This Week: Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins lecture at UMBC, BSO’s Symphony in the City at Hopkins, With Us For Us in conversation with Nia K. Evans at UMBC, BLIFTD ART STVDIOS one year anniversary celebration, MAP Under $2500 benefit + auction, BMA Ball + After Party, AVAM’s 30th Birthday Bash, Fall of Freedom talks at Connect+Collect, Amalie Rothschild reception at Goya, and and Daoure Diongue + J.M. Giordano film/performance at 2640 Space — PLUS Neighborhood Design Center seeks proposals for Placemaking & Placekeeping Conference and more featured opportunities!
BmoreArt’s Picks presents the best weekly art openings, events, and performances happening in Baltimore and surrounding areas. For a more comprehensive perspective, check the BmoreArt Calendar page, which includes ongoing exhibits and performances, and is updated on a daily basis.
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Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins: Dark Times: The Uses and Abuses of History in an Authoritarian Era
Tuesday, November 18 :: 4-5:30pm
@ UMBC Albin O. Kuhn Library
Until recently, the history profession has expressed skepticism about using history to understand contemporary events. Fear of political bias, anachronism and simply bad historical comparisons were behind such skepticism. Moreover, there were concerns that doing the history of the present would cause students to lose interest in the distant historical past–a worry inseparable from the drop in number of students majoring in history. On these grounds so called “presentism” was considered anathema to the discipline. However, Brexit, Covid 19, and the current political turn toward authoritarianism, have led to an explosion of historical works attempting to make sense of the booming buzzing confusion of the present moment. At the same time, many historians have excelled at using historical comparisons to illuminate the current order of things. This lecture explains the origins of the recent turn to the present in the professional study of history, while looking at its promises and perils for the field.
BSO Presents Symphony in the City at Johns Hopkins
Wednesday, November 19 :: 7:30pm
@ Johns Hopkins Turner Auditorium
Assistant Conductor Jiannan Cheng makes her debut leading the BSO in a free community concert featuring works by Coleridge-Taylor, Debussy, Grieg, Price, and Vaughan Williams. Presented in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Pedagogy Study Hall: With Us For Us in conversation with Nia K. Evans of the Boston Ujima Project
Thursday, November 20 :: 6-8pm
@ UMBC
With Us For Us is a coalition of community advocates, students, and labor unions formed to build community power in Baltimore through community wealth building. The coalition was formed to address Baltimore City’s inequitable economic development practices and create a reparative economy, and their present focus is on encouraging Baltimore City’s wealthiest tax exempt hospitals and universities to pay their fair share. The Boston Ujima Project is a democratic, member-run organization building a cooperative business, arts, and investment ecosystem, with the mission of returning wealth to working-class communities of color.
THE ORIGINALS | BLIFTD ART STVDIOS One Year Anniversary Celebration
Thursday, November 20 :: 6-8:30pm
@ BLIFTD ART STVDIOS
Celebrate one year of BLIFTD ART STVDIOS with The Originals, an evening of art, music, and community produced in collaboration with The Sonic Lifeline. Join us on November 20 for pop-up music performances, reflections on our first year and the dynamism that fuels our vision, and a look ahead as we continue to build access in Baltimore’s creative landscape.
FEATURING…
ACT I: ORIGINS (6:15 p.m.)
BLIFTD Founder: Jeffrey Kent
BLIFTD Resident artist: Eric Briscoe
Musician: Aaron Hill, piano
ACT II: EVOLUTION (6:50 p.m.)
BLIFTD Founder: Jeffrey Kent
Msician: Charlie Ballentine, guitar
ACT III: MOMENTUM (7:25 p.m.)
BLIFTD STVDIOS COORDINATOR: Alexis Tyson
BLIFTD VISITING ARTIST: Morgan (MC) Mullings
MUSICIANS: Lionel Lyles Trio (Lionel Lyles, saxophone; Steve Arnold, bass; Phillip Thomas, drums)
FINALE (8:00 p.m.)
