Will Mayor Brandon Scott’s decision to move Artscape to War Memorial Plaza and other parts of downtown be a setback for the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, where much of the event has been held for the past two years?
Or is Station North so strong and vibrant now that it doesn’t need the extra boost that exposure during Artscape can bring?
Ellen Janes, executive director of the Central Baltimore Partnership, is looking on the bright side. The CBP works to revitalize communities in Central Baltimore, including the Station North arts district, and was a key organizer of Artscape activities in 2023 and 2024. It collaborated with local artists and entrepreneurs to remake street-level spaces for arts-oriented programming, including the Blinkatorium, See-Saw City and Mobtown Ballroom Pop-up on the Street.
“While we understand the desire to bring Artscape to a new and central location, we also acknowledge the profound connection our community has had with the festival over the years,” Janes said in a statement. “Station North has long been a hub for the arts, creativity, and innovation in Baltimore, and Artscape has played a crucial role in highlighting our vibrant culture and bringing visitors to our area.”
Since the 1980s, Baltimore’s free annual Artscape festival has been held in the Mount Royal cultural district, primarily along North Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue, and grew to become one of the city’s signature arts events. Its footprint was expanded to include the Station North area, north of Penn Station and the Amtrak corridor, when the festival resumed in 2023 after a three-year hiatus due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic. While that decision gave a boost to the arts district, the area will remain a hub for arts and entertainment with or without Artscape, Janes said.
“We are incredibly proud of the impact that Artscape has had on Station North, and we remain committed to fostering a thriving arts and culture scene here,” she said. “The decision to relocate Artscape does not diminish our dedication to our artists, creatives, and the community at large. Our district will continue to be a space where local talent is celebrated, and we continue to work diligently to create new opportunities for events and festivals that contribute to the arts and cultural vitality of Baltimore.”
Scott announced his decision to relocate Artscape at a City Hall news conference last month. Under his new plan, Artscape is moving from August to May 24 and 25 of 2025 – Memorial Day weekend. Instead of Mount Royal and Station North, the location will include War Memorial Plaza east of City Hall; the city-owned War Memorial Building at 101 N. Gay Street, and the footprint of the Baltimore Farmers’ Market under the elevated Jones Falls Expressway. It will be the first time in decades that Artscape’s footprint hasn’t included the Mount Royal Cultural district; Bolton Hill; Charles Street and other parts of midtown.
Landmarks that will play key roles in programming include Baltimore Center Stage at 700 N. Calvert Street; Zion Church at 400 E. Lexington Street; and The Peale, Baltimore’s Community Museum, at 225 Holliday Street. Artscape’s Main Stage will be at War Memorial Plaza. The Farmers’ Market won’t be held on May 25 to make way for Artscape.
Scott said at the Feb. 14 news conference that he wanted to relocate the arts festival as a way of “leveraging the power of art” to ignite reinvestment, attract new energy and reimagine the city’s urban core. He said the move aligns with his Downtown Rise initiative, which is aimed at boosting Baltimore’s downtown core by transforming public spaces and drawing people to the heart of the city.
Scott acknowledged that Station North benefitted from Artscape’s energy and said he now wants to use the event to benefit downtown.
“When Artscape was initially put [in the Mount Vernon/Mount Royal area], it was about lifting that neighborhood up,” he said. “We’ve seen that impact happen there. But we also know that now we have to start to think about the downtown core that needs that uplifting.”
He said the decision to move Artscape was made by his office in collaboration with the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) and “chief stakeholders” in the city, including the University of Baltimore and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).
“BOPA has seen, when trying to have Artscape at a different time — when it’s hotter than hell outside — the issues that happen,” he said. “UB has graduations, right? MICA has graduations. The Lyric has concerts and shows – all of those things that now happen in Mount Vernon — which is why we made the decision to move. But also understanding now we know that we have to think about rising the downtown core.”
Artscape “is not just about celebrating art,” he said. “It’s about shaping Baltimore’s future.”
Station North may still be involved in part of Artscape 2025. Organizers say one component of the festival, called Artscape After Dark, may be held in Station North.
Station North is also benefiting this year from a year-long initiative called “Inviting Light,” a series of five temporary art installations funded with a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge and designed to draw people to the area.
The participating artists were introduced during a kickoff event at the SNF Parkway Theatre last month. Their projects, all in Station North, will be completed and unveiled one by one over the course of 2025, accompanied by “light-infused” programming related to the art works.
The first installation, a work called “Third Watch” by Zoe Charlton, will be unveiled on March 28 at North Avenue Market, 10-30 West North Avenue. A second unveiling, at the Charles Street Garage, is tentatively set for April 25. A third is set for June, to coincide with the next Charles Street Promenade.
“Though Artscape may no longer call Central Baltimore home, we are excited about our future and remain steadfast in our vision to make Station North a dynamic and inclusive arts destination,” Janes said.
“We encourage all those who have supported Artscape in the past to continue engaging with our district, and we look forward to welcoming people to the many exciting events that will continue to shape our community. We want to thank folks for their continued support and for being an integral part of the Station North Arts District.”
March 17 is the deadline for artists and makers to apply to be part of Artscape 2025. More information about the festival, its new location and opportunities for vendors and artists is available online at Artscape.org and on Instagram at @promoandarts.
