The Garrett County Arts Council facilitates artistic collaboration and creative expression throughout the community we serve.  In Garrett County, the arts become us!

We publish Ginseng, an annual literary journal that features outstanding selections of poetry, prose, and fiction by high school and adult writers in western Maryland. The 2010 edition will be available in June at The Gallery Shop and various county locations.  Please Contact Us for submission guidelines.

We present our annual Heritage Craft Fest each October during Garrett County’s Autumn Glory Festival to showcase the creative work of regional artisans. Our weekend craft show and sale involves 85 participating vendors and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Please Contact Us in June for information regarding vendor participation opportunities.

We sponsor periodic workshops and demonstrations of art and craft at our Gallery in Oakland and at other locations throughout Garrett County. We strive to maintain affordable enrollment fees for workshops, and most of our demonstrations are free. Please Contact Us for a current schedule.

Garrett Galaxy, our occasional performing arts showcase, highlights the talents of Garrett County’s performing artists. Please Contact Us if you would like to appear on stage with other local stars.

We collaborate with Garrett College and Garrett Lakes Arts Festival to help make possible the annual Chautauqua program of the Maryland Humanities Council at Deep Creek Lake. Chautauqua brings historical characters to life outdoors under a large tent each July through scholarly impersonation and audience interaction. Please Contact Us for additional information.

We work with Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers to produce the annual Art in the Park festival of arts and crafts at the Discovery Center, Deep Creek Lake.  Please Contact Us by May 31 for information regarding vendor participation opportunities.

We maintain rotating fine art exhibits at the Garrett County Visitors Center in McHenry. Please stop by the Visitors Center to learn all about the area and enjoy our show!