History

Artscape is AMERICA’S LARGEST FREE OUTDOOR arts festival, rocking the cultural heart of Baltimore since 1982, it was designed as an Arts Fair and marketed Baltimore as a cultural hub. The newly developed Meyerhoff Symphony Hall was underway, and to draw community support and stimulate economic development and investment in the area, Artscape was born.

Over forty years later the festival will now move to the heart of downtown as part of the Mayor’s Downtown Rise Initiative.

Designed to elevate Baltimore’s arts and culture scene, it played a pivotal role in positioning Mt. Vernon as a creative hub while generating community and financial support for the newly built Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.  

Today, that same bold vision drives us forward. As part of Mayor Scott’s Downtown Rise Initiative, Artscape 2025 moves to the heart of Downtown Baltimore, leveraging the power of art to ignite reinvestment, attract new energy, and reimagine the city’s urban core. By transforming streets, historic sites, and public spaces into vibrant cultural destinations, Artscape will continue to serve as a powerful platform for artistic expression, fostering community engagement and cultural innovation. With art at its core, Artscape reaffirms its role as a transformative force in Baltimore’s cultural landscape. 

Just as it did four decades ago, Artscape isn’t just about celebrating art—it’s about shaping Baltimore’s future.