The Rawlings-Blake Review #24: Artscape!

Baltimore City Website

In This Issue

Extreme School Supplies Drive

International Festival Volunteers Needed

Oh Say Can You See Baltimore

Graffiti Blitz

Thursdays at the Lewis

Little Italy's Open Air Film Festival

AVAM's Flicks from the Hill

Artscape

Chick Webb Jazz Combo Competition

The Men's Dance

Visit Baltimore Annual Meeting

A Healthy View on a Healthy You

Family Style Picnic

Dear Friends:

This weekend, we proudly celebrate a Baltimore institution: Artscape. Over the years, Artscape has garnered global recognition as an important arts celebration and has become a significant part of Baltimore's Arts and Culture economy. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors descend on our City to enjoy our many rich cultural amenities and assets. Today, Artscape is America's largest free arts celebration.

While Artscape is a free festival, one should not understate the serious economic impact it has on Baltimore and Maryland. That's why even in tough budgetary times, the City continues to invest in Artscape as part of a public/private partnership with other key sponsors. In 2009, City Government launched an independent study of Artscape and learned that revenue generated by the event "more than offsets the public investment."

The Study found that Artscape attracted an estimated 350,000 residents and visitors and had a total economic impact of $25.97 million. Direct spending by out-of-the area festival-goers generated $350,950 in sales tax revenues for the State of Maryland.

Of the 350,000 Artscape attendees, 35,350 traveled from outside the State of Maryland. Over half of the visitors came from outside of the Baltimore Metropolitan area. The attendees spent $257,699 at local hotels generating $20,677 in tax revenues for Baltimore City. Festival-goers spent more than $9 million with Artscape vendors alone.

Throughout my public life I have worked to foster Baltimore's arts, culture, and tourism economy because I believe Baltimore has so much to offer. We may not be America's largest city, but the creative talents of our people and our rich cultural heritage and institutions stack-up among the best.

This weekend, take pride in Artscape and enjoy it with friends and family. Don't let the heat stop you. This year, more than ever, indoor venues are located throughout the festival and showcase a diverse mix of visual and performing arts. Facilities are air-conditioned and offer seating for festival-goers to enjoy dynamic dance, theater, jazz and opera performances, music, film, comedy, art exhibitions, workshops, and more. Misting tents are perfect for hot weather and are located at the Wachovia, Festival, and Charles Street stages.

For more information on Artscape, call 410-752-8632 or visit www.artscape.org.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Mayor, City of Baltimore

Special Notices

Extreme School Supplies Drive

There is one more way for the public to send off ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in style: by donating school supplies for the youth who will be living in the home Extreme Makeover is building. Live Baltimore has joined WMAR-TV, Mayor Rawlings-Blake's Youth B'More Initiative, and Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries to host an "Extreme School Supplies Drive" in support of Boys Hope Girls Hope and Baltimore City Public Schools. The public is encouraged to donate school supplies like 3-ring binders, backpacks, paper, markers, pencils, etc.

The reveal of the new Fleetwood Avenue girls home is set for Sunday, July 18 from 3-5pm. The public is encouraged to attend the reveal as spectators, and can drop-off their supplies in the designated bins at the spectator shuttle bus parking lot at Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries, 6000 Radecke Avenue. Through Sunday at 2pm, donations can also be dropped off at the Volunteer Tent, Belvedere Shopping Center, 5830 Hillen Road. Monetary contributions can be made online through the Baltimore Community Foundation or you can donate directly to Boys Hope Girls Hope Baltimore.

International Festival Volunteers Needed

Come and be a part of one of the city's most colorful summertime festivals, August 7-8. Volunteers are needed both days to assist with traffic control, the children's area, the two-day soccer tournament, vendor registration, and other general duties. All volunteers will receive an official festival t-shirt.

For more information or to sign up, contact the Baltimore Community Relations Commission's Michele Molinaro at 410-396-3414 or michele.molinaro@baltimorecity.gov.

Oh Say Can You See Baltimore

In June 2011, the U.S. Conference of Mayors will hold their annual meeting in Baltimore City, drawing over 1300 participants including the leadership of our nation's top cities and key federal partners. Mayor Rawlings-Blake recently presented Baltimore's theme for next year's Meeting. The Mayor's presentation included a video about Baltimore, featuring a new rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" sung by Baltimore-native Mario (with Marvin Gaye). This video can be seen at http://www.baltimorecity.gov/Home/tabid/37/LiveTabId/142811/Default.aspx.