The Frederick County Art Association is a not-for-profit organization committed to encouraging artistic growth within its membership, as well as promoting community interest and participation in the visual arts.
Established in 1979, the Frederick County Art Association led a grassroots campaign to bring a first-class visual arts center to Frederick. As an organization, we support The Delaplaine Arts Center, which opened in 1986 with the help of early members of the FCAA. The FCAA is represented on the Delaplaine Board through the Alliance, a group of art organizations whose representatives meet regularly to discuss activities and concerns of The Delaplaine
The FCAA is the single largest group of active artists in the Frederick, MD area. With this broad membership base, the FCAA is able to address a variety of concerns and present a united viewpoint for the support of the visual arts in the community.
Our membership is made up of people with a variety of art interests. Members include hobby artists, professionals, fine crafters, authors, art teachers, students and others who enjoy exhibiting, viewing, collecting, supporting and earning more about the visual arts.
The group continues to give back to the community. The FCAA has given more than $80,000 in scholarship money and donations to The Delaplaine, including a named gift of $10,000 in honor of Meredith Springer, one of FCAA's founders and an early FCAA president. Mr. Springer is also a founder of The Delaplaine and was President of its first Board of Directors. FCAA continues to recognize and encourage young, developing talent by supporting the annual Bettie Awards presented by The Delaplaine to deserving Frederick County high school seniors who plan to continue their art studies.
2024 Board of Directors
Past President: Vicki Clarkson, Rena Larkin
Membership: VACANT
Corresponding Secretary: VACANT
Programs: Vacant
FCAA History
FCAA was formed in 1979 by Rena Larkin and Joyce Kuhn along with a small group of local artists. The first meetings were held on East Street at the former Frederick Academy of the Arts. The group focused on finding places to show their work, sharing information about shows, techniques and materials. By 1981 FCAA began meeting regularly at Frederick Community College. Enthusiasm for the association was high when the election of officers was held. There were multiple candidates running for each office.
By 1982 the membership was at 65 artists. Plans were made for group exhibits, trips to out of town museums, social events and a scholarship fund. In that year, FCCA began awarding scholarships to talented Frederick County high school seniors who intended to pursue art in college. In that same year, FCAA was approached by the owners of Lily Pons Water Gardens about holding an arts and crafts festival on Labor Day Weekend at the garden. The Koi Festival as it became known, was the associations major fund raiser for its scholarship fund. The art show saw great success and drew crowds of up to 7500 people during the weekend. FCAA produced the Koi Festival for 17 years with 1999 being the last year.
The organization is proud to be able to continue its scholarship program by helping to sponsor the Elizabeth Barker (Bettie) Delaplaine Award for Young Artists. One of FCAA’s achievements, spearheaded by past president Meredith Springer, was being in the forefront of a campaign to bring a first class visual arts center to Frederick. Many of the members worked tirelessly on this project and with the help of their grass roots efforts, The Delaplaine Visual Arts Center was formed.
As an organization, we continue to support The Delaplaine Visual Arts Center with financial donations and are represented on its Board through the Art Center Alliance, a group of art organizations whose representatives meet regularly to be updated and to discuss the activities and concerns of The Delaplaine.
FCAA has sponsored many member group shows throughout the years such as the Fine Arts Affair in 1982, and the Mid-Atlantic Juried Art Show from 1984 to 1986. Our annual members show at The Delaplaine Visual Arts Center started in 1989 and has continued to the present. We have also organized members group shows at Frederick Community College, Hood College, and The Frederick Festival of the Arts.
Our members have enjoyed many quest speakers and social events over the years including trips to the Brandywine Museum, Longwood Gardens, The Baltimore Museum of Art, and Brookside Gardens. Our first summer picnic was held in 1981 and has continued every year, thanks to our generous members who open their homes for this popular get- together. Since 1989 the organization has wrapped up the year with a wonderful Holiday Party.