Artscape Visioning
TYPOLOGY: Festival / Placemaking Strategy
Completion: 2023
Location: Baltimore, MD
After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Artscape—America’s largest free outdoor arts festival—returned to Baltimore in 2023 with an expanded footprint and a new three-day format. To reintroduce the festival with renewed purpose and impact, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) engaged a design and strategy team during the early visioning phase to shape a more ambitious and meaningful experience.
Leading the concept and economic development strategy, the project centered on reimagining the festival as a catalyst for creative placemaking. The work focused on activating seven underutilized sites within the footprint, transforming vacant lots into vibrant marketplaces and civic spaces that welcomed both children and adults. These temporary interventions were designed to have lasting impact—reinvigorating public space, fostering social cohesion, and encouraging community-defined use.
The strategy elevated the festival’s role beyond cultural celebration, positioning Artscape as a tool for neighborhood revitalization. The placemaking vision supported BOPA’s efforts to secure additional funding and forge strategic partnerships. By prioritizing belonging, safety, and economic opportunity, the 2023 festival helped stimulate the local economy, reduce crime, and enhance the well-being of surrounding communities.
Partners: Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture
Role Provided: Concept Design, Placemaking Strategy, Economic Development Strategy
