The Black community, particularly in Baltimore, is inherently artistic and cultural. The fourth arts and entertainment area in Baltimore City, the Black Arts District, was formed in 2019. 149 acres of West Baltimore make up the district, according to the Maryland State Arts Council. They want to help the rebuilding efforts in West Baltimore, particularly along Pennsylvania Avenue, by empowering Black creative artists by utilizing art and culture as a vehicle.
Additionally, it is the only area on the Eastern Seaboard that actively supports Black cultural and creative creation.
Brion Grill is the creator and executive director of the Black Arts District. “We really wanted to make sure it covered different sorts of black leaders, both past and present,” he stated.
“It’s about providing training and development opportunities,” Grill continues. “We are creating events for you to come and connect with black creators to get the resources you need to help to monetize and become a more professional artist. There are a lot of things that we do in the city, and we are excited to do that kind of work and to grow.”
Since there are excellent chances for artists in Baltimore, according to Grill, the Black Arts District should be seen as another gear in the larger wheel supporting the city’s arts and creative environment. It holds fairs and festivals where Black talents are featured.
“One of the reasons we chose Pennsylvania Avenue as the corridor that we’re going to base the entertainment district on was because of the long-storied past of Pennsylvania Avenue as a hub for arts and entertainment,” Grill said. “We want to bring that back . . . to Pennsylvania Avenue, attracting people, attracting events to come back on the Avenue, and then use that as a community development model to not focus on gentrification, but avoid gentrification while also building up a community that absolutely deserves it.”