Andrew Copeland, Francesca Bonifacio, Jefferson Liu, Michelle Lorentzen, Vivian Marie Doering, Zara Visuals
PRODUCTION SUPPORT
Tatiana Mullin, Cayla Wheatley
Sarah Harrington, Carrie Wyman
MODELS
Jamilah Scott, Jessy DeSantis, Joshua Paige, Korcelia Saygbay, Kyleigh Johnson
MAKEUP ARTIST
Perryn Morris
FEATURED STORIES WRITER
Nani Ferreira-Mathews
MADE IN BALTIMORE TEAM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Andy Cook
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND BRAND STRATEGY
Michelle Lorentzen
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Sarah Harrington
RETAIL PROGRAM MANAGER
Randy Lewis
PROGRAM MANAGER
Brian Suryah
SUMMER INTERNS
Cayla Wheatley, Carrie Wyman
SPECIAL THANKS TO The National Aquarium, MCB Real Estate at Harborplace, Prop Up Shop, and Ellemi Ko for providing their locations for our Lookbook photoshoots!
Printed By Peabody Press
Fron Cover Photography by Michelle Lorentzen
MEET THE
Nani Ferreira-Mathews is an author, freelance journalist, community organizer, musician, and a worker-owner at Thread Coffee Roasters in Baltimore, Maryland. Nani is Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) born in Oregon and raised in Georgia. Her writing focuses on race, indigeneity, decolonization, anarchism, agriculture, and gender and sexuality. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Georgia State University.
Zara is a Baltimore-based photographer and the founder of SONNE Studios, an affordable creative studio in Baltimore for local photographers and artists. She has a Bachelors in Electronic Media & Film as well as 5 years of combined professional and field experience with visual storytelling for a range of different clients, including guild actors, musicians, startups, and small businesses. Zara’s work has been featured in ABC, The Fader, and Complex Magazine. Zara photographed everything on-location at Harborplace Light Street Pavilion
Vivian Doering is the creative force and owner of Vivian Marie Photo, a multifaceted photography business based in Baltimore, Maryland. She specializes in an assortment of subjects, such as product photography, art and exhibition documentation, as well as architecture and interiors. With 17 years of experience in photography and a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Vivian proudly launched her own business just over a year ago. Her style is marked by a bold and modern approach that accentuates vibrant pops of color and striking shadows. For this lookbook, Vivian photographed all of the styled product images. For more of her work, visit www.vivianmariephoto.com or follow her on @vivianmariephoto
VIVIAN DOERING
ZARA VISUALS
NANI FERREIRA-MATHEWS
Jack Weber is committed in his business and in his personal life to launching others into meaningful and gainful employment. Along with CEOs of other printing companies he has mentored and financially supported two local public trade schools that are teaching printing as a career. Jack Weber and Uptown Press have received many civic awards over the years, including the 2010 Baltimore Regional Employer Institute award for Preparing youth for the 21st Century Workplace, and a recent Governor's appointment to the Educational and Workforce Training Coordinating Council for Correctional Institutions.
Jefferson Liu is an Asian American photographer, filmmaker, and designer. As a published artist, his work has been featured at Cannes, Sundance, Hot Docs, DOC NYC, and Big Sky Film Festival. Based in Baltimore, MD, he operates a portrait studio with his beloved dog, Florence. Jefferson engages in collaborative projects and workshops, contributing to the local art scene and mentoring emerging artists. In this lookbook, Jefferson photographed products and models at the National Aquarium.
Copeland is a Photographer, Creative Venture Strategist, and Creative Director based in Baltimore focused on brand strategy and creative alignment for small and mediumsized businesses. Andrew teaches New Media and Creative Entrepreneurship at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) and enjoys working on his podcast—Project Kreative Kreatures. Andrew photographed the makerspace feature stories in this issue.
MICHELLE LORENTZEN
For this lookbook, Michelle photographed the front cover, all of the white background product images, BTS, and a few styled product images. For more of her work, visit ellemiko.com or follow her on instagram @ellemi.ko
C O NTRI BUTORS
Andrew
JEFFERSON LIU
JACK WEBER
ANDREW COPELAND
FROM OUR LEADERS
The Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) and Made In Baltimore (MIB) are thrilled to present the fourth edition of the Made In Baltimore Lookbook! This biannual publication beautifully showcases the diverse and exceptional products crafted by small businesses right here in Baltimore City. The Lookbook invites both wholesalers and individuals to explore and connect with Baltimore's vibrant community of makers and small manufacturers.
