The Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC) is a 58,000 square-foot multi-disciplinary arts center located in Northern Anne Arundel County, just inside the Baltimore beltway.
CAC serves 50,000 visitors annually through diverse arts experiences in two theaters — a 752-seat Main Stage theater and a 120-seat Black Box — 2 exhibit galleries, 2 ceramics studios, 2 dance studios, the Michael Stanley MakerSpace, a STEAM classroom, and other multi-purpose arts classrooms and spaces.
CAC’s year-round arts experiences include hundreds of classes and workshops each year for all ages and backgrounds in disciplines ranging from dance, drama, and STEAM to ceramics, visual arts and cosplay. Scholarships ensure students with limited financial means can access our arts classes for free or at a greatly reduced fee. We partner with regional arts organizations to present music, drama, and dance performances in our theaters and support area businesses, community groups, schools, and others to present their offerings on our stages in a professional setting. We curate more than 20 exhibitions in our galleries each year to showcase the artwork of individual artists and arts groups, including emerging artists and students. We engage the community through special events including two free signature events — an Open House each Spring and Arts in the Park each fall.
All our activities are supported by our generous community — through grants, individual and foundation gifts, membership, class tuition, and ticket fees. Ensuring the arts are accessible to all, more than half our offerings each year are free; and those that have a fee are affordably priced.
We invite all in our community visit CAC — visit the galleries, attend an event or performance, or take an arts class or workshop.
Our Vision
To be the region’s premier arts center, inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to connect, create, and experience the arts.
Our Mission
To foster creativity, create connections, and inspire joy by delivering innovative and accessible arts and education programs.
We strive to provide the very best in arts education.
Approximately 150 affordable hands-on arts classes (ceramics, dance, music, theater, literature and visual arts) are offered each year. Some 350 students - from toddlers to seniors - participate in classes and workshops at the CAC. Theater performances are attended by more than 7,000 children under the age of eighteen each year.
Outreach
In 2018-2019, CAC was able to reach over 400 students through free and low-cost arts programs. Free and reduced-price arts classes are available – including after school - throughout the year to qualifying residents in the underserved areas of Brooklyn Park, Glen Burnie and Severn through generous grants.
Hal Gomer Gallery
The CAC showcases 15-20 artists annually in its newly renovated art gallery. In addition, the CAC presents offsite exhibits throughout the community.
Performing Arts
The CAC works with various theater companies to present a diverse offering of theatrical arts to the community, as well as all genres of music and dance to appeal to the large demographics of our area.
MakerSpace
Launched in the fall of 2017, The CAC MakerSpace offers the opportunity to explore and learn new skills through instructional classes, workshops, and after school programming. We have pay what you can monthly family workshops, safety courses for woodworking and metal as well as Screen Printing classes.
Over 50,000 patrons visit us each year.
Our facility houses a theater, a studio, gallery space, ceramics lab, dance studios, music room, MakerSpace, and classrooms. We rent our space out regularly to like-minded artists and organizations.
Hammonds Lane Theatre
This 752-seat venue is ideal for live theatre, music, dance and other performance events as well as corporate events and graduations. It features a newly installed custom-built sound
system, upgraded lighting and a stage area with ample dressing room space. It is ADA compliant (on and off stage).
Hal Gomer Gallery
The CAC showcases 15-20 artists annually in its newly renovated art gallery. In addition, the CAC presents offsite exhibits throughout the community.
Studio 194
Studio 194 is an ideal location for smaller productions, concerts, meetings and rehearsals. This black box theater features a 120-seat raised-level seating area with removable seating and wheelchair access.
Dance Studios, Ceramics Lab, MakerSpace & Classrooms
The CAC is home to 2 dance studios, 2 visual arts classrooms, a Ceramics studio, the Michael Stanley MakerSpace, the STEAM lab, and a computer lab.
We’re here to serve our community.
The Chesapeake Arts Center relies on the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations and government agencies as well as revenue generated through rentals, ticket sales and tuition to meet its $1,572,500 annual budget. To learn more about how you can help, click here.
The CAC is located in Brooklyn Park, which was recently designated as a sustainable community by the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development. This program promotes community development, revitalization and sustainability through state-supported financing programs and tax credit incentives. This area is also in the area designated for the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative (BRNI).
Our facility is the remarkable result of a $35 million renovation of Brooklyn Park High School. The complex now includes the CAC, a police substation, a county recreation center, a senior center, and Brooklyn Park Middle School, which is one of two Performing & Visual Arts (PVA) magnet middle schools in Anne Arundel County.