Salisbury’s Arts, Business and Culture Department, along with several other organizations, work to embrace the arts in Salisbury and highlight musicians and visual artists.
Events: The Arts, Business and Culture Department, also known as ABCD, manages the following free arts-related events:
- Maryland Folk Festival (held the third weekend of September)
- 3rd Friday (outdoor arts festival, April-November)
- Friday Night Live concert series (held each summer)
- Poets’ Corner
- Unity Thru Music (new outdoor concert series, held July-October)
ABCD also puts on other events, such as Hops on the River, Holiday Lights and New Year’s Eve SBY, and works with other organizations on bringing their events to Downtown Salisbury — for example, the RunSBY Events, the Haitian Flag Day Festival, Eastern Shore Juneteenth and Salisbury Pride.
Public Art: From murals to sculptures and more, public art can be found across Salisbury, and especially in Downtown Salisbury. The City released a new Public Art Master Plan in 2023, and the first Salisbury Prize was awarded in 2024. A map of Downtown Salisbury’s public art can be found at DowntownSBY.com.
Salisbury Arts Alliance: According to its website, the mission of Salisbury Arts Alliance 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.
Salisbury University Art Galleries: The Salisbury University Art Galleries has three locations — The University Gallery and Gallery 128 on the Salisbury University campus, and the Downtown Gallery at 212 W. Main St., Suite 201. In addition to exhibitions, the galleries also host events. See the current featured exhibitions here.
Salisbury Art Space: The Salisbury Art Space has regularly changing exhibits and also offers classes for children and adults. See the current exhibitions here and upcoming classes here.
Live Music: Restaurants in Downtown Salisbury and beyond regularly host live music. Check out the Downtown Salisbury events calendar here.
AMP Studio- Academy of Music Performance: Right in the heart of Downtown, there lives an amazing organization that fosters and empowers student musicians. Playing throughout the community for public events and community organizations, they are the future of music in and around Salisbury.
Salisbury Community Band: Upholding a longtime tradition, the Salisbury Community Band plays free shows during the summer. Shows are held Sundays in late June and throughout July at the bandstand of the Salisbury City Park.
Community Players of Salisbury: Bringing live local theater to life for decades, the Community Players of Salisbury regularly produce four shows within the season: a major musical and three additional shows.