Tyler Clifford
As a member of the Artistic Planning curatorial team, Tyler Clifford (he/him) works to highlight and expand opportunities for emerging artists and arts leaders at The University of Maryland and its surrounding communities. Tyler’s curatorial and administrative areas of focus include global music; Vital Signs: Creative Arts for Black Lives Mini-Grants, which provides funding and resources to UMD student artists; the Clarice’s multidisciplinary arts festival known as NextNOW Fest; and The Clarice’s participation in campus traditions including Maryland Day and Homecoming. Tyler joined The Clarice in 2018 as Assistant Artistic Administrator supporting the administrative operations of the department, special events, and development projects.
Before coming to The Clarice, Tyler served local artists and community members at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center located in the Gateway Arts District of Hyattsville, MD. Tyler’s work focused on implementing outreach strategies, maintaining relationships with community partners and serving as a primary grant writer and researcher. In addition, Tyler served as a special event producer for annual fundraising events, gallery exhibitions and artist talks. Tyler also served a full-time, one year term as an AmeriCorps VISTA leader working on community engagement initiatives. During this year of service, Tyler specialized in expanding the capacity of nonprofit organizations as well as cultivating relationships between local stakeholders and organizations to collectively build a thriving and engaging arts ecosystem in Prince George’s County.
Tyler teaches creative writing and studio art workshops for both youth and adult learners, volunteers with local nonprofit organizations and arts-based initiatives in the DMV and has served as a panelist and workshop facilitator with an emphasis on arts activism and zines at the Library of Congress National Book Festival. Tyler holds a B.A. in English Literature and Language and minors in Creative Writing and Human Development and Quantitative Research Methods from the University of Maryland, College Park. Tyler is inspired by the transformative nature of arts-based experiences and the empowerment and catharsis achieved through creative expression. With this inspiration, he works to cultivate inclusive spaces that celebrate the inherent creativity within us all.