BLIFTD CO-FOUNDERS: Jeffrey kent & Nicole Clark
MUSICIANS: Lionel Lyles, saxophone; Theljoin Allen, trumpet; Charlie Ballentine, guitar; Aaron Hill, keys; Steve Arnold, bass; Phillip Thomas, drums
UNDER $2500 Benefit Exhibition and Sale
Friday, November 21 :: 6-11pm
@ Maryland Art Place
Why UNDER $2500? In the last 2 years inflation has been a huge contributing factor to rising artwork sales prices. Simply put, the cost of goods for artists to create their art is far higher than it used to be. The majority of galleries consider the most important contemporary artwork value segments to be under $5,000–$10,000 according to ARTSY (2023.) It is with that in mind that MAP is presenting UNDER $2500 as affordable.
In our 13th year of the sale, we look forward to showcasing a more diverse and broader range of artworks. Artists are encouraged to submit works retailing in both the UNDER $500 and UNDER $2500 categories to include original works, editioned prints, sculptures and more.
UNDER $2500 is MAP’s winter benefit. Proceeds from the sale of artwork will be split 50/50 between Maryland Art Place and the artist. The event is ticketed ($40) however participating artists are welcomed free of charge.
UNDER $2500 is a hybrid, physical and virtual exhibition event. The physical exhibition opens Friday, November 21 from 6pm-10pm. Artworks may be purchased by patrons and taken off the walls on a first come first served basis that night. All works will be wrapped in brown paper with MAP’s signature holiday bow.
The virtual sale will launch the very next day, Saturday November 22 at 10 am and run through BLACK FRIDAY, November 28, 11:59pm. The virtual sale will include more artists than the physical sale. *Please note: applications received will be selected for either the virtual sale (featured online) exclusively, or for both the physical (featured in gallery) AND virtual exhibition (featured online). Your acceptance letter will indicate in which capacity your work will be presented.
MAP will maintain gallery hours Saturday, November 22 from Noon-4pm for any remaining physical works that may be left for purchase.
Saturday, November 22 :: 6pm
@ Baltimore Museum of Art
Get ready for a dazzling, high-voltage night that brings together artists, visionaries, and innovators. This signature event raises vital support for groundbreaking exhibitions, transformative education programs, and deep community partnerships.
This year’s BMA Ball recognizes two transformative artists, Wangechi Mutu and Amy Sherald, and the visionary philanthropic organization, The Sherman Family Foundation in honor of the late George Sherman. The evening kicks off with cocktails at 6 p.m. and a spirited awards program in the Museum’s iconic Fox Court, followed by dinner in the galleries surrounded by the BMA’s world-class collection and an unforgettable After Party featuring music by DJ Ty Alexander, an open bar, late-night bites, and a few surprises.
The BMA Ball is now sold out, but a limited number of After Party tickets are still available!
Cheers to 30 Years! AVAM’s Birthday Bash
Saturday, November 22 :: 12-5pm
@ American Visionary Art Museum
This November, we’re celebrating 30 years of visionary art, bright ideas, and unforgettable moments. From the Pet Parade to the Kinetic Sculpture Race to our unique exhibitions, we want you to be part of our ongoing AVAM story, honoring our past and toasting our future!
Join us for a full day of shiny happy visionary fun: guided tours, art-making, birthday cake, artist meet-and-greets and other quirky surprises, offering amusement for all ages.
All featured programs are free with museum admission—purchase your tickets now or become a member to get in for free! RSVP today.
Fall of Freedom Artist Talks with Jackie Milad, Ernest Shaw, and Gaia
Saturday, November 22 :: 12-4pm
@ Connect+Collect
As part of Fall of Freedom national initiative, BmoreArt Connect + Collect Gallery will host two artist talks on Saturday, November 22, exploring how art connects us and deepens our understanding of the world around us.
Each talk will last approximately an hour, with time before and after in the gallery, where our Iconically Yours exhibit is now on display.
Jackie Milad’s talk looks outward, examining how global cultures and ancestral histories can broaden our perspective. Ernest Shaw and Gaia turn inward to Baltimore, highlighting the city’s resilience, beauty, and the stories that fill its streets.
