Annapolis Creative Business Part Of 'Keep It Local Contest'

ANNAPOLIS, MD — ArtForm Farm in Annapolis is in the running for Howard Bank's "Keep It Local" small business contest. The creative space is one of 15 businesses competing for $10,000. This is the first time the bank is hosting this contest and in May asked the community to nominate their favorite local business for inclusion in the contest.

The top 15 businesses that earned the most nominations according to the rules advanced to the first round of online voting. Nominees had to be located in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil, Harford and Howard counties, along with Baltimore City.

Vote here in the Howard Bank's Keep It Local contest.

Here is how the business is described in the Howard Bank contest:

ArtFarm Studios in Annapolis is a creative space that engages the community, supports artists in their endeavors, and encourages collaboration and growth among artists. Creating a hub of support and inspiration, ArtFarm is owned by two female artists who have put their blood, sweat and tears into their local arts scene by creating a place that welcomes all people and mediums of art. They give back by offering scholarships toward art classes to disadvantaged youth.

Alison Harbaugh and Darin Gilliam created specific programs that reflect their mission of community building. Alison runs Fearless Girls Photography where teens are communing and finding confidence through sharing art with peers and telling stories of their community. Darin
mentors artists to become entrepreneurs. Her residency program teaches artists to dig deep and find out who they are and what goals they have for their creative career.

You will find children’s classes, teaching students to make art that matters, an indie film screening, improv class that encourage adults to find their confidence, a hip hop open mic night that has created a family-like atmosphere, and gallery exhibits showing large scale works
of artists not normally associated with the “Annapolis art scene." ArtFarm is a venue that is changing the way people perceive art in Annapolis.

The seeds planted in Annapolis by Harbaugh and Gilliam have come to fruition over the past few years, the community around them continues to grow and inspire change in Annapolis. All benefit when art is alive in a city.

Five contestants with the most votes will move on to the second round of voting from July 8 to July 26. A winner will be announced Aug. 5.