Salisbury, MD – Salisbury Arts Alliance is pleased to announce its new name and branding. The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formerly known as Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District, Inc., was originally founded in August 2016 with a mission to enhance economic development in Downtown Salisbury through the arts, utilizing the Maryland State Arts Council’s Art & Entertainment District designation framework. The group employed Executive Director Jamie Heater to run a variety of signature programs and marketing initiatives, like 3rd Friday, New Years Eve Ball Drop, amphitheater concerts, and public art initiatives.
In June 2023, The City of Salisbury took over responsibility for its Arts & Entertainment District designation and many of the non-profit’s events, through its growing Arts, Business and Culture Department. With its growing staff of event specialists, the City of Salisbury became well positioned to execute the programming formerly taken on by the group.
“Salisbury will continue to have an Arts & Entertainment District”, explains former Executive Director Jamie Heater, “however the management of the district will now fall to the City of Salisbury’s Arts, Business and Culture Department. Our non-profit was honored to serve this purpose for many years, and we are thrilled that the City has devoted infrastructure to meet this need. Our non-profit is now looking to the future, and discussing the new ways we can work to support the arts in our community.”
Under its new name, Salisbury Arts Alliance, the group will continue to support the arts through public art initiatives, new programs, and arts advocacy. Former Executive Director Jamie Heater now serves as Board Chair, with the remaining 13-person Board of Directors remaining intact. The non-profit’s new name, and branding will allow it to approach the arts within a broader area, instead of an exclusively arts district centric approach.
Salisbury Arts Alliance’s mission is to foster elevated artistic expression in Salisbury by building partnerships to develop, support and promote diverse artistic, entertainment, and cultural endeavors, that preserve a sense of place, appreciate the unique character of Salisbury, and build community pride. To learn more visit salisburyartsalliance.org.
