Merriweather Arts and Culture Center and Columbia Festival of the Arts Announce Merger
COLUMBIA, MD — [September 25, 2025] — The Merriweather Arts and Culture Center (MACC) today announced that it has formally assumed the programs and assets of the Columbia Festival of the Arts (CFA), uniting two organizations that have long worked in partnership to bring arts and culture to the greater Howard County community.
This move builds on a long-standing partnership between the two organizations, including MACC’s production of CFA’s signature event, Lakefest, for the past two years. The agreement ensures the continuation of free community arts programming bringing premiere music, art and culture to the region.
“We are excited to honor the legacy of the Columbia Festival of the Arts, while ensuring its spirit continues to thrive. Together, we’ll be able to expand access, deepen community connections, and create even more opportunities for people to experience the transformative power of the arts,” said Ian Kennedy, Executive Director, Merriweather Arts and Culture Center.
MACC, based at the historic Merriweather Post Pavilion, was established to expand cultural programming and community events in Downtown Columbia. Its leadership and infrastructure make it a natural steward of CFA’s mission and programs.
To guide the transition, Jennifer Jones, former Vice Chair of CFA, has joined the MACC Board of Directors. In addition, a new Columbia Festival of the Arts Committee has been established as a standing committee by MACC’s Board to steward the Festival’s future and advise on programming, fundraising, and community engagement.
MACC will collaborate with the Festival Committee, long-standing CFA volunteers, donors, sponsors, and community stakeholders to sustain and grow Columbia’s summer Festival tradition. Together, they will strengthen Columbia’s identity as a hub for community-driven arts and culture.
“The Columbia Festival of the Arts has been a cornerstone of arts, music, and culture in Columbia for over 30 years,” said Philip Maher, Chair of the Columbia Festival of the Arts Board of Trustees. “The partnership with the Merriweather Arts and Culture Center is going to ensure that the Festival’s legacy and impact live on in our community for many years to come.”
For more information, visit merriweatherarts.org.
About Merriweather Arts and Culture Center
The Merriweather Arts and Culture Center is a nonprofit organization committed to providing free and low-cost arts programming for the community. As stewards of Merriweather Post Pavilion, MACC fosters creative partnerships, champions arts education, and ensures that the arts remain accessible for all. By presenting uplifting and entertaining family-friendly events and in-school arts residencies, MACC continues to celebrate the transformative power of the arts, and their ability to inspire and unite.