Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area Awards $31,400 in Grants to 11 Local Heritage Organizations

The Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area has awarded $31,400 in mini-grants to 11 heritage-focused nonprofit organizations in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, supporting projects that promote heritage tourism, preserve local history, and strengthen the region’s cultural resources.

Mini-Grant Program Supports Heritage Tourism and Preservation

The Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area (CCHA) mini-grant program is funded through a $25,000 grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, with additional support from CCHA. The program helps nonprofit partners develop new programs, interpretive signs, activities, and events that highlight local history and culture while encouraging economic development and collaboration.

This year, CCHA received $44,900 in funding requests. All grantees are required to provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match, resulting in an additional $134,425 of investment in the heritage area beyond the grant funding itself.

11 Heritage Organizations Receive FY2026 Mini-Grants

The FY2026 Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area mini-grant recipients are:

• Blacks of the Chesapeake – $1,000
• Brewer Hill Cemetery Association – $5,000
• Captain Avery Museum – $2,600
• Chesapeake Arts Center – $1,500
• Chesapeake Children’s Museum – $2,000
• Galesville Heritage Museum – $3,500
• Historic Annapolis – $3,000
• Maryland Federation of Arts – $1,800
• Maryland Hall for Creative Arts – $1,000
• Skipjack Heritage, Inc. – $5,000
• Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County – $5,000

These organizations will use the funding to enhance interpretation, public programming, and access to historic and cultural resources throughout the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area.

Elevating Local Stories and Underrepresented History

Several projects will focus on bringing overlooked or underinterpreted sites into the public eye. The Brewer Hill Cemetery Association highlighted the significance of its grant-supported initiative.

“Brewer Hill Cemetery Association representatives remarked, ‘This project transforms Brewer Hill Cemetery from a hidden or overlooked site into an interpreted, visible, and valued destination. Through historical storytelling, digital engagement, and a public unveiling event, this initiative ensures Brewer Hill takes its rightful place in the narrative of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.’”

Other grantees will develop exhibits, educational programs, and public art projects that share the stories of the people, communities, and working waterfronts that define the region’s history.

Supporting Maryland’s 250th and Regional Interpretation

Funding awarded to Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County will support its “Be Revolutionary” campaign as part of the region’s 250th commemorations. The grant will fund a series of interpretive panels that will be unveiled to the public on Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the Maryland Day Week kickoff celebrations.

These panels will help connect residents and visitors with key stories tied to the American Revolution and the broader history of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.

Chesapeake Crossroads Reinforces its Mission

CCHA Board Chair Tim Leahy underscored the importance of supporting local partners through the mini-grant program.

“Tim Leahy, the CCHA Board Chair, shared that ‘We are so happy to support our cultural heritage partners to bring history alive across the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area.’”

With this round of mini-grants, the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area continues its work to sustain historic places, uplift community stories, and promote heritage tourism throughout Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.

Related