Together, these programs reflect the strength of Baltimore’s art scene and the vital role artists play in shaping connection, perspective, and community.
Amalie Rothschild’s Modernist Eye | Opening Reception
Sunday, November 23 :: 3-6pm
@ Goya Contemporary
Goya Contemporary Gallery is proud to announce Amalie Rothschild’s Modernist Eye, the first major solo exhibition of the artist’s work since the gallery was named exclusive representative of the Rothschild Estate in 2024. On view from November 23, 2025, through January 23, 2026, the exhibition opens with a public reception on Sunday, November 23, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM.
This focused survey celebrates the prolific vision and enduring legacy of Amalie Rothschild (1916–2001), the pioneering Baltimore-based artist whose innovative work in painting, sculpture, and works on paper helped define postwar American modernism in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. A selection of works curated from six decades, Amalie Rothschild’s Modernist Eye, highlights Rothschild’s ability to bridge abstraction and figuration, formal geometry and intuitive gesture—with a visual language as disciplined and rigorous as it is expressive…
Click here to view full press release
Three Treasures to Hold and Keep – Daoure Diongue & J.M. Giordano
Sunday, November 23 :: 7:30-9pm
@ 2640 Space
Doors at 7:30 PM / Program at 8:00 PM
$10 at the door (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Three Treasures to Hold and Keep is a film made of still images by photojournalist J.M. Giordano and live sound by composer‑performer Daoure Diongue. In each of its three sections, a modern injustice is paired with a fundamental virtue from the Tao Te Ching, forming the themes: Occupation/Mercy, Deportation/Economy, Dictatorship/Humility.
Daoure Diongue is a saxophonist, composer, and sound essayist. He evokes his homes of Baltimore and Senegal through sound. His work draws on world-class conservatory training as a saxophonist and the self-determining ethos of African American Music. Diongue has performed with Lafayette Gilchrist, Dan Deacon, Gary Bartz, UPENDO (Brandon Woody), Konjur Collective, Isiaiah Collier, Luke Stewart, Caroline Davis, and Sean Jones, and at venues including the Kennedy Center, the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In a 2025 article for Bandcamp on Baltimore’s jazz scene, Andy Thomas wrote, “[Diongue] brought African rhythms and melodies from that tradition together with jazz, R&B, and glitchy electronics on his 2020 album. Featuring Diongue on sax, keys, and vocals, the record was, in the words of Micah E Wood, ‘a soft expansive masterpiece.’”
Joseph Mario (J.M.) Giordano is an award-winning photojournalist based in Baltimore and co-host of the photojournalism podcast, 10 Frames Per Second with Molly Roberts. His book, Trumpland: Carnival to Chaos (Nighted Life Press, 2024), documents the rise of Trump. This year, he was named a finalist for the prestigious National Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Prize and will be featured in American Photography Annual 41 for his coverage of 10 years of police brutality in America. His work was featured in American Photography Annual 40 for his second book, 13-23 (Nighted Life Press), covering a decade of Baltimore’s homicides. His international photographs covering the collapse of the steel industry are the subject of a solo show at the Museum of Industry in Baltimore. His first book, We Used to Live At Night (Culture Crush Editions), chronicles 25 years of the city at night and was called “a mix between Weegee and Brassai”. His work has been featured on NPR, ProPublica, Al-Jazeera, GQ, Architectural Digest, Taste, The Observer New Review Sunday Magazine, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, Washington Post, The Baltimore City Paper, i-D Magazine, Discovery Channel Inc., and Rolling-Stone. His work, from the Struggle Civil Rights series, is in the permanent collections at the Reginald Lewis Museum.
Featured Opportunities
Holiday Market Application
deadline November 22
posted by Baltimore Museum of Industry
The Museum will be hosting our first Holiday Market during the evening of Wednesday, December 17th, from 4p-8p.
