BALTIMORE.- The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts made the following announcements for the return of Artscape, one of the nation's largest free arts festival, from Friday, September 22 to Sunday, September 24, 2023. This highly anticipated event is making a triumphant comeback after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Artscape 2023 promises to be an extraordinary celebration of art, culture, and community — featuring an incredible lineup of artists, vendors, and organizations — with exciting new additions and beloved classics.
“Artscape is one of Baltimore’s most iconic events, and its return this year is a marker of how our city is bouncing back after the pandemic,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Baltimore is a town full to the brim with incredible artists and a rich history supporting our arts community. There is simply no better way to showcase their talent and their importance to our city than through Artscape. I cannot wait to welcome the incredible lineup of artists, performers, and vendors and the thousands of Baltimoreans and visitors who will get to enjoy this experience.”
This year, Artscape received an overwhelming response with over 1,000 applications from artists, vendors, and organizations eager to be a part of this spectacular event. The festival will once again take place in the traditional footprint in the Bolton Hill and Mount Royal neighborhoods.
However, in an exciting development, Artscape is expanding across North Avenue into the Station North Arts & Entertainment District. Festivalgoers will be able to explore the areas along North Avenue between Charles Street and Maryland Avenue, as well as Charles Street up to W. 20th Street.
"We are absolutely thrilled to bring Artscape back to Baltimore,” said Todd Yuhanick, interim CEO for BOPA. “The level of effort and dedication from our team and partners behind the scenes has been extraordinary, and we continue to work tirelessly to curate an exceptional lineup of artists and programming for this comeback year. We look forward to showcasing how the power of the arts can bring people together September 22–24."
“Public art has an incredible ability to bring people together and promote social change. There's something about seeing beautiful works of art that sparks conversation and helps people connect,” said Tonya R. Miller Hall, senior advisor of Arts & Culture for the Mayor’s Office. “That's why I'm excited about this year's Artscape in Baltimore. It has the potential to make a lasting impact on the community, encouraging civic engagement and helping bring people together in a really powerful way.”
Artscape 2023 will feature four outdoor performing stages, including the newly added "North of North" stage, located at North Avenue and 20th. These stages will showcase local, regional, and national musical acts, as well as a variety of performances. Grammy Award-winner Kelly Rowland has been named the headliner for Friday evening of the Festival with Saturday night’s headlining act Angelo Moore of Fishbone performing with his band Dr. Madd Vibe. Multiple GRAMMY-winning composer, producer, arranger, and guitarist Nile Rodgers & CHIC will perform on Saturday afternoon as headliner. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will headline Sunday.
New Festival highlights include:
• Project Artscape: A captivating runway experience that will shine a spotlight on local emerging and professional designers, bringing their fashions to center stage.
• Public Art Projects: An outdoor photo gallery featuring the work of Erin Douglas, founder of the Black Burner Project and Contemporary Artist, Derrick Adams and intriguing mural installations by Jaz Erenberg will grace the corridor along Charles Street, providing visually compelling works that promise to leave a lasting impression.
• B_23: Artscape’s new signature indoor exhibition, featuring the work of the best artists based in Baltimore City and the surrounding region.
