000 award. The Boundless Basses, comprising double bassists Zach Desmond and Eric Liu, captivated the crowd with their rendition of “Tres Tangos Para Duo de Contrabajos” by Andres Martin, ultimately earning the title of 2026 Rising Stars. Other finalists included Lisa Choi (Flute), Samuel Hsu (Vibraphone), Claire Marguerite Iverson (Classical Voice), Glory John (Dance), Junwen Liang (Piano), and Lydia You (Oboe).
The Celebration also honored individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts in Howard County. This year’s Howie Award recipients included Elizabeth Higgens as Outstanding Artist, Tammy Suggon as Outstanding Arts Educator, and Harry S. Glass as Outstanding Community Supporter of the Arts. A special recognition, the Coleen West Leadership in the Arts Award, was awarded to Liz Henzey, the director of the Columbia Association Art Center.
Students from both Centennial High School and Guildford Park High School took to the stage during the event. During the reception, musical performances were provided by members of the Maryland Winds Woodwind Quintet and classical guitarist Bruce Casteel, enriching the celebratory atmosphere.
The gala featured 19 culinary sponsors who showcased their culinary talents and competed for the title of Best Culinary Display. The top honor went to Cured | 18th & 21st, with Blackwall Barn & Lodge/Smashing Grapes coming in second and The Collective Offshore and Encore securing third place.
The Art Auction highlighted the works of 35 local artists, who contributed a total of 45 pieces, with 32 being sold during the evening. Proceeds from the Celebration of the Arts directly support grants allocated to local arts organizations and schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as scholarships for aspiring artists and various arts programming initiatives. For more details on how to support the arts community in Howard County and to get involved as an artist, please visit the Arts Council website.
