SALISBURY, Md. - Five organizations on Maryland’s Lower Shore will share nearly $287,000 in grant funding to preserve and celebrate the region’s cultural heritage.
Governor Wes Moore announced last week that the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority awarded 91 matching grants totaling more than $4.6 million statewide to support heritage tourism and economic growth.
The Beach to Bay Heritage Area received $286,700 in funding for projects that range from recording oral histories to enhancing local events. Among the recipients are the City of Salisbury, which will use funds to support the Maryland Folklife Tent, and the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce, which plans improvements to the Hard Crab Derby. The Henry Hotel Foundation was awarded money to conduct and record oral histories, while the Museum of Eastern Shore Culture at Salisbury University will install a fiber arts exhibit. Beach to Bay Heritage Area, Inc. also received funding for management and mini-grants.
“The lower shore has such a diverse and rich traditional culture. This funding supports our work to protect and share our regional identity," said Executive Director of the Beach to Bay Heritage Area, Lisa Challenger. “These grant funds are investing in our cultural legacy to shape our future."
The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority is an independent government unit chaired by Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Rebecca Flora and administered by the Maryland Historical Trust. 13 certified heritage areas operate across the state.