In recognition of the overall economic health of a city, the Foundation seeks funding opportunities to strengthen existing cultural arts organizations and to support emerging arts groups that are providing programming in underserved neighborhoods. The Foundation looks for initiatives that help keep artists working and living in the metropolitan area; increase organizations' capacity to expand audiences; attract more cultural visitors; and stabilize and revitalize neighborhoods.

The Foundation also supports pilot projects that seek to determine the outcomes of cultural arts curricula on overall student academic achievement while at the same time reinforcing the State's mandate to integrate the cultural arts into the K-12 educational programming.

Areas of interest include:

• emerging neighborhood programs
  
  
• initiatives serving as a stimulus for neigborhood revitalization
  
  
• outreach and after-school programs
  
  
• initiatives to attract new and diverse audiences

Learn more about the arts and culture initiatives funded by The Abell Foundation by visiting Publications/Research. More information is also available in our Highlights below.

Arts & Culture Highlights

Baltimore Clayworks
In fulfilling their vision to site, develop and sustain an artist-centered space in an inner city location and to become an integral part of the neighborhood offering affordable hands-on arts programming to those who traditionally lacked access to cultural opportunities, Baltimore Clayworks opened its first satellite studio at the Mondawmin Mall in West Baltimore in July 2003. With storefront space donated by the mall management, Baltimore Clayworks’ committed team of artists and staff transformed an empty commercial space into a center of creativity where professional artists provided ceramic activity to nearly 500 young people, numerous community based organizations and dozens of senior adults. Building on the success of this cultural hub in the middle of a commercial market place, Baltimore Clayworks relocated to the Forest Park Senior Center, not only to benefit senior citizens but also to continue to serve neighborhood youth and their families. To complement the regularly scheduled classes, Baltimore Clayworks engages professional visiting artists to expand the ceramic offerings and to bring new creative life to the center.

Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts
Attracting more than 45,000 festival goers, the annual Book Festival held in September has become a premier literary experience in the region. The festival features over 200 hundred author appearances, book signings, non-stop readings on eight stages, cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, poetry readings and workshops, panel discussions, storytellers and hands-on projects for children. A strong emphasis is being placed on youth programming to include reviews of student work, resources for young writers, writing workshops for young authors, and a competition for young writers.

The Creative Alliance
An ambitious renovation of the landmark Patterson Movie Theater, the Creative Alliance has been the cornerstone of the revitalization effort in Highlandtown. The project houses two galleries, theater, classrooms, meeting rooms, a film and video production center and eight artist studio residences. Not only has the Creative Alliance developed new programming linked to neighborhood schools and community organizations, the center has also had a positive effect on increased residential stability and marketability. This state-of-the-art venue has become the focal point in the new Arts and Entertainment District, showcasing Baltimore artists.

Downtown Partnership of Baltimore/Art Exposure
Created to improve the appearance of downtown Baltimore, Art Exposure is providing an opportunity for local arts to display and sell artworks exhibited in vacant storefronts along the major thoroughfares in Baltimore City. Regularly changing exhibits in these public spaces are enlivening the streetscapes while enhancing the role of local artists in the community.

Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance
Serving as a catalyst to create a dynamic and cohesive cultural community, the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance has strengthened the livability and economic viability of the Greater Baltimore region. Convening focus groups, hosting symposia, commissioning marketing studies, creating a regional cultural website calendar, known as the Baltimore Fun Guide, and publishing a monthly review of current cultural activities are a few of their strategies to mobilize and build up the region's creative capital. In recognition that a vibrant and healthy arts and cultural sector is a strong factor in attracting new businesses and retaining a qualified workforce, the Alliance seeks to encourage partnerships across the community.

Museum of Ceramic Art
The goal of the Museum of Ceramic Art is to provide a meaningful ceramic art experience in the classroom and at after-school clubs. Now being offered in 31 Baltimore City public middle schools, the program supports teacher training workshops, classroom assistance, curriculum modules, materials, equipment and facilitates monthly group teacher meetings culminating the end of the year, a sampling of student work has been exhibited in public spaces on a temporary and now permanent basis throughout the city.

Visit the Grantmaking section to learn about the steps involved in making a grant application and to see other recently funded grants.