Since 1975, the Allegany Arts Council has been the official "umbrella" organization for the advocacy of the arts in Allegany County. The Arts Council is headquartered in the heart of Downtown Cumberland at 9 N. Centre Street (just off the Baltimore Street pedestrian mall), and is one of several anchors in the City’s vibrant Arts & Entertainment District. The office is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:00am–5:00pm, and visitors are always welcome.

At this same location, the Allegany Arts Council also maintains a professional exhibition space, The Saville Gallery, that features the artwork of local, regional and national artists. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am–5:00pm, and Saturdays from 11:00am–4:00pm. From mid-May to mid-November, the Saville Gallery is also open on Sundays from 11:00am–4:00pm, and during most Friday After Five events.

The Allegany Arts Council's facility at 9 N. Centre Street also includes a separate "Community Room" with a raised stage and a professional sound & lighting system that is available for small performances, live music, literary readings, workshops, meetings and classes. To learn more about using our Community Room for arts programming, please download the Community Room Guidelines and Fees, or email Robin Vereen at rvereen@allconet.org, or call her at 301-777-ARTS (2787).

At a separate location in Downtown Cumberland, in the Canal Place Heritage Area, the Allegany Arts Council partners with members of the local visual arts community to operate Arts at Canal Place. Established in May 2003, Arts at Canal place is a successful cooperative gallery (with over thirty members!) that displays and sells the artwork of talented artists from throughout the Western Maryland region.

Mountain City Traditional Arts is a venue in Downtown Frostburg that is dedicated to the education, sales, documentation and perpetuation of regional art and craft. A collaborative venture of the Allegany Arts Council, Folklore/Folklife Programming at Frostburg State Univerity, and the FrostburgFirst Main Street Program, Mountain City Traditional Arts opened its doors to the public in May 2009.

In addition to administering the three exhibition spaces and one multi-purpose space listed above, the Allegany Arts Council also produces an exciting variety of other artistic programming, across all of the artistic disiplines, at locations throughout the county. Strong partnerships with Frostburg State University, Allegany College of Maryland, the Allegany County Public School System, the Allegany County Library System, the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, and many others all help to ensure that quality arts programming is available to the entire community throughout the year.

In FY'09, the Allegany Arts Council also awarded over $35,000 in General Operating Grants and Special Project Grants to non-profit organizations throughout Allegany County. These grants help to support daily operational expenses, and/or to assist these organization in developing and producing their own arts programming. To find out more about these organizations and their programming, please follow this link to a list of the Allegany Arts Council's Community Partners.

Programming sponsored by the Allegany Arts Council is made possible in part by a Community Arts Development Grant from the Maryland State Arts Council and the financial support of Allegany County, the City of Frostburg and the City of Cumberland. Membership dues and community contributions also play an important role in supporting the ongoing mission of the Arts Council. Membership in the Allegany Arts Council is open to everyone--you don't have to be an artist to join! So, if you’re not already a member, please click this Membership link to learn more about joining our organization. For questions or additional information about the Allegany Arts Council, please email us at arts@allconet.org or call us at 301-777-ARTS (2787).

Here's some additional information that you may find useful: