News Release, Maryland State Arts Council
Winners from St. Mary’s County, Baltimore City and Howard County
BALTIMORE, MD The Maryland Traditions folklife program is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Heritage Awards, given annually to outstanding stewards of Maryland’s living cultural traditions. This year’s winners are:
Person or people: Bluegrass musician and promoter Jay Armsworthy, of St. Mary’s County;
Place: Generational supporter of African American community and culture, the Arch Social Club, of Baltimore City;
Tradition: Puerto Rican percussion and dance practices of bomba andplena, as upheld by Cultura Plenera, based in Howard County.
Each winner will be honored in a ceremony hosted June 7th at the Proscenium Theatre on the campus of UMBC. The ceremony is free and open to the public, and will be a featured event at the Maryland Arts Summit, a convening of artists and arts leaders from around the state. Ticket information will be released shortly though MSAC’s website and social media accounts.
“It is always a distinct pleasure to support folklife through our Heritage Awards,” said Maryland Traditions director Chad Buterbaugh. “I invite everyone to join us on June 7th to see why Jay Armsworthy, the Arch Social Club, and Cultura Plenera make Maryland such a special place to live.”
Inspired by the work of Garrett County folklorist Dr. Alta Schrock, the Maryland Traditions Heritage Awards have been given annually since 2007 to a person or group, a place, and a tradition that exemplify outstanding stewardship of Maryland’s folklife. The Maryland Traditions program is dedicated to identifying, documenting, supporting, and presenting the state’s folklife, or community-based living cultural traditions handed down by example or word of mouth.