The State House Trust, the Commission on Artistic Property (of the Maryland State Archives), the Department of General Services, and the Maryland Public Art Commission (of the Maryland State Arts Council) are pleased to announce a Request for Qualifications from artists, or teams of artists (hereafter, “artists” shall mean individuals and/or teams of artists) with experience in figurative sculptural artwork to design and create a memorial to honor Black Patriots who served in the American Revolutionary War. Once identified, qualified artists will then be invited to submit proposals to be considered for commissioned work to create a monument that will be located on the grounds of the Maryland State House.

The Monument to Honor Black Patriots aims to honor and acknowledge the overlooked history of the African American community in early Maryland, the majority of whom were free Blacks. The monument will communicate that the history of African Americans in Maryland begins with the free and indentured Black passengers on the Ark and the Dove’s original 1634 landing.

Over 150 Maryland African Americans, a minority of whom were enslaved people, are known to have enlisted and served in the Revolutionary War. Their existence and contribution have been largely unknown in Maryland's public history. With the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, and in coordination with the MD250 Commission, Maryland has the opportunity to honor these soldiers and their military service to the creation of this nation. The concept for such a memorial artwork was initially proposed by Steven X. Lee the author of ‘The Story of Mr. Thomas Carney - A Maryland Patriot of the American Revolutionary War.’ Carney was one of many Maryland African Americans, who enlisted and served in integrated units during the Revolutionary War. Just like their white counterparts, the Black Patriots traveled with an army that included free and enslaved women and children who were integral to its functioning. Their contributions have been overlooked in historical narratives. Their legacy is but one of the omitted chapters in the heritage of early Maryland’s extensive Black community.

The purpose of the sculpture is to honor these unsung Patriots who were members of the Continental Army community and to expand public understanding of the people who contributed to the fight for American independence. This monument should celebrate the contributions of Maryland’s free Black population to our State and Country through figurative depictions and the selected artist's interpretation.

Artwork Location:
The monument is to be placed on the exterior southeast lawn in front of the State House, the original 18th-century entrance to the building. The scale of this monument should be appropriately proportioned to respect the historic façade of the building, and not obscure the view onto, or from, the southeast portico. The monument will be located in proximity to the Old Treasury Building (the oldest public building in Annapolis, built 1735-36) as well as to the tree honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., planted in 1984. The Maryland State House was built in the Georgian style. The proposed artwork should take into account the existing landscape and the scale of the building. There must be ADA access to view and experience the artwork. Artwork materials must be durable to withstand the elements and be low maintenance.

The Maryland State House in Annapolis is the oldest state house in the country still in continuous legislative use. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960. In the State House, the General Assembly convenes annually from January to April. Legislative chambers for the Senate of Maryland and the House of Delegates, as well as historic period chambers (including the Old Senate Chamber and Old House of Delegates Chamber), executive offices, and exhibits are located in the building.

More information about existing monuments and memorials on the Maryland State House grounds can be found here: https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdstatehouse/html/memorials_main.html

For full project information, application instructions and application form, please see the commission portal link above.