Welcome To The Black Arts District!

- A Letter from Our Founder & Executive Director -

Hello Beautiful People,

Thank you for visiting our website. I am Lady Brion, founder and Executive Director of the Black Arts District. As a Black artist, born and raised in Baltimore city, I am so proud to see the efforts of several decades finally realized. Generations have worked to make the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor an official cultural district and in the spirit of their tireless work I am committing to:

Connection - We intend to meet with creative practitioners, entertainers, residents, stakeholders and institutions to build and learn. Learn what you’re working on, learn about your desires and expectations and learn about how we can connect with you on a deeper level. We know we don’t have all the answers, but with your help we hope to figure it out. Our upcoming Idea Summit Series is a great way to plug in; will we see you there?

Innovation - Change is not always a bad thing. Sometimes we must embrace a different way of doing things to attain the outcome we seek. I believe the Black Arts District can be that change. As the first of its kind in the state of Maryland, our approach will push the boundaries of what's been done, question policies and practices, employ avant garde ideas, and use current technologies to achieve our goals. Give us a chance to explore and make mistakes. We invite you to throw spaghetti at the wall with us and see what sticks.

Determination - The journey ahead of us is long and hard. We will need all the capital we can get – human, financial, and political. We believe that our communities have everything they need to thrive and if we pool our collective power, we can achieve greatness. I assure you, the Black Arts District is here for the long haul and our team intends to work diligently toward the revitalization of West Baltimore and a more robust arts eco-system for Black creatives.

Let this serve as a call to action. We need you. Come join us as board members, committee members, volunteers, donors, funders, creative partners, and neighbors. This will be a migration home. The legacy of Black excellence is not something to be described in the past tense, but something we must work towards each day. I can’t wait to build with you.

With anticipation,

-LADY BRION-