The Museum has monthly extended evening hours where the Museum is open to the public until 8p, with complimentary admission from 4p onwards. For the month of December, the Holiday Market will be held largely indoors in our main Decker gallery space during this 4-hour period.
Learn More About Extended Hours
Local vendors are welcome to apply for our limited number of spots, provided they fit the following criteria:
Craft/Homemade Goods
Small Batch Goods
No Resale or Dropship Items
Any participating businesses will be charged a $25 vendor fee to secure a spot, and any business that does not currently have a liability form on file with the Museum will be sent one to fill out by December 5. Both payment and a copy of the liability form are required prior to 12/17.
Due to vendor interest, applications will be placed on a waitlist until after 11/22. Any available spaces after 11/22 will be offered in the order that applications were received.
Cast Auditions for American Vamp
Saturday, November 22 :: 12-6pm + Sunday, November 23 :: 12-4pm
posted by Baltimore Rock Opera Society
BROS will be hosting auditions 12-6 on Saturday 11/22 and 12-4 on Sunday 11/23 at BROS HQ, 3304 Greenmount Ave. You can audition as an actor (all acting roles will include singing), or mover/dancer. Each audition will last approximately one hour. You will work in groups, performing a group movement exercise and individual acting/music auditions. Actors, prepare any song of your choosing and be ready to sing a portion, as well as a short monologue. If you’re auditioning solely for a movement role, prepare a short solo piece. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. Come prepared to sing, move, and read sides with other performers. We will be casting 13 roles with spoken and sung lines, as well as several non-speaking/movement-only ensemble roles. Click the link for audition sign-ups and to read role descriptions.
$100 Honoraria
A young woman begins her new job at a corporation unexpectedly staffed by vampires, and must decide between her ambitions—and her survival. Show runs May 21st-June 20th 2026.
Band Auditions for American Vamp
deadline November 24
posted by Baltimore Rock Opera Society
The Baltimore Rock Opera Society’s May/June 2026 production, American Vamp, is seeking video auditions for band members. We are looking for the following players: Guitar(s), Bass Guitar, Synth, Drums, Strings (cello especially), Open to more unusual options such as Lyre, Harp, Oud, or Theremin. Music for the show is 80’s rock- and synth pop-inspired with blended baroque/classical elements (including organ and choral layering). A John Carpenter soundtrack meets Ghost meets an ancient choir with a splash of Kate Bush. Rehearsals will begin December 2025/January 2026.
$100 Honoraria
A young woman begins her new job at a corporation unexpectedly staffed by vampires, and must decide between her ambitions—and her survival. Show runs May 21st-June 20th 2026.
17th Annual International Drawing Discourse Exhibition
deadline November 30
posted by UNC Asheville
As part of an ongoing commitment to promote drawing practices in the visual arts, the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNC Asheville) invites artists to submit entries to a Juried International Exhibition of contemporary drawing. UNC Asheville seeks to examine drawing as it is practiced and defined by today’s artists. Such an exhibition will demonstrate the continued significance of drawing through conventional and innovative methods. Accepted work will be exhibited in UNC Asheville’s S. Tucker Cooke Gallery from January 16, 2026, through February 13, 2026.
JUROR’S LECTURE: Esteemed juror, Katharine Stout, will open the exhibition with a virtual lecture on January 16, 2026, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. An opening reception for the Drawing Discourse exhibition will immediately follow the lecture in the newly renovated and expanded, S. Tucker Cooke Gallery located in Owen Hall on the campus of UNC Asheville.
MLK Days 2026- Community Arts Project, Residency
deadline December 1
posted by Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center
Artists are invited to submit a community arts project proposal inspired by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his life, his vision, his work. The project coincides with our annual MLK Days program, January 17-19, 2026, and may remain on display through February. The project may result in a short or long-term installation to be exhibited in the sculpture garden or one of the galleries. Artist may also be featured in a solo exhibition in the Main Gallery or our outside grounds where appropriate. Solo shows typically run from MLK weekend through February. These details will be agreed upon at time of acceptance.
