CAMBRIDGE - Anyone seeking unique gifts for friends and family can shop at the Dorchester Center for the Arts. In addition to the gallery, the Center has a sizeable gift shop, called Studio Works, which offers many specialty items. Included in the inventory are works from local artists that include paintings, photographs, pottery, books, glassware, music, jewelry and much more.

Purchases made from Studio Works benefit artists from our area and also the Center. Customers are invited to shop during the Centers normal business hours and purchases can be made by cash, check, Visa, Discover or Master Card. The Center is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special holiday evening hours will be Dec. 1, 4, 8 and 11 until 9 p.m.

Center gift certificates are also available, which can be used toward gallery and gift shop purchases, classes and workshops. Call 410-228-7782 for more information.

Community Arts Grants

Applications available

Applications are now being accepted for organizations wishing to apply for The Community Arts Grants program. The deadline for receipt of the applications is Dec. 23, 2014. These grants are an allocation of the Dorchester Center for the Arts as the designated Dorchester County Arts Council, and monies are to be used for arts programming.

The funds allocated in the grant are from the Maryland State Arts Council and are intended to encourage arts participation across the county. Supported arts disciplines include dance, theatre, visual arts, music, film/media arts, literary arts, folk/heritage/traditional and multi-disciplinary arts programming. Individual grants average $100-900. Granting allocations will total $2,000 for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. Programs must take place between Jan. 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015.

Applications are evaluated on the following criteria: artistic merit, organizational

effectiveness and service to the community. Organizations receiving funds must be located or producing programs in Dorchester County and be incorporated as a not-for-profit organization or be in the process of obtaining 501(c) (3) certification.

To obtain an application and grant guidelines, visit the Dorchester Center for the Arts, located at 321 High St. in Cambridge during normal business hours. These forms can also be obtained from the website at www.dorchesterartscenter.org. For more information, call 410-228-7782.

DCA Gallery Exhibits

For those yet to visit the “Annual Community Photography & Digital Arts Exhibit” in DCA Galleries; Nov. 29 is the last day to view these works. Photos on display are from area youth, amateur adults and professional adult with approximately 130 photos on display. Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.                Coming Dec. 4 is the “Small Works and Other Good Things” show from the Wednesday Morning Artists. There will be a special Second Saturday reception, “Night of a Zillion Snowflakes” on Dec. 13 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Included in the evening with be a brief concert by members of area church choirs.

Call 410-228-7782 for more information.

Editor’s note: Spectrum is the weekly column of the Dorchester Arts Center. It is written by Mickey Love, executive director.