Arts & Entertainment Districts

Berlin A&E District "Ice Ice Berlin and Tree Lighting" event. (Worcester County) Arts & Entertainment Districts Maryland’s Arts & Entertainment (A&E) Districts help develop and promote community revitalization through tax-related incentives. Maryland's 29 A&E Districts are unique destinations, attracting organizations, and other creative enterprises to specific neighborhoods in Maryland’s towns and cities. Each reflects the traditions and evolving culture of its community and invites residents and visitors to experience the best Maryland has to offer. Program Information Program Goals and Strategies The goal of the A&E Districts program is to support diverse artistic and cultural centers in communities across Maryland that preserve a sense of place, provide unique local experiences, attract tourism, and spur economic revitalization and neighborhood pride. In turn, this furthers the State’s goal of reinvesting in existing communities and creating places that help economy, and the environment thrive as articulated in the Maryland Department of Planning’s Reinvest Maryland strategy. Click here  to read more about Reinvest Maryland. Strategies supported by the A&E Districts program include: creating accessible, unique arts destinations; leveraging the State’s regional identities, natural resources, and heritage; facilitating opportunities for dynamic arts experiences that actively engage community members and attract visitors; enabling artists of all disciplines to prosper create an economically prosperous future; and investing in the power of place. Districts Impact In 2001, Maryland became one of the first states to create a designation program for arts or cultural districts. Since then, 29 districts have been designated and Marylanders have reaped the social and economic benefits the arts bring to communities. The program's most recent economic impact study shows that in fiscal year 2022 events and new buisnesses, in Maryland's Arts and Entertainment Districts supported more than $149.5 million in state GDP, over $8.1 million in tax revenues for state and county governments, and accounts for 1,185 jobs and nearly $45.7 million in employee compensation. FY 2024 Click here to read the full FY 2024 Maryland Arts and Entertainment District Survey Analysis. Click here to read the full FY 2024 A&E Districts Economic and Tax Impact Analysis Report. FY 2023 Click here to read the full FY 2023 Maryland Arts and Entertainment District Survey Analysis. Click here to read the full FY 2023 A&E Districts Economic and Tax Impact Analysis Report. FY 2022 Click here to read the full FY 2022 Maryland Arts and Entertainment District Survey Analysis. Click here to read the full FY 2022 A&E Districts Economic and Tax Impact Analysis Report. FY 2021 Click here to read the full FY 2021 A&E Districts Economic and Tax Impact Analysis Report. Click here to read the FY 2021 Maryland Arts and Entertainment District Survey Analysis. FY 2020 Click here to read the full FY 2020 A&E Districts Economic and Tax Impact Analysis Report. Click here to read the FY 2020 Maryland Arts and Entertainment District Survey Analysis. FY 2019 Click here to read the full FY 2019 A&E Districts Economic and Tax Impact Analysis Report. Click here to read the FY 2019 Maryland Arts and Entertainment District Survey Analysis. FY 2018 Click here to view the FY 2018 A&E Districts Economic Impact Report. Click here to read the FY 2018 Maryland Arts and Entertainment District Survey Analysis. FY 2017 Click here to view the FY 2017 A&E Districts Survey Report. FY 2016 Click here to view the FY 2016 A&E Districts Economic Impact Report. Available Incentives Property Tax Incentives