Since the last edition in 2022, BDC and MIB have been actively supporting small businesses and shaping the future of Baltimore’s maker economy. In 2023, MIB hosted two successful Holiday Pop-Ups: one at the Inner Harbor’s Rash Field Pavilion through the Home-Run Accelerator program, which supports home-based businesses transitioning to brick-and-mortar spaces, and the main holiday store at Harborplace. The Harborplace store featured products from over 90 small businesses, with 79% being women-owned and 44% BIPOC-owned, generating $84,444 in sales over eight weeks—a 17% increase from the 2022 holiday store. The store has continued operating since November 2023. Additionally, MIB has played a crucial role in distributing American Rescue Plan Act funds as part of the BASE Network small business recovery programs, a direct implementation of Baltimore Together, the city’s five-year economic development strategy.
Baltimore’s creative industries sector is a key pillar of economic growth and job creation. Made In Baltimore is proud to support local entrepreneurs and job creation. These neighborhood-based businesses are the backbone of our communities and an essential part of what makes Baltimore unique among cities. We hope you will support them by choosing to 'buy local' this holiday season and beyond.
COLIN TARBERT President & CEO
Baltimore Development Corporation
ANDY COOK Executive Director Made In Baltimore
Made In Baltimore is a program that supports makers and manufacturers in Baltimore City. Our mission is simple: Encourage investment in Baltimore’s economy by growing the market for locally-made goods and supporting the people who make them. At the heart of our program is a strong community of manufacturers, retailers and maker spaces working together to create and promote locally-made products. Our growing network of over 300 product-based businesses ranges from home-based makers to large scale manufacturers. Learn more about our members and our projects at: info@madeinbaltimore.org www.madeinbaltimore.org
The Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) is the economic development organization for the City of Baltimore. Our mission is to grow the city’s economy in an inclusive manner by retaining, expanding and attracting businesses and promoting investment, thereby increasing career opportunities for residents. Businesses interested in expanding or locating in Baltimore City. Businesses interested in expanding or locating in Baltimore City can learn more about our members at: info@baltimoredevelopment.com www.baltimoredevelopment.com
RETAILER MAP
Scan to view in Google Maps!
Much of this book is dedicated to the products made by our city's rich community of craft manufacturers. But they don't work alone! Retailers that carry locally-made goods support this community by providing customers a place to experience and purchase these products in person. The retailers on this map are part of the MIB Community for their commitment to carrying locally-made goods. Find one in your neighborhood and pay them a visit!
MAP KEY
1. Baltimore Clayworks
2. Doubledutch Boutique
3. Bird in Hand
4. Found Studio
5. Mount Royal Soap Company
6. B. Willow
5706 Smith Ave, 21209
1021 W 36th St, 21211
11 E 33rd St, 21218
4337 Harford Rd, 21214
2740 A, Huntingdon Ave, Unit B, 21211
220 W 27th St, 21211
7. MICA Store (Maryland Institute College of Art Store)
8. Summit Imprints
9. Dear Globe Coffee
10. A C Pack and Ship
11. Neighborhood Fiber Co.
12. ADORN Vintage Furniture & Designs
13. Culinary Architecture Market & Kitchen
14. Su Casa Furniture
15. Creative Alliance
16. Baltimore Museum of Industry
1501 Mt Royal Ave, 21217
17 W Chase St, #1, 21201
422 W Mulberry St, 21201
1400 W Lombard St, 21223
700 N Eutaw St 21201
1004 Morton St, 21201
767 Washington Ave, 21203
901 S Bond St, 21231
3134 Eastern Ave, 21224
1415 Key Highway, 21230
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INTRO DUCTION
MMuch has changed in the world since we published our previous edition in 2022. Most notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, and with it we have seen a return to the in-person gatherings and events that bring us together as a community. MIB has celebrated that return by hosting over a dozen large-scale maker markets in partnership with events around the city including the Charles Street Promenade, WTMD’s First Thursday Concert Series, and of course, the triumphant return of Artscape. But our biggest initiative by far has been the MIB Store ‘residency’ at Harborplace. We moved into the Harborplace Light Street pavilion in October 2023, and have been going strong.
