Mayor Rawlings-Blake Announce Plan to Strengthen Arts & Entertainment Districts

Working group’s 27 recommendations aim to help three A&E Districts continue to lead Baltimore’s cultural renaissance

BALTIMORE, Md. (July 31, 2015)— Today Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced a plan to strengthen Baltimore’s three designated Arts & Entertainment Districts, enabling them to build on recent positive momentum and continue to lead the city’s cultural renaissance.

The report by the Mayor’s working group identified 27 recommendations and action items that aim to provide a boost to Baltimore’s nearly 13-year-old A&E District program. Baltimore’s three identified A&E Districts are the Bromo Seltzer Tower area, Highlandtown and Station North, and together they are home to about 15,000 residents and more than 1,000 businesses, organizations and cultural institutions.

“All three of our Arts and Entertainment Districts have been leaders in our effort to grow Baltimore, and each has attracted significant private and public investment that make them attractive for students, professionals and families to live, work and play,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “I am pleased that the working group has identified specific ways to help them continue to grow and thrive, and I look forward to enjoying many more years of creative and innovative experiences with the artists who are making these neighborhoods their home.”

The working group was comprised of representatives of city agencies, the Maryland State Arts Council and each of Baltimore’s three A&E Districts.

The 27 recommendations from the working group include:

• Identifying ways to incentivize the preservation of existing art spaces, infill development for arts enterprises, and public space and streetscape improvements in A&E Districts.
• Creating flexible code and zoning variances to encourage more interim use “pop up” commercial and artist work spaces in A&E Districts.
• Increasing collaboration among the three A&E Districts for marketing and programming to jointly promote opportunities in the city.
• Better clarity and communication regarding tax incentives available within the three A&E Districts.\
• An annual A&E District meeting and presentation to the Mayor on the accomplishments and priorities of the three districts.
• An opportunity to participate in the city’s outcome-based budgeting process to potentially secure additional budget support for the A&E Districts.

Baltimore’s three A&E Districts are designated through the statewide Arts & Entertainment District program, which is administered by the Maryland State Arts Council. Highlandtown and Station North were established in 2002, and the Bromo Seltzer Tower district was established by Mayor Rawlings-Blake in 2012. The designation includes eligibility for three state tax-related incentives, as well as the opportunity to apply for technical assistance grants from the state arts council.