Common Ground on the Hill
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersWestminster, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Common Ground on the Hill does
Common Ground on the Hill is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1994 by Walt Michael and headquartered in Westminster, Maryland, where it operates in residence at McDaniel College. Designated as a regional folklife center under the Maryland State Arts Council's Maryland Traditions Program, the organization delivers traditional American arts education through immersive, multi-day programming including its flagship Traditions Weeks (three weeks of workshops in music, dance, visual arts, and crafts), DCBU Camp (bluegrass and old-time music), and Common Ground on the Border (an Arizona-based border issues immersion). Supporting a 100+ instructor faculty that includes Grammy-recognized artists such as Tim O'Brien and MacArthur Fellow Joyce J. Scott, the organization serves traditional arts enthusiasts, college students seeking academic credit, veterans in the Veterans Initiative, families, and social-justice-oriented community builders across the Mid-Atlantic region.
The organization's product portfolio extends beyond workshops to include the 55-year-old Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention, the Common Ground on the Hill Roots Music & Arts Festival, recurring community jams, ticketed concerts in Baltimore and Westminster, and the Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education. Two named scholarship programs—the Steve Mandell Memorial Music Scholarship ($500-$1,000 annually) and the Elizabeth Talford Scott Scholarship—broaden access for emerging artists. Distribution leverages an Enrollsy-powered online registration platform, a Walt Michael branded e-commerce store for merchandise, and Robly for segmented email marketing across multiple program-specific mailing lists.
Revenue is generated through program tuition and registration fees, tax-deductible donations (including designated scholarships), festival and event admissions ($20-$25 per attendee at the Fiddlers' Convention), and merchandise sales. Partnerships with McDaniel College (host venue and academic credit pathway), Maryland State Arts Council (funding and designation), Carroll County Farm Museum (festival venue), Carroll County Arts Council, and The Good Shepherd UCC in Arizona provide the operational backbone for a roughly 15-employee organization whose programming is event-driven, concentrated in the June-July summer season.
Common Ground on the Hill firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Common Ground on the Hill
- Legal name
- Common Ground On The Hill Limited
- Website
- https://commongroundonthehill.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Common Ground on the Hill industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts & Cultural Education
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Performing Arts & Music Lessons (Dance, Drumming, Instrument Lessons, Theater) (THAJAKAC), Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ), Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Community Music & Dance Festivals (Non-Commercial/Local) (MPAGAEAH), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA)
Keywords
Where Common Ground on the Hill is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westminster
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Common Ground on the Hill business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Program Tuition and Registration Fees: Revenue from paid programs including Traditions Weeks (in-person and virtual), DCBU Camp, Common Ground on the Border trips, and weekend workshops. Registration fees vary by program.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Common Ground on the Hill relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals, including designated scholarships like the Steve Mandell Memorial Music Scholarship Fund. Phone and mail donation options are available.
- Festival and Event Admissions: Revenue from festival admissions such as the Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention ($20-$25 per attendee) and Common Ground on the Hill Roots Music & Arts Festival.
- Merchandise Sales: Online store sales through Walt Michael Online Store (waltmichael.com/the-walt-michael-store) featuring music, merchandise, and related items.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time | Traditions Weeks (Week 1 - Virtual) |
| Subscription | One time | Traditions Weeks (Week 2 - In-Person) |
| Subscription | One time | DCBU Camp |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Community Jams |
| Other | One time | Steve Mandell Memorial Music Scholarship |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Common Ground on the Hill product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Common Ground on the Hill operates a portfolio of traditional arts education programs including flagship multi-day workshops (Traditions Weeks, DCBU Camp), community jams, concerts, festivals, and competitions focused on bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, and Americana music along with folk crafts, dance, and visual arts. Programs are held primarily at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD with additional offerings such as the Common Ground on the Border immersion program and year-round workshops.