****Artist must be willing to engage with visitors during all three days of the program, January 17-19, 2026. Residency length: minimum 3 days, up to 1 week.
Annmarie’s residency program provides an opportunity for visual, musical, and literary artists to design and produce a community arts project. The community art project should be adaptable for all ages and skill levels, and should be inspired by a) your artwork and processes, and b) the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The resulting display will hang among your solo show, so keep that in mind when planning both the project and your solo art show. Artists are encouraged, but not required, to make use of materials from the artLAB, our creative reuse center, incorporating recycled or repurposed materials into projects. For the MLK Days program, artists will also have access to the galleries, a private studio space, the clay studio, and the 30-acre sculpture garden, as needed.
2026 Artist-in-Residence Program
deadline December 1
posted by Bernheim Forest and Arboretum
Established in 1980, this internationally renowned program annually awards visual artists of all mediums the opportunity to live and create site-specific work inspired by their total immersion experience in the natural environment. Up to 4 artists are selected for residencies at Bernheim. One residency is always dedicated to an artist currently living in Kentucky or Clark and Floyd counties in Southern Indiana, and one residency is always dedicated to an artist whose work addresses environmental issues and the climate crisis.
Artist Residency
deadline December 1
Posted by Prairie Ronde
We’re looking for individuals who are highly independent, engaged and curious. We do not limit our residency to any specific medium, but rather are looking for diverse artists who can creatively interact with The Mill.
We host three sessions annually and accept 2 – 4 residents per session. Accepted residents receive a stipend of $2,000 for 5 – 6 weeks, a $500 travel grant and private housing. We work with residents to share their work with the community (a gallery show, public workshop or other).
Neighborhood Placemaking Grant Fund (NPG)
deadline December 5
posted by Baltimore National Heritage Area
The Baltimore National Heritage Area (BNHA) invests in Baltimore’s neighborhoods
through the Neighborhood Placemaking Grant program.
Eligible projects include:
● festivals, performances, reenactments, and other events that build community
and attract visitors;
● projects that aid in navigating through neighborhoods such as signage, printed
materials, digital tools, and educational programs;
● urban planning projects; and
● projects that promote neighborhood greening activities.
This highly competitive grant program awards $25,000 a year and grant amounts range
from $1,500 – $5,000 with a required match.
The Vision is Yours Placemaking & Placekeeping Conference
deadline December 12
posted by Neighborhood Design Center
Artists, Organizers, and Cultural Leaders: Share Your Strategy for Community Impact
Creativity drives connection — and this year’s regional The Vision is Yours Placemaking & Placekeeping Conference is spotlighting how art and culture sustain thriving neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Design Center is seeking proposals for sessions that reveal the strategies behind creative community change: how projects are launched with intention, resourced through collaboration, and kept alive through ongoing programming and storytelling.
Artists, youth leaders, and cultural practitioners are encouraged to submit ideas for Learning Labs, Panels, or Mobile Workshops exploring foodways, play, greening, safety, and creative expression. Presenters receive complimentary registration for the two-day conference in Mount Rainier, Maryland.
Black Sox Sculpture Project (BSSP)
deadline December 12
posted by Maryland Art Place
On behalf of Parks & People and South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP), Maryland Art Place (MAP) is offering an exciting opportunity to Baltimore regional artists (MD, DC, PA, DE, VA) working in large-scale sculpture to create artworks of historical Baltimore Black Sox baseball players.
The BSSP plays tribute to the legacy of the Baltimore Black Sox baseball team, memorialized through large scale sculpture(s) & collective memory. BSSP is seeking 3 sculptures for the park. All or one may be produced by the same artist.
Creative Baltimore Grant
deadline December 15
posted by Create Baltimore and the Mayor’s Office
On behalf of the Mayor and the City of Baltimore, we are excited to announce the Creative Baltimore Fund (CBF) grant program for FY 2026. Through this grant opportunity, Create Baltimore grants funds to qualified artists and arts and cultural organizations based in Baltimore City. The Creative Baltimore Fund has two primary grant programs:
General Operating Support (GOS) provides core support for established arts or cultural organizations that benefit the public and are artistically or culturally vibrant.
