The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) announces the 2021 launch of The Business of Arts Networking Series, a quarterly virtual program aimed at supporting emerging artists and creatives in Baltimore City by providing professional development, networking, performance and showcasing opportunities, and technical support grants (available annually depending on funding).
The BOA Networking Series program puts arts professionals in the same room with aspiring artists to give them resources and guidance on how to develop and sustain their craft. These sessions are designed to provide professional development support to emerging artists/creatives across various disciplines in Baltimore City. Our events will be quarterly and this month’s theme is all about creative marketing and developing your personal brand. Sessions take place January 28th and 29th. The sessions are free but registration is required. This program is supported by Bank of America and The Maryland State Arts Council.

Defining a Space and Agency for Marginalized Artists

This session is designed to support and encourage any artist of any background who feels their art or craft doesn’t fit into traditional categories. Come here to be heard, celebrated and get useful information from guest speaker, Abdu Ali to learn ways to create and define success on your own terms.

Abdu Ali, is an American avant-garde musician, writer, and cultural worker. Their music is an idiosyncratic blend of punk, jazz, Baltimore club music, and rap that has graced stages across the U.S. and Europe. Through their energetic visceral performances, spiritualizing audiences, they have been anointed as a cosmic, punk, and soulful tempest on stage. Ali has performed at MoMa Ps1, The Carnegie Museum of Art, The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Kennedy Center, and Red Bull Music Festival. Ali has been highlighted by the NY Times, NPR, Les InRocks, and Tracks Arte TV. Ali has been a recipient of The Contemporary: Grit Fund 2; a 2018 Ruby Artist Grant; 2019 Best Artist Award by The LGBTQ Commission of Baltimore City, Baltimore Magazine 2019 Best Artist, was invited to the Black Artists Retreat 2019, and have held residencies at 2018 Red Bull Music Academy Bass Camp & 2018 Pioneer Works.