The Peale, Baltimore’s Community Museum, has been named one of 51 Spring 2025 Grant Recipients by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts (AWF). The museum will receive $80,000 for program support over two years.
The AWF is distributing grants to 51 visual arts organizations across the country and in Puerto Rico. The Peale is the only organization in Maryland to receive one of the grants. The AWF grants aim to support programs that support artists’ changing needs and make it easier for them to experiment with their creativity. Fifteen of the awardees are first-time winners.
The total for the Spring 2025 grant cycle is $4.3 million. This was made possible by a joint commitment between AWF and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation of $800,000 for immediate support of 80 small and mid-sized community-based visual arts programs. These programs were in danger because the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) initiative that funded them was abruptly suspended this year. President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened to eliminate the NEA completely in 2026.
“We’re incredibly honored to receive support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts,” said John Suau, executive director of The Peale. In an email to Baltimore Fishbowl, he wrote, “This grant is a powerful validation of The Peale’s commitment to centering community voices and elevating underrepresented artists through exhibitions, storytelling, and digital innovation. As the only Maryland-based organization to receive this recognition in the current cycle, we’re proud to represent our city and state on a national stage—and grateful for the opportunity to continue growing our impact.”
The Peale is based in the oldest museum building in the United States. Commissioned in 1813 by Rembrandt Peale, it is the first museum built purposefully in the United States. Its long history saw many iterations, including acting as Baltimore’s City Hall, one of Baltimore’s first public schools for African Americans, a variety of commercial and industrial uses, and Baltimore’s first municipal museum.
In 2022, the Peale reopened after a five-year renovation, with community-driven programming, a focus on accessibility and collaboration, and of course, a home for showcasing the most innovative artistic, scientific, and cultural projects being brought to life.
“The Spring 2025 grant cycle occurs amidst reductions in federal funding for the arts and humanities and new requirements for cultural production to align with executive orders and the administration’s priorities,” said Joel Wachs, president of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. “We have observed – and applaud – arts organizations across the country continuing to fulfill their missions, focusing on promoting artists’ expressions. We remain dedicated to supporting organizations that amplify the voices of artists, contributing to their individual wellbeing and to the overall health of our society.”