Product overview
Common Ground on the Hill is a nonprofit folklife center that operates as a portfolio of arts education programs centered around traditional American music, art, dance, and cultural crafts. The core offerings include Traditions Weeks (three weeks of intensive workshops), Common Ground on the Border (Arizona border immersion), DCBU Camp (bluegrass/old-time music camp), and year-round Jams and Fall/Spring Workshops. The organization also produces Concerts, Competitions (Songwriting Contest, Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention), and manages the Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education. Supporting programs include the Steve Mandell Memorial Music Scholarship and Elizabeth Talford Scott Scholarship. These programs are held primarily at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, with virtual options available.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Traditions Weeks The flagship program of Common Ground on the Hill, offering three individual weeks of intensive workshops in music, art, dance, writing, and traditional crafts at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, with both in-person and virtual options.
- Common Ground on the Border A week-long border immersion program combining arts, music, and educational discussions about border issues held at The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita, Arizona.
- DCBU Camp A bluegrass and old-time music camp held at McDaniel College offering intensive daily instruction in multiple instruments and jam sessions over five days.
- Fall & Spring Workshops Weekend and multi-day workshops held throughout the year outside of summer, extending the Traditions Weeks experience with focused instruction in traditional arts.
- Community Jams Monthly community jam sessions held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays featuring bluegrass/old-time, blues/folk, and Celtic music for all skill levels.
- Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education The Ira & Mary Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education promotes the practice and study of nonviolence and peacemaking through workshops, courses, training, presentations, music, art, and community affairs.
- Concerts Live music performances featuring folk, bluegrass, old-time, and Americana artists held in Baltimore and Westminster, MD venues.
- Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention Annual competition celebrating over 50 years of bluegrass, old-time, and Celtic music with Appalachian dance competitions, held at Carroll County Farm Museum.
- Songwriting Contest Annual competition open to original songs in bluegrass, old-time, Americana, and folk genres.
- Common Ground on the Hill Roots Music & Arts Festival Annual festival featuring roots music and arts programming for the community.
- Steve Mandell Memorial Music Scholarship Scholarship fund awarding $500-$1,000 to individuals seeking music education in folk, bluegrass, old-time, and Americana acoustic styles.
- Elizabeth Talford Scott Scholarship Scholarship founded by Joyce J. Scott to honor emerging local visual artists who may not otherwise have access to Common Ground programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 55th annual Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention in 2026, demonstrating sustained community engagement for over five decades.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Common Ground on the Hill
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Common Ground on the Hill technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Common Ground on the Hill partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- McDaniel CollegecoreCommon Ground on the Hill is 'in residence' at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. The college hosts Traditions Weeks, DCBU Camp, and other programs on campus. Academic credit is available for Traditions Weeks participants through this partnership.
- Maryland State Arts CouncilcoreCommon Ground on the Hill is designated as a regional folklife center of MSAC's Maryland Traditions Program. MSAC provides funding through grants as part of this formal relationship.
- Carroll County Farm MuseumcoreVenue partner for the annual Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention, hosting the 55th annual event on May 30, 2026.
- Carroll County Arts CouncilmajorSponsor of Common Ground Downtown jam sessions and festival events. Partnership includes sponsorship of the free community jams held 1st & 3rd Wednesdays.
- Carroll County Chamber of CommerceminorSponsor of the 55th Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention.
- City of WestminsterminorSponsor of the 55th Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention.
- Carroll County Public LibraryminorSponsor of the 55th Deer Creek Fiddlers' Convention.
- The Good Shepherd UCC (Sahuarita, AZ)coreHost venue for Common Ground on the Border program and Border Issues Fair, featuring classes in art, music, and lectures on border issues.
- Ira & Mary Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace EducationcoreThe Zepp Center promotes the practice and study of nonviolence and peacemaking through workshops, courses, training, presentations, music, art, and community affairs. Common Ground on the Hill partners on programming.
- Steve Mandell Memorial Music Scholarship FundcoreA program of Common Ground on the Hill providing $500-$1,000 scholarships for Americana acoustic music education in memory of Steve Mandell (1941-2018).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Common Ground on the Hill competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Interlochen Center for the Arts: Interlochen Center for the Arts is a large, established performing and visual arts education institution offering summer camps and year-round programming across many disciplines. It is a broader incumbent whose music-camp offering competes with Common Ground's DCBU Camp, though at much greater scale and price point.
