Creatively Black Baltimore

Creatively Black Baltimore is a two‑year, city‑wide celebration of Black artistry presented by The Baltimore Times and its nonprofit arm, Times Community Services. Housed in 12,000 sq ft, the pop‑up transforms the former Ripley’s Believe It or Not! into one of the largest showcases of Black creatives the city has ever seen. More than 500 works by over 100 emerging and established artists fill the galleries.

Open to the public free of charge through June 2026, the exhibition is both a gallery and a learning hub. Each artwork carries a QR code that links to an e‑commerce page powered by partner Ujamma Digital, embracing the principle of cooperative economics so that “the community itself is the market.”

Programming is just as ambitious as the art: rotating artist talks, panel discussions, business‑of‑art workshops, wellness sessions, paint parties, and a Show & Tell Series that invites creatives to reveal the stories behind their pieces. The Creative Level Up Series brings in industry professionals to coach artists on presentation skills, entrepreneurship, and self‑care. Youth engagement is central—Media Rhythm Institute students used the exhibition as the backdrop for their summer capstone, creating music and dance inspired by the displayed works.

Debut of the Unseen: Baltimore’s Hidden Black Talents Take Center Stage

For generations, Black artists in Baltimore have struggled to find consistent exhibition space, funding, and institutional support. Even with reputable museums nearby, African American initiatives were often relegated to the margins; many artists resorted to self‑run galleries or simply worked in isolation. Grants and juried shows rarely favored them, and conversations about specifically Black‑centered programming faded under broader “diversity” agendas. The result was a fractured arts community spanning two to three generations, with limited platforms to display work, build networks, or earn income.

Creatively Black Baltimore—conceived in mid‑2023 by The Baltimore Times founder Joy Bramble and Paris Brown alongside veteran artist‑curator Larry “Poncho” Brown—directly answers that unmet need. By transforming 12,000 sq ft of unused Inner Harbor real estate into a pop‑up gallery, the project eliminates traditional gatekeeping: no jury process, no medium or experience restrictions, and free public entry through June 2026.

Creatively Black Baltimore turns an overdue spotlight on the city’s Black creatives, reconnects fragmented artistic lineages, and builds a sustainable, cooperative platform where Baltimore’s creative talent can finally be seen, celebrated, and supported. The pop-up exhibition is now a tourist destination being promoted globally, nationally, and regionally.