Mayor’s Individual Artist Award provides support for an artist’s individual practice or program that promotes public access and encourages the breadth of arts and/or cultural programming.
Organizations selected for GOS funding will receive one general operating grant of either $5,000 or $10,000. The award amount is determined by the adjudicators. The 10 artists selected for the Mayor’s Individual Artist Award will each receive a grant of $3,000.
Call for Submissions: Maryland Film Festival 2026
early bird deadline December 15
The Maryland Film Fest is now accepting submissions for our 26th Annual Festival Celebration, April 8-12, 2026. We are seeking excellent moving image work from Baltimore, from Maryland, and from all over the world, in short, feature-length, VR, AR, videogame and interactive formats.
Repeatedly named one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals In the World” by MovieMaker Magazine, we’re thrilled to be back in 2026! Get ready to screen your film live at the historic Stavros Niarchos Foundation Parkway Theatre and other select locations in Baltimore, Maryland.
Join hundreds of fellow filmmakers – including alums like Barry Jenkins, Greta Gerwig, Kathryn Bigelow, Stanley Nelson, Josephine Decker, Terence Nance and more – in a unique, accessible, competition-free atmosphere created solely for the love and enjoyment of film.
Call for Entry, Dreams & Visions
deadline December 15
posted by SE Center for Photography
Dreams and visions in art have long been a familiar and powerful motif. These mysterious and otherworldly images often serve as representations of our deepest subconscious thoughts, emotions, and desires. The dream in art acts like a wandering spirit, guiding us along the winding path of the imagination. It invites us to explore and question the complex relationship between the visible world we perceive and the invisible forces that influence our inner lives.
This SE Center asks you to explore your inner dream state. We encourage your interpretation of this theme.
Our Juror Dreams & Visions is Michael Pannier, Opening his first gallery in the Washington, DC suburbs in 1987, Michael has continuously been involved in art and photography gallery circles. Initially concentrating on works on paper and multiples, he has been focused on photography for the past 20 years.
Based in his Greenville, SC studio, conveniently located between the Charlotte and Atlanta metro areas, he frequently travels to Los Angeles and New York maintaining studio relationships in both locations. Working on personal projects, Michael may be found wandering the streets of major cities or the desolation of the desert southwest.
35-40 selected images will hang in the Virtual Gallery space for approximately one month. In addition, selected images are featured in the SE Center social media accounts (FB, IG, Twitter) and an archived, online slideshow. A video walkthrough of each exhibition is also featured and archived..
Prisma Art Prize
deadline December 19
Calling all artists! The Prisma Art Prize is now accepting submissions for its 18th edition. As a global platform, we celebrate the power of art in all its forms, offering an inclusive space for painters, illustrators, and engravers. This is your chance to be part of a dynamic community of artists pushing boundaries and expressing the full spectrum of creativity.
Prisma Art Prize is open to all living artists, with no restrictions on age, gender, nationality, or ethnicity, and welcomes works of painting, drawing, and engraving in any size and on any medium. This is a unique opportunity for artists to become part of a global network of art professionals.
This edition is under the artistic direction of Marco Crispano and curated by Domenico De Chirico. The awards include a cash prize, honorable mentions, artistic residencies (at Dar Meso, Tunisi, and Casacon Sirolo, Italy), solo exhibitions, and the opportunity to exhibit in the final show at Contemporary Cluster. Finalists will also gain visibility in the annual catalog and have the chance to sell their works during the exhibition.
GEOGRAPHIES: An Exploration Between Places, Environments and Cultures
deadline December 19
posted by LoosenArt
LoosenArt is inviting photographers, video makers and digital visual designers to take part in the collective exhibition “Geographies: an exploration between places, environments and cultures”, an exhibition project that seeks to question and narrate the many forms of contemporary geography: physical and symbolic, human and environmental, local and global.
The aim is to explore borders – geographical, cultural, political, and emotional – and their transformations through the creative gaze of participants.
