A new date is just one of many changes to expect this year at Artscape. This weekend’s festival will have new installations, a divisive new location, and a redefined approach under new leadership.
Unlike with iterations past, Artscape will take place this year on Memorial Day Weekend underneath the Jones Falls Expressway, its columns freshly painted with new murals to commemorate the festival’s new home downtown. The hope, its organizers say, is that relocating the festival will ultimately reinvigorate the downtown district.
“Artscape started in Mount Vernon, where MICA, The Lyric, and the BSO were kind of like the heartbeat of the festival. The impact that it had on that district was vast,” said Tonya Miller Hall, creative director of Artscape and Senior Advisor of Arts and Culture for the mayor’s office.
“When we think about how we can use the festival model to transform space and create more sustainability for the community, downtown — particularly the farmers market footprint — really needed a bit of a [boost.]”
The clearing of an encampment in the festival’s planned footprint displaced unhoused locals, though the city denied specifically doing so in preparation of the event.
But hours away from the festival’s first day, it faces a series of challenges. Already, talent cancellations at the last minute have left participating artists in the dark. Small businesses in Station North, the former home of Artscape, won’t benefit financially as they usually do from their proximity this time around. Relocating the festival beneath the Jones Falls Expressway means that the Baltimore Farmers Market won’t operate Sunday. And the clearing of an encampment in the festival’s planned footprint displaced unhoused locals, though the city denied specifically doing so in preparation of the event.
While Miller Hall acknowledges the friction caused by uprooting a Baltimore tradition, she believes it’s time for Artscape and its impact to expand further.
“Baltimoreans have got to think more expansively about the city of the future,” she said.
“People love this festival, and it has been a big part of the Station North District for a long time. But can we not spread the love, take art on the road, and let other neighborhoods benefit from the work of artists?”
For most of its duration, Artscape took place in July — and almost always coincidentally on the hottest three days of the year. With hopes of cooler temperatures this time around, the festival is scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend from May 24-25. For the first time, the 43-year-old event — known as the nation’s largest free outdoor art festival — will move to downtown Baltimore after being held in Mount Vernon, Station North, and Bolton Hill throughout the years.
Artscape will now be held outside of City Hall beneath the Jones Falls Expressway on East Saratoga and Holliday streets. The Baltimore Farmers Market, which takes place beneath the expressway each Sunday from mid-April through December 21 this year, will be closed for the festival.
The Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts ran the festival for 20 years until last October, when it was announced that the city would be terminating its contract with BOPA. This will be Artscape’s first year under Mayor Brandon Scott’s Downtown Rise Initiative, which was introduced last year with the intention of continuing the progress and development of downtown Baltimore.
To help with that, Artscape has several new events in store this year. Curated by visual artist and performer Derrick Adams and Baltimore Beat’s Arts & Culture Editor Teri Henderson, the new Scout Art Fair will give guests a chance to shop for local, affordable artwork. All pieces will be priced between $150 and $5,000, and a portion of the proceeds will go towards BOPA programming.
Another Artscape first is the “Oasis Mural Project,” which the Mayor’s office created to rejuvenate the pillars of the Jones Falls Expressway. Over the last several weeks, more than 30 local artists — including Ernest Shaw, Camila Leão Lopes, HOPE McCorkle, and Paige Orpin — have transformed the underpass into a tropical oasis.
“[The artists] are excited because they feel like they’re part of a live mural festival,” said Miller Hall.
“Everybody’s vibing and listening to music. The residents and people who are parking their cars are just in awe. And the city workers are like, ‘Oh my God. These guys are so brilliant! I can’t believe they’re painting these columns by hand!’”
Already, Miller Hall is proud to see how this year’s festival model has managed to take care of not just artists but the public, calling Artscape an “economic engine for the city.”
Already, Miller Hall is proud to see how this year’s festival model has managed to take care of not just artists but the public, calling Artscape an “economic engine for the city.”
“We have put so many artists to work,” she said.
“With the murals, with the installations, and with the Scout Fair, so many artists are going to make money. While people may be frustrated that it’s not in Station North, year over year, vendors have lost money — artists have lost money — because of the weather. We’ve tried to address that and create some cover for that so that they’re not losing time,” she said.
While scoping out its new additions, Artscape-goers can expect returning programming and two stages of live music. Joining nationally acclaimed R&B legends Fantasia Barrino and Robin Thicke, performers on both Saturday and Sunday include local acts like Movakween, Bad Hombres, Ari and the Buffalo Kings, and members of the local nonprofit Ballet After Dark. Artscape regulars can look forward to annual events like the festival’s signature artisan market, and Kidscape, which will feature interactive storytelling, hands-on art activities, and kid-friendly performances.
The concept of a reimagined festival has mixed reviews. Many in Baltimore look forward to enjoying this year’s festival in spring instead of summer, when high temperatures can be dangerous to seniors, younger children, and heat-sensitive guests. And with last year’s heavy rainout, people are also relieved that this year’s festival will be under a bridge, should nasty weather strike.