At 6,000 square feet, it is our largest and most visible storefront location yet. Being at the Inner Harbor has revived and deepened our love of our city’s amazing waterfront, and that in turn has inspired this year’s lookbook theme. Many of the photos in the following pages were taken at Harborplace and The National Aquarium, two iconic sites in the Inner Harbor, and undeniable facets of our identity as a city. Like these icons, we believe that our maker community helps create and shape Baltimore’s unique identity. Some of the brands featured in this book have already made their mark at the national
Photographer Vivian Doering and Michelle Lorentzen on set at Prop Up Shop.
Photo credit: Francesca Bonifacio
THANK YOU
for picking up a copy of the 2024 Made In Baltimore Lookbook! Made In Baltimore publishes this showcase of local goods every two years, with the goal of helping shoppers like you discover the freshest finds from Baltimore’s makers. In these pages you will find hundreds of products made by dozens of local brands, all right here in Charm City.
level; some will become famous Baltimore brands in the years to come. We believe it is only fitting to feature them side by side with the jewel of our city, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
For this year’s member feature stories, we are turning the spotlight on some of our city’s makerspaces. These spaces serve many roles in our local economy, most notably as launchpads for maker-entrepreneurs. In these profiles, we share a bit of the philosophies motivating their missions, and the many ways that the public can engage with the resources and platforms they provide.
We also include a feature that highlights our successful and growing partnership with The National Aquarium. Since 2022, MIB has been partnering with The National Aquarium and their gift shop concessionaire Event Network to help stock more locally-made products in their gift shop. Helping anchor institutions like the Aquarium deepen their relationship with local small business is a big part of MIB’s mission, and we are so pleased to share this story as an example of how that can be done. We hope you enjoy this year’s edition and find some fun items for yourself or your loved ones. From the team at MIB, THANK YOU for believing in Baltimore and Buying Local!
Zara Visuals photographing Jessy DeSantis, Kyleigh Johnson and Korcelia Saygbay in the former Harborplace Johnny Rockets.
Photo credit: Michelle Lorentzen
WRITTEN BY NANI FERREIRA-MATHEWS
MADE IN BALTIMORE NATIONAL AQUARIUM
2024 marks the two-year anniversary of the National Aquarium and Made in Baltimore partnership, a relationship founded on local procurement, community engagement, and sustainability.
"Made in Baltimore has been such a joy to work with and I am so impressed by their membership base."
zoos, and cultural institutions nationwide, including The Aquarium. “Trying to crack into a national partner who manages their inventory very differently and thinks about local very differently, [was an exercise] in building trust.” Hamilton worked with Event Network and Made in Baltimore to identify artisans who could create unique custom souvenirs while uplifting the sustainability mission of the National Aquarium. “For years, I have tried to introduce individual businesses to Event Network for promotional items or partner gifts, but it never went anywhere.
and food operations. With this in mind, MIB Retail Manager Randy Lewis identified and supported MIB members in the creation of custom product designs for the partnership. He also helped the businesses align with the Aquarium's sustainability goals by reducing plastic packaging and minimizing ingredients that are harmful to the environment.
FFor Jennifer Hamilton, Director of Community Partnership Strategy for the National Aquarium, the decision to bring locally-made products into the Aquarium gift shop was in total alignment with the National Aquarium’s goals. “When thinking about community strategy [and] about our community priorities, I was able to think holistically across the organization… and use that lens to get [Made in Baltimore products] into our retail operation.” The gift shop aquarium now features multiple products by MIB makers, including customdesigned t-shirts from Feral Kids, crab and marine life chocolates from Charm City Chocolate, journals from Drama Mama Bookshop, and more.
