Jason Steer, the Creative Alliance’s new executive director, works on the second floor of the organization’s Eastern Avenue building. He began the job at the beginning of February. The gig takes him from New York’s famed Apollo Theater to the Highlandtown Arts District here in Baltimore. “As you become a professional, it’s important that you find spaces where you, ideally, can be all that you can be,” said Steer. “I think coming to an organization that embraces the individual is pretty powerful. And if you get to find that space, or lead a space like that, it’s pretty cool.”
Steer grew up in Northwest London with exposure to arts in his neighborhood. His main goal is to make Baltimore one of the major creative hubs on the East Coast.
Steer grew up in Northwest London with exposure to arts in his neighborhood. His main goal is to make Baltimore one of the major creative hubs on the East Coast.
He heard about the position from his colleague at the Apollo, Guy Routte. Routte told Steer he would be perfect for the role. Creative Alliance already has strong ties to the community. Since its founding in 1995, the organization has promoted arts education in Baltimore, while also giving a platform to Black and Brown artists from various disciplines like dance, visual arts, and performing arts. With nearly 4,000 Baltimore youth coming out for art education programs, the foundation also houses eight resident artists living in studios and two galleries holding 28 exhibitions.
Steer says he sees similarities between Creative Alliance and the Apollo. Both are focused on diversity and aim to amplify the voices of people who are often underserved.
“It was an organization that aligned with my values, in the sense of community, creativity, exploration, access and holding space,” said Steer. “An organization that does all those things is pretty dope.”
Since it was founded, Creative Alliance has had four executive directors, the most recent being Gregory Smith, who stepped down in May 2023.
Coming from an organization based on the arts, Steer says he knew what characteristics to look for when choosing which one to call home.
“I’m not saying ‘I want to achieve,’ but I am going to achieve a level of amplification,” said Steer. “I feel that the arts and culture scene in Baltimore is phenomenal. [I’m saying] ‘How can I support and even amplify more beyond the DMV?’”
Despite the negative perceptions some might have of Baltimore, the new executive director says there is a “quiet buzz” about arts and creativity in the area. Steer says the creative community in the city is approaching a new frontier.
“There was always this quiet buzz on the creative side on how new things were happening, and people are looking to Baltimore to explore, which is always exciting,” said Steer. “What you couldn’t do in New York, you probably have a better chance of pulling off in Baltimore.”
The themes for the 2024 year include “Roots of Creativity,” “Live Out Loud,” and “Feel The Rhythm.”
As the new executive director, Steer says working under these themes creates “beauty in the overlap,” which Steer says was the phrase used by Creative Alliance’s Marketing and Communications Director Heather Keating.
Under these themes, Steer says people are encouraged to live out loud; to see who they can be in the creative space.
“We’re all trying to find ourselves, especially within the creative arts, and once you find yourself you can apply it in the space that you’re working in,” said Steer.
For more information about Creative Alliance, visit their website, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), or their location on 3134 Eastern Avenue in the Highlandtown Arts District.