Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts announced the return of the 31st annual Artscape. America’s largest free arts festival takes place on Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday, July 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Mount Royal Avenue and North Charles Street. Artscape features a full schedule of performing arts, including live concerts on three outdoor stages, dance, opera, theater, street theatre, and classical music performances, as well as film, children’s activities, and an assortment of food and beverages, located throughout the site.

“For three decades, Artscape has served as a showcase for depth and breadth of Baltimore’s creative talent,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “This year, hundreds of thousands of visitors will flock to our great city to enjoy excellent music, art, theater, and unique performances by some of our finest artists. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Artscape in July.”

On Friday, July 20, performers on the Wells Fargo Stage include neo-soul singer Navasha Daya at 4:30 p.m. and R&B singer-songwriter Brian McKnight at 7:30 p.m. Highlights on Saturday, July 21 are rock and roll band Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears at 6:00 p.m. and Clutch performing rock at 7:30 p.m. Dontae Winslow & Winslowdynasty performs jazz and soul music on Sunday, July 22 at 3:30 p.m., followed by Easy Star All-Stars at 5:00 p.m. and 2012 Grammy winners, funk group Rebirth Brass Band at 6:30 p.m.

This year, Pearlstone Park is home to At-TENT-ion. The art installation features 20 tents that have been built around and transformed into more than just basic tents—into individualized and unique objects. Some tents invite festival-goers to peer inside “secret worlds,” others make statements about culture or as surprise with whimsy and humor.

The Artscape Gallery Network presented by M&T Bank provides art lovers with an extended opportunity to enjoy Baltimore’s talented artists before, during, and after the festival weekend. The Gallery Network exhibitions highlight the 2012 Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize applicants, along with artists working throughout the region. New this year, five participating venues have been identified as Artscape Gallery Network “Showcase Galleries” to receive enhanced marketing opportunities and exhibition receptions.

The seventh annual Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize returns to Artscape with an exhibition of the remaining semifinalists’ work in the Decker Gallery and Meyerhoff Gallery of Maryland Institute College of Art from Friday, July 20 through Sunday, August 5, 2012. The winner of the prestigious competition is announced during an award ceremony on Saturday, July 14, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at The Baltimore Museum of Art, located at 10 Art Museum Drive.

New this year, the monetary award for the Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize has increased to $30,000. Additionally, M&T Bank established the M&T Bank Sondheim Finalists’ Awards, which provide a $2,500 honorarium for each of the remaining finalists not selected for the fellowship.

KIDSCAPE, located in Cohen Plaza in front of the Brown Center, offers exciting and entertaining activities for younger festival-goers, such as a storytelling corner, arts and crafts projects, and hands-on mini workshops.

For a complete and up-to-date schedule for Artscape, visit www.artscape.org or call 1-877-BALTIMORE.