As Director of Community Partnership Strategy, Hamilton is responsible for daily community programs and identifying vetted and trusted community organizations within Baltimore City to form meaningful partnerships. While the idea of getting locally-made inventory into the gift shop was simple, the steps to get there were not. Like many museums, The Aquarium contracts a third-party operator to run their gift shop. Event Network manages inventory for museums,
Made In Baltimore has been that bridge. [They handle] the inventory, the invoicing, and the purchase orders to lift some of the burden,” Hamilton explains. She hopes the partnership in Baltimore will be a model for how Event Network can fulfill its local procurement goals in other markets.
Andy Cook, Executive Director of Made In Baltimore, echoes that the partnership was complete synergy. For nearly ten years, Made in Baltimore has worked to connect maker entrepreneurs to local institutions because the purchasing power of institutions is so much greater than that of any one consumer. MIB envisions a future where a thriving community of small manufacturers provides much of the goods purchased by Baltimore's museums, universities, and hospitals. The partnership with the Aquarium is a small step towards helping scale that vision into a new realm for local makers.
The Aquarium’s mission is to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet. This mission is enacted in many ways across the organization, including their commitment to reducing single-use plastics through retail
To date, the partnership between Made In Baltimore and The Aquarium has helped drive more than $60,000 in sales for small local businesses, with no sign of slowing down. “We are thrilled by the success of this partnership”, says Cook. He added, “With the help of the team at The Aquarium, we’ve proven the model; now it’s time to get other institutions on board”.
"The opportunity to work directly with our vendors [to develop and refine new products] has been such a rewarding experience."
JENNIFER HAMILTON Director of
Community Partnership Strategy for the National Aquarium
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On a quiet alley street in Greenmount West, a studio blends cultural heritage with an artistic flourishing in natural dye technique.
Written by Nani Ferreira-Mathews
Photographed by Andrew Copeland
BBlue Light Junction (BLJ) , tucked behind North Avenue on a quiet alley street in Greenmount West, is a vibrant heritage project dedicated to the knowledge transfer and practice of natural dyes. Enter through the hidden alley-street entrance at McAllister and Hunter Street, and you’ll find a large open workshop space with vats of dye and bundles of indigo plants hanging from the rafters above the workshop table, waiting to be processed into natural indigo dye.
BLJ has become an integral part of the surrounding neighborhood and Baltimore’s arts community more broadly. Its mission is to support natural dye users from all walks of life, from farmers exploring crop cultivation for natural dyes to artists seeking to learn about, use, and commercialize dyes. Community members can also get involved by volunteering in the demo garden or participating in workshops.
The work at BLJ is a comprehensive exploration of the past, present, and future of natural dyes, as more and more artists and manufacturers shift away from synthetic dyes. Before founding Blue
Light Junction, Miles and artist Rosa Chang were stewards of Hidden Harvest, an urban farm and natural dye teaching garden adjacent to BLJ. The demo garden began as a collaboration between MICA and the Parks and People Foundation to teach and demonstrate the versatility of natural dyes, a project spearheaded by the former First Lady of Maryland, Yumi Hogan, in 2017. Baltimore’s climate conditions were determined to be perfect for growing Polygonum Tinctorium (a.k.a Japanese Indigo). In 2019, Hidden Harvest began growing indigo and other experimental plants for natural dyes. Visitors can volunteer to water, process, seed, bundle, and harvest, all while receiving education on historic and native fiber and medicine plants.
Hidden Harvest serves as a demo garden while Farm Alliance of Baltimore’s Teaching Farm grows all of BLJ’s workshop indigo. Miles explains that harvesting food and subsistence agriculture does not easily transfer to collecting flowers and harvests for natural dye. “ Food to dye is a massive leap [for farmers], ” she says, “ we’ve had training for [better] knowledge transfer. ” Indigo flowers are pink or white, but the leaves are where most of the pigment derives. The famous deep indigo color is achieved by processing the plant's leaves, not flowers. For wet extraction the whole leaf and stalk are submerged until plants are yellow and decomposed. The pigment is aerated and
filtered before making a vat for dyeing. “To make an indigo vat you need pigment, reducing agent, and a base. These three things are the foundation of varying vat styles in all cultural indigo vat making for dyeing,” says Miles.
Miles has been investigating and practicing art and heritage textiles for nearly two decades. A graduate of NYC’s School for Visual Arts, she became inspired by the textiles and crafts in Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2005, she relocated to Oaxaca, where she lived and worked within a craft community, learned how to weave and pedal loom, and was introduced to natural dyes. Miles has traveled the globe and studied heritage practices from Ghana, South Africa, Panama, Europe, and Asia.