- Berklee Online: Berklee Online is the online extension of Berklee College of Music, offering on-demand instrument, theory, and production courses. It is a broader incumbent in music education that competes for folk and acoustic-music learners via a more scalable digital delivery model.
Regional players
- Appalachian Music Fellowship / Appalshop: Appalshop is a central Appalachian arts and media organization that supports traditional music, storytelling, and community programming. It shares the regional folklife-preservation mission of Common Ground on the Hill but is geographically anchored in eastern Kentucky.
Direct peers
- Falcon Ridge Folk Festival: Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is an annual multi-day folk music and dance festival with workshops, concerts, and community programming. Its combination of festival, instructional programming, and community-building mirrors the festival and educational mix at Common Ground on the Hill.
- Hindman Settlement School: Hindman Settlement School in Kentucky is a regional folklife center offering traditional arts instruction and Appalachian music programming through events, classes, and workshops. Both organizations are designated state folklife centers with year-round and event-based traditional-arts programming.
- Old Town School of Folk Music: Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago is a large folk-music school offering year-round classes, workshops, and concerts in traditional, roots, and world music. It shares Common Ground on the Hill's core mission of folk-music education, with similar concert programming and a comparable community-school model.
- Augusta Heritage Center: Augusta Heritage Center at Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia runs multi-week summer intensive workshops in traditional music, dance, and crafts, closely paralleling Common Ground on the Hill's Traditions Weeks model. Both are residential, instructor-led folk-arts programs hosted on a college campus.
- Swannanoa Gathering: Swannanoa Gathering at Warren Wilson College offers week-long summer workshops in traditional music, dance, and folk arts on a college campus. Like Common Ground on the Hill, it is an immersive, residential traditional-arts education program drawing instructors and participants nationally.
- Pinewoods Folk Music Camp: Country Dance and Song Society runs Pinewoods Camp, a residential traditional music and dance program with week-long workshops. It mirrors Common Ground on the Hill's residential-camp format and folk-arts curriculum, serving a comparable participant base.
Emerging players
- Planet Bluegrass / RockyGrass: Planet Bluegrass operates RockyGrass and related bluegrass/acoustic festivals and workshops in Lyons, Colorado. It shares the bluegrass/old-time festival-and-camp orientation of Common Ground on the Hill, with similar instructor talent but a narrower musical focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Common Ground on the Hill social profiles
Digital presenceCommon Ground on the Hill compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Common Ground on the Hill financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Common Ground on the Hill leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Common Ground on the Hill funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Common Ground on the Hill M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Common Ground on the Hill
What does Common Ground on the Hill do?
Common Ground on the Hill operates a portfolio of traditional arts education programs including flagship multi-day workshops (Traditions Weeks, DCBU Camp), community jams, concerts, festivals, and competitions focused on bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, and Americana music along with folk crafts, dance, and visual arts. Programs are held primarily at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD with additional offerings such as the Common Ground on the Border immersion program and year-round workshops.
Is Common Ground on the Hill a public or private company?
Common Ground on the Hill is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Common Ground on the Hill founded?
Common Ground on the Hill was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Common Ground on the Hill based?
Common Ground on the Hill is headquartered in Westminster, United States, in the North America region.
How does Common Ground on the Hill make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Program Tuition and Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions, festival and Event Admissions and merchandise Sales.
Who are Common Ground on the Hill's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Interlochen Center for the Arts and Berklee Online. Appalachian Music Fellowship / Appalshop is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Hindman Settlement School, Old Town School of Folk Music, Augusta Heritage Center, Swannanoa Gathering and Pinewoods Folk Music Camp. Planet Bluegrass / RockyGrass is listed as an emerging player.
Does Common Ground on the Hill have an API?
No public API is recorded for Common Ground on the Hill.
What industry is Common Ground on the Hill in?
Common Ground on the Hill's product category is Arts & Cultural Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAI, Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance), with a secondary code of THAJAKAC, Performing Arts & Music Lessons (Dance, Drumming, Instrument Lessons, Theater). Its NAICS code is 611610 and its SIC code is 8200.