Governor Larry Hogan released his FY 2018 budget proposal showing continued support for tourism and the arts while responsibly holding the line on spending without raising taxes, cutting services, or raiding special funds. The proposed budget includes a combined total of $11.9 million for the Office of Tourism Development – the state’s official marketing agency – and the Maryland Tourism Development Board to stimulate and promote travel and tourism in Maryland. The Governor’s FY 2018 budget also includes an all-time high of $21 million to the Maryland State Arts Council, which provides grants, technical assistance, and other support services for the arts. The Governor’s budget process is not complete until April 10, 2017 when the legislative session comes to a close. The budget will be reviewed by the Senate Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee on February 24 at 12 noon and the House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee on March 2 at 1:00 p.m. To read about Governor Hogan’s proposed Fiscal Year 2018 budget, please click here.

Maryland Office of Tourism Travel Trade Sales Manager Rich Gilbert and representatives from the Maryland tourism industry attended the 2017​ American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace in Cleveland, OH. The ABA represents more than 1,000 motorcoach and tour companies in the U.S. and Canada, and their annual marketplace is the premier trade event for the industry. Bus and group tourism is an important revenue stream for Maryland, and OTD has gotten strong results from previous ABA marketplaces thanks in part to programs like Maryland Made Easy, which was developed by Gilbert to provide packaged tour itineraries for group tour operators. Representatives from more than 50 Maryland partners were on hand to promote their destinations, attractions, hotels and dining facilities, and Gilbert expects strong bookings and activity in the weeks and months following ABA.

Maryland Arts Day is the largest annual gathering of arts professionals in Maryland. With more than 500 participants, representing every county in the state, this state-wide arts advocacy event connects artists, educators, administrators, volunteers and trustees with state lawmakers. To register and show your support for Maryland arts, follow this link to mdarts.org.

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh joined The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts and festival partners to announce the return of Light City, the nation’s first large-scale light, music and innovation festival to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Friday, March 31 through Saturday, April 8, 2017. Building on the success of the inaugural festival, Light City 2017 promises to be even bigger, bolder and brighter with brand new installations and experiences. The nine-night free, public festival will transform Baltimore into an interactive playground of light art installations, activities for the whole family, concerts and performances.

Central to Light City is the BGE Light Art Walk, a 1.5-mile trail along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor featuring the work of both local and international artists, performances, music, locally sourced food and a children’s area. Accompanying the festival is the six-day Labs@LightCity innovation conference bringing together innovators, thought leaders and inspired citizens from diverse backgrounds in six industries: Health, Design, Social, Green, Education and Food to explore concepts for sparking social change.

Each week, the Maryland Minute provides highlights and insights on this weekend’s events around the state. Maryland Minute is featured on CBS radio stations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and on Baltimore’s WBAL-AM 1090.