Blue Light Junction is a vessel for further exploration and practice of her art, but it serves as a resource and knowledge-sharing center above all. When it comes to her work Miles says, “I [don’t] really have my own independent practice [in Baltimore] like I did in other places I lived.” She says , “This is the work. For me, this space is the work.”
Blue Light Junction offers 2-4 spots in their bi-annual Ibura Art & Research Residency to artists working in the medium of textile and natural dye. BLJ provides studio and financial support for researchers to explore their work and practice through the lens of people, plants, and place. Ibura Resident Artists host a free community workshop as a part of their residency. BLJ also hosts two long-time resident artist spaces upstairs, currently filled by Korean-born artist, writer, and gardener Rosa Chang, and interior lighting and designer Jorgelina Lopez of La Loupe.
BLJ serves the community through several educational courses and workshops. Their educational curriculum is offered to youth through adults at all experience levels. Miles teaches at Baltimore City School’s Great Kids Farm (a program aimed at teaching youth environmental literacy) and picks up an occasional teaching role in MICA’s Fabric department. BLJ also offers internships to students and artists from MICA and JHU and is exploring a partnership with Morgan State University. Outside of the classroom, natural dye workshops are offered to the community at BLJ. Local artisans hoping to host a workshop can propose their idea via the online form. BLJ has hosted co-facilitated workshops with local artists, including their recent two-day Coil Basket weaving and natural dye workshop led by Baltimore artist Najee Haynes-Fullins . BLJ hosts farm and garden tours to universities and private groups and can accommodate private groups and team-building workshops for up to 20 participants. Private events can be booked for one or two days and focus on various methods of heritage dying, including indigo dye, Japanese shibori, West African wax print, or food waste dyeing.
Studio Blue, located on the second floor of BLJ, houses art studios, meeting and lounge space, movable gallery walls, The Concept Store, and The Alternative Library. The Alternative Library is the final construction of the space and will open to the public in the fall of 2024. BLJ will host book clubs, events, and speaker engagements exploring craft. The Concept Store’s current concept is fittingly “blue” and aptly named “Some Kind of Blue.” The Store features more than just indigo-dyed products and natural dyes; it also showcases crafts in collaboration with other artists. “It’s great to have the opportunity to exalt other people’s work,” Miles says.
The Concept Store is open on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Volunteers can also drop in on Saturdays between 10:30 am to 2 pm and help in the garden.
Visit bluelightjunction.com to browse past and upcoming workshops, or use the contact form to book a private event.
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OOur Time Kitchen, located in the Old Goucher neighborhood of Baltimore, is the city’s newest shared kitchen space and, arguably, its most inviting. The building boasts a colorful botanical mural encircled with garden beds full of herbs, free for the community to take as needed. Follow the path down the side of the building, and you’ll find refuge under shade sails in The Backyard. Whether you’re looking for a cooking class or a private event space with your choice of 30+ chefs, or you’re a budding entrepreneur in need of a space to grow your food or manufacturing concept, Our Time Kitchen has something for everyone.
Established in 2022, Our Time Kitchen, or OTK, is more than a makerspace and shared kitchen. It's a thriving community hub set to expand in 2025, offering food
manufacturing and co-working spaces on its second and third floors. Founders and chefs Kiah Gibian and Catina Smith launched the shared kitchen to empower Black and women entrepreneurs in Baltimore struggling to find clean, affordable, and permitted kitchens. Today, OTK is a testament to growth, home to over 30 chefs running their businesses, from private chefs and catering to food trucks and popups.
Microbusinesses, or businesses with 10 or fewer employees, have proliferated over the past five years, both in Baltimore and nationwide, creating an entrepreneurial network that needs resource centers like Our Time Kitchen. OTK offers a plethora of “how-to” classes, including Serv Safe food handling, wholesale manufacturing, starting a food truck, and many more business empowerment programs. Our
Time Kitchen routinely offers cooking classes and community events. Their current event roster includes a monthly free cooking class in collaboration with Enoch Pratt Test Kitchen and Boys Cook Too, a series hosted by Chef Cat for young boys 8-13 years old.
