Contact: Chelsea Haddaway, Communications Manager 410-455-6380 chaddaway@umbc.edu UMBC and the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) announce an exploratory foundational partnership. The goal of this initial foundational partnership is to explore the possibilities of a long-term partnership between MSAC and UMBC in which both agencies would share responsibilities for the support and direction of Maryland Traditions, the folklife program of the MSAC. Highlights of the 2010/2011 partnership agreement include the creation of an adjunct faculty appointment for Maryland Traditions Co-Director Dr. Elaine Eff in the American studies department and the opportunity for Maryland Traditions to work with the college of arts, humanities, and social sciences in community-based academic initiatives. Dr. Eff’s Maryland Traditions co-director position at UMBC will also be affiliated this year with the James T. and Virginia M. Dresher Center for the Humanities, which will host a Maryland Traditions-themed humanities forum event in spring 2011. “We anticipate that this exploratory partnership will provide opportunities to develop a variety of important connections among UMBC faculty and students, MSAC and Maryland Traditions, and to explore possibilities and strategies for continuation of the partnership on an ongoing basis,” said Dr. John W. Jeffries, dean of the college of arts, humanities and social sciences. “Maryland Traditions has the potential to enhance UMBC’s excellence in the arts, humanities and social sciences.” “This agreement brings unlimited possibilities to both of our institutions,” said Theresa Colvin, executive director of MSAC. “We hope that this initial phase will blossom into a mutually beneficial long-term partnership, elevating awareness of Maryland folklife, fostering understanding of traditional communities, generating high-quality scholarship on Maryland-based topics and enhancing the experience of UMBC students in the arts, humanities and social sciences through quality internships with Maryland Traditions’ partners statewide.” Maryland Traditions is in its tenth year of developing statewide infrastructure for folk arts and folklife with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The program identifies and documents individuals and communities that comprise the state’s folk and traditional arts and folklife. It supports the dissemination of information to wider audiences through publication, presentation and other educational and grant funded activities. The program is co-directed by Dr. Elaine Eff and Dr. Cliff Murphy.