MOACE Will Oversee Arts, Entertainment, Nightlife, and Film Under One Unified Strategy

BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, April 23, 2025) — During his State of the City address, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the launch of the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment (MOACE) a unified office that will shape the future of Baltimore’s live events, cultural workforce, creative economy, nightlife, and film industry — positioning the arts as a core driver of the city’s growth and identity. Baltimore has long been powered by world-class festivals, vibrant nightlife, and a rich artistic community. However, these efforts have historically been siloed across different agencies. Cities like Atlanta, Chicago, and Austin have centralized these functions — improving coordination, growing cultural infrastructure, and driving strategic outcomes. MOACE positions Baltimore to do the same.

“Baltimore has serious momentum right now. And more and more people are seeing it for themselves. We had over 28 million tourist visits to our city last year. We’re also home to incredible outdoor events – including Artscape, AFRAM, and Charm City Live,” said Mayor Scott. “With that said, I’m excited to announce a new Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, which will organize these events and others – and serve as a resource for local artists and creators.”

Under the leadership of Director Linzy Jackson III and Senior Advisor Tonya Miller Hall, MOACE will help to build an inclusive economy where talent is nurtured, opportunity is accessible, and the arts are central to Baltimore’s long-term economic growth and identity.

MOACE will lead the City of Baltimore in:

• Unifying arts, events, nightlife, and film under one strategy
• Boost operational efficiency and in-house capacity
• Support grassroots artists and neighborhood-based cultural groups
• Expand revenue through sponsorship and grant leverage
• Align Baltimore with national best practices in cultural governance
• Strengthen cultural infrastructure and creative workforce pathways

“MOACE isn’t just a new office — it’s a new way of connecting Baltimore and showing who we are. It’s where murals meet music, festivals meet film, and community voices take center stage,” said Director Linzy Jackson III, Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment. “We’re building something that connects city services to culture/nightlife, government to grassroots, and vision to opportunity. We’re making sure Baltimore’s artists, creatives, and cultural workers aren’t an afterthought — they’re part of the blueprint.”

“We are deeply grateful for Mayor Scott’s confidence in my leadership and vision,” said Tonya Miller Hall, Senior Advisor for Arts and Culture. This office represents a bold step forward in elevating Baltimore’s creative economy and celebrating the cultural richness that defines our city. Through strategic investment in festivals, film, public art, and nightlife, MOACE will serve as a catalyst for economic growth, creative innovation, and civic pride.”