Community members and locals are encouraged to use their shaded Backyard throughout the day and evening. Thursday through Saturday, visitors can grab lunch from resident food truck Lote 787, which serves Puerto Rican cuisine from 12 to 4 p.m. OTK Dinner Series offers something for later diners from 4-8 p.m. The Dinner Series began in July 2024 and includes Meatball Mondays, Elevated Kitchen Thursdays, and Fish Fry Fridays. Purchase a dinner plate from the walk-up to-go window before heading to the Backyard. The Backyard is family-friendly and includes plenty of yard games to keep guests of
all ages entertained. Chef Cat says "People can use the Backyard whenever it’s open. “Eating here [is a great way to support], or hanging out with no need to
buy anything, just come chill and hang out,” she says. “Just come with your book and chill and read,” she encourages. The Backyard is a beautiful space to enjoy a book or simply watch the butterflies land on ears of corn, peppers, or many other plants and flowers planted around and above
The Backyard is a beautiful space to enjoy a book or simply watch the butterflies land on ears of corn, peppers, or many other plants and flowers planted around and above on the elevated rooftop gardens.
on the elevated rooftop gardens. Chef Cat and Kiah and their shared kitchen/community hub celebrated three years of serving underserved entrepreneurs in July 2024. The duo have much more planned for OTK, including adding a bottle shop and increasing their entrepreneurial education, which Chef Kiah says, will require a non-profit arm or umbrella. Renovations on the second floor are underway, partially funded by a grant from the Central Baltimore Partnership. The new additions will feature a cold prep area for bottling juices or making hummus, and kitchen space for upscaling packaging concepts for wholesale. The third-floor renovations will offer even more plug-in options for small and micro businesses, including offices, coworking desks, a conference room, and a content creation space for videos and virtual classes. Renovations on the
NO NEED TO BUY
& Chill
third floor remain pending as they seek funding to add an additional fire escape, but they remain hopeful that the community, city leadership, and grants will help bring their dream into reality.
Get Involved
Classes are conveniently listed online and can be booked by members and non-members. To become a Member, you’ll need to go through Kitchen Orientation, held the third Thursday of every month, generally starting at 5 pm. During orientation, you’ll learn the standards and operation procedures for the kitchen, as well as the kitchen layout and how to book time for your culinary business needs. Kitchen membership costs $250/month and gets you 10 hours of kitchen time, the perfect package to scale your small business. OTK offers discounted rates over 10 hours per month and discounted class rates for members as well as ongoing support. “We require businesses to get insurance and Serv Safe within the first month, and we help people get their full permitting within two months,” Chef Kiah shares.
Not a food entrepreneur? You can also host your next event at Our Time Kitchen and treat your guests to the talented chefs of Baltimore. Whether it's a birthday party, work lunch, or rehearsal dinner, renting The Backyard gives you access to a diverse range of 30+ chef/members to cater your gathering. From the flavors of the Caribbean and Africa to the Americas, you're sure to find the perfect caterer for your event. Plus, the Backyard is BYOB for private events, adding a personal touch to your gathering.
The kitchen is also available
to rent for educational events and cooking classes for up to 15 guests. Whether you’re looking to book a private cooking class for two or host a team-building workshop in the heat of the kitchen, OTK has boundless opportunities for your next outing. Partner with a small business member to co-create the perfect gathering.
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Photo credit: Michelle Lorentzen
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Written By Nani Ferreira-Mathews
Photography By Andrew Copeland
J“Just to give a little taster of what we have coming up,” says Director of Learning Parker Matthews before drawing in a deep breath. “Home Economics. for Grownups, Phone Friendly Professional Photography, Writing Workshop with Yellow Arrow Publishing, Bellydance Class, Hip Hop Dance Class, Improv with Highwire Improv, Back to School Cooking for Families, and Baltimore Painted Screens Workshop,” he pauses to take a breath. The rapid-fire list is just a few of the things you’ll find at the Creativity Center, and Matthews says," Those are just in September."
The two-story space features a multi-use classroom and teaching kitchen on its ground level and, upstairs, a dance/movement studio and a conference-style room with a complete audio/visual setup, making it perfect for more intimate workshops.
