Goals for the Artist Community in Baltimore

 

 

Restoring the Prints and Multiples Fair

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In the long term, one of our key goals is to restore the Prints and Multiples Fair, a festival previously centered around maker-based objects such as prints, books, and sculptures. This event was once held at the Baltimore School of Design in Station North and was organized by the gallerists at Open Space, a now-closed local gallery. The fair attracted artists from across the East Coast, and its accompanying gallery parties and openings made it one of the most exciting weeks for art in Baltimore. Since this event existed before, there’s reason to believe the infrastructure for organizing it might still exist—perhaps on an old hard drive or with the help of original organizers who may still be in the area. Reviving the Prints and Multiples Fair would reconnect Baltimore with a broader art community while celebrating local makers and their work.

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Establishing an Art Fair at Artscape

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Another long-term ambition is to establish a legitimate art fair-style exhibition space that coincides with Artscape each year. While Artscape draws large crowds, its proximity to vacant properties presents an opportunity to transform those spaces into serious exhibition venues for professional art. The goal would be to fill one of these large vacant buildings with exhibitions by local galleries featuring local artists. This would involve securing a suitable venue, tailoring it to meet art display needs, ensuring compliance with fire and safety regulations, and staffing the event for visitors.

This ambitious initiative can become a transformative moment for Baltimore’s art scene. Art fairs are buyer-focused events, and creating a high-quality art fair during Artscape could redefine how local art is perceived, elevate professional opportunities for artists, and attract national and international attention to Baltimore’s vibrant art community.