There are two initiatives afoot that can foster a better understanding of Baltimore’s rich cultural communities. They will combine knowledge and data to help shape decision-making, and inspire a greater investment for underserved populations.
How can you help? Your input is needed on two VERY SHORT surveys.
Shortly after taking the oath of office, Mayor Catherine Pugh expressed her belief that artists make an important contribution to Baltimore’s success. Responding to the closing of the Bell Foundry artists’ space and concerns about the conditions of other “DIY” spaces, the Mayor formed a Task Force on Safe Art Space. You can provide the Task Force with a more complete picture of how artists are living and working in Baltimore, and what services or training might be most useful by completing this anonymous Safe Space Survey here.
The Task Force includes a variety of perspectives that will create strategies, identify resources, and propose a programmatic framework that will develop and sustain spaces that protect the safety and meet the interests of today’s artists and patrons. Click here to find out about upcoming task force meetings.
To measure the participation of citizens in cultural activities, there is GEOLOOM. You can find the survey here.
The GEOLOOM co>map will provide a better understanding of the arts and culture landscape, along with the ability to view data within a broader context of demographic, real estate, and ecological information. Most importantly, it will help inform decisions about the City’s future. When it launches in July, GEOLOOM can be used for research, planning, exploration, and investment. GEOLOOM was created by a Steering Committee made up of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, the Baltimore Office for Promotion and the Arts, the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (BNIA)-Jacob France Institute, and the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation.
Your participation today can also help arts advocates as we work to secure and strengthen support for arts and culture. After your finished, please share them both with your friends and coworkers!
Carry on!
Jeannie