Artists come to Matthews with an idea, and they collectively create a workshop that works in the space before marketing it to their collective audiences.
“Creative Alliance is a wellknown organization, so we can use that platform to elevate the artists [we work with].” With over 25,000 people signed up to their newsletter and high-traffic events across the street at the Creative Alliance Theater, the visibility for artists is significant.
Matthews is one of three directors in The Center, working to create programs for the community. While his work focuses on collaboration between artists and organizations, two other directors focus on additional service areas for the community and the City of Baltimore. Rachel Rush, the Education Director, works primarily with kids and after-school programming, including the free family art drop in class Kerplunk, held every Saturday at The Center from
12 pm - 3 pm. Yasenia Mosely runs the CIELO program, or the Creative Immigrant Educators of Latin American Origin, and The Artesanas..This bilingual department schedules Spanish language programs and hosts various cultural preservation events and classes centered on the arts, music, dance, and cuisine of Latin America, Highlandtown’s most represented community.
The Artesanas is one part of the bilingual CIELO program that features workshops, festivals, and professional development training in Spanish for immigrant artists. The Artesanas, immigrant artists themselves, are talented Baltimore women from various Latin American
countries who work to share their art and cultural crafts with the community. They also organize bilingual cultural events for all ages, including Día de Los Muertos, Las Posadas, and Tianquiztli.
The cultural exchange programs and international events at The Theater bring together people from all different backgrounds. It’s in these moments of dynamic and spontaneous connectivity that Matthews sees the real work of Creative Alliance. “Our workshops and classes serve as a third space,” says Matthews. “There’s work and home, people need to have a third space where they develop community.”
What better way to build community or make new friends than attending a fun and accessible new class? Matthews works closely with artists hosting workshops. Each class is aligned to the values of The Center 1) Radical Accessibility 2) Creating a Sense of Welcome 3) High Quality Experience 4) Creating a Sense of Community. Matthews acts as an informal mentor and coach to artists hosting workshops to ensure that each instructor authentically shares their practice while working to meet each individual where they are at. For artists who want to share and teach but have no formal experi-
ence leading a class or workshop, Matthews is more than just the scheduler. He works with aspiring facilitators to assist in developing lesson plans, class flow, and public speaking skills in preparation for their classes. For fee-based workshops, artists will receive a generous portion of the ticket sales, gain experience, and be exposed to the massive audience of The Creative Alliance network.
While The Creative Alliance and Creativity Center have a large audience both within and outside of the city, Matthews is also working on reach and accessibility through outside partnerships.One of the biggest challenges for The Center
Most of the programs offered at The Creativity Center are in partnership with local artists and organizations.
is the location’s accessibility. The Center is not centrally located within the city of Baltimore and Matthews admits it can be a trek to get to the area for those not within a 1-1.5 mile radius. The Center is bus accessible on the high-traffic corridor of Eastern Avenue, and Matthews is eager to spread their mission outside of Highlandtown. He hopes that he can expand their offerings and style of co-created workshops with artists in other neighborhoods in Baltimore and has begun working on programs in collaboration with Enoch Pratt Library. Matthews and team are dedicated to grassroots marketing of The Center’s many offer ings. This fall they will publish
a paper schedule of upcoming events and drive around the city distributing to community centers, libraries, and cafes.
Rentals of the space are available on a sliding scale basis for independent artists, performing arts groups, and movement ensembles seeking rehearsal space by the hour, day, and/or week. The movement room hosts theater and dance groups preparing for performances, while the upstairs classroom hosted a Youth Works summer camp where students explored environmental activism. The kitchen can be booked for recipe development or cooking classes. Matthews says they will work with independent artists to make sure that the rate is accessi-
ble. “There is a [price] range and we work with where the artists are at.”
Matthews and Creative Alliance
Visual Arts Director Joy Davis are working on a class series for artists focusing on professional development opportunities. Classes will include advanced art handling techniques such as framing and shipping visual art, applying for grants, and legal resources. Once classes are finalized, they will be made available at no cost to artists who wish to attend.
All upcoming events are available online and are published up to four months out, so you can plan your next outing well in advance.
