Motor House names new managing director

As Motor House celebrates its 10th anniversary, the Baltimore arts venue is also welcoming a new managing director.

Arts advocate and producer Jessica Smith is taking the helm as Motor House’s new managing director, where she will lead the organization’s strategic planning, daily operations, and programming.

“I’m honored and thrilled to serve as Managing Director at Motor House, where creativity thrives, artists shine and our community comes together for something unforgettable in the heart of Charm City,” Smith said in a statement. “With a vision rooted in community and innovation, I’m mission-driven to create opportunities for artists to develop, experiment and showcase their work, while ensuring our staff enjoys the same positive, inspiring experience we provide to our patrons.”

A Baltimore City resident and Prince George’s County native, Smith previously held roles as Chief Arts Officer at Arts for Learning Maryland and Executive Director of the Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center.

Smith also founded Culture Kingdom Kids, which for more than 15 years has produced performances centering Black history. Her work has been featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, the National Children’s Museum, Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap, and Busboys and Poets.

Tori Martin, program director at Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation (BARCO), which oversees Motor House, welcomed Smith to her new position.

“We’ve spent the past 10 years growing Motor House into a cornerstone of Baltimore’s creative community,” Martin said in a statement. “Jessica’s arrival signals a new chapter that will deepen our mission, amplify our impact and build lasting momentum.”

Smith has also spearheaded a variety of creative projects, including the children’s book and album “I Like the Me I See!”; the TED-Ed short “Mansa Musa: One of the Wealthiest People Who Ever Lived,” which has garnered more than 8 million views; the Grammy-nominated anthem “I Am the Future of Black History”; the holiday musical “Bone Soup: A Kwanzaa Story”; and the viral dance “The Kwanzaa Slide.”

Smith earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Education and African American studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Communications and Journalism at Morgan State University.

Among its events to celebrate its 10th anniversary, Motor House is hosting its Fashion Meets Art Weekend this Friday, Aug. 15, and Saturday, Aug. 16.