Miller Hall also thinks that Artscape’s new and smaller footprint will increase its walkability. She shared that on a recent visit to the underpass, Walking Discovery, a social group that advocates for neurodivergent and disabled Baltimoreans, was pleased with the location.
Yet the decision to move Artscape downtown has seemingly impacted more than just Baltimore’s arts community. The move to a new location coincided with the city clearing an encampment under the Jones Falls Expressway, though city officials have insisted it had nothing to do with the event.
On April 7, the city “resolved” an encampment under the JFX, said Jessica Dortch, spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services. It’s estimated that as many as 30 unsheltered individuals were “residing or passing through” the JFX footprint at any given time.
On April 7, the city “resolved” an encampment under the JFX, said Jessica Dortch, spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services. It’s estimated that as many as 30 unsheltered individuals were “residing or passing through” the JFX footprint at any given time.
“Most residents accepted shelter and other services offered by Outreach teams, while others were able to make alternative arrangements,” Dortch said, adding that the services include shelter, behavioral health support, transportation and housing navigation services.
“MOHS does not displace residents, we connect residents to shelter and other supportive services that meet their individual needs. This site was assessed and prioritized for resolution with increased daily engagement occurring months in advance of the Artscape location and date announcement.”
Encampments such as the site under the JFX are “assessed and prioritized based on several risk and environmental factors such as proximity to critical infrastructure, health and safety hazards, and ongoing community concerns,” she added.
The big changes hitting Artscape itself haven’t been rolled out as smoothly as hoped either, leaving a number of artists and farmers’ market vendors with complaints.
JaySwann, an electronic artist, producer and DJ, said an Artscape organizer reached out to him in March asking if he’d perform a DJ set at Artscape. After he didn’t hear back for weeks, he reached back out, and they confirmed that he’d be performing.
After they said they’d be sending him a contract, more weeks went by. When he reached out again on Friday, he was informed that the DJ set had been cancelled because of budgetary concerns.
“It was definitely unfortunate,” he said. “When I first got the news, I was pretty pissed off. I’d been looking forward to it; I’ve been living in Baltimore my whole life. It was going to be a kind of full-circle moment for me because I used to go all the time as a kid. I told my whole family about it, and they were really excited. On top of that, the rate they were going to give me was really good.”
After the news sank in, JaySwann said he reached back out to offer to perform for free. He was told that couldn’t happen, he said.
As a performer, he said he’s been “trying to wrap my mind around” the decision to move Artscape downtown. Given the fact that past events had been rained out, it made sense to move it up earlier in the year.
The new location, however, could do more harm than good, he said. By moving the location downtown, the city is interfering with other events, such as the Baltimore Farmers’ Market that takes place every Sunday. It will be closed for Artscape this year.
The reimagined festival will take place at the same time as some other hard-to-miss events in Baltimore like Deathfest, Brew at the Zoo, and the Sowebo Arts and Music Festival.
“I don’t really agree with that. I feel like they’re taking money out of other people’s pockets to make this event go well, but it’s not a guarantee that’s going to happen,” JaySwann said.
“It seems like they’re really trying to get it right, but they keep missing the mark,” he said. “I don’t know what they could do at this point. I haven’t been to Artscape in quite a long time, but the last few times I went, it was underwhelming and didn’t seem properly planned. It seems like they’re just kind of throwing shit at a wall.”
In a recent Facebook post, Baltimore Farmers Market vendor Albright Farms said staff were saddened by the city’s choice to close the market to make room for Artscape.
Although Miller Hall told Baltimore Beat that all vendors were notified of the decision to move Artscape to the Jones Falls Expressway in January, the post alleges otherwise.
“This market has served Baltimore residents for 48 years and is a vital source of fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, milk, and more for thousands in the community. The decision was made without any conversation with the farmers or public — and we, like many, are deeply disappointed,” the post read.
And like other business owners in Station North, Eric Mach, the owner of the Metro Gallery, was upset to learn that Artscape was no longer in the neighborhood, known for its vibrant art district.
“To be honest, it was a little bit heartbreaking,” said Mach, a Baltimore native, about the festival’s relocation.
“We’re located in Station North, literally right in the middle of Artscape, and every year, this was our big weekend. Tons of different events every year were curated by [our staff], and it was something we looked forward to.”
Mach said he and his staff had been planning for Artscape some months in advance before learning that it would be moving downtown.
“We were like ‘What? It’s moving where? Why is it not in the Arts District?’ It just didn’t make sense,” Mach said.
“We haven’t had any condolences or anything. We found out like everyone else.”
While the new footprint is difficult for many to accept, Miller Hall thinks the big swing will be worth it. She looks at this year’s Artscape plans and sees major potential.
“I think two things can be true at the same time,” she continued. “Station North can still be a vibrant art district and do vibrant, art-focused things without Artscape. Artscape should not have to belong to one neighborhood only.”