BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, July 17, 2025) - The City of Baltimore, in partnership with the Baltimore Civic Fund, proudly announces the 81 recipients of the 2025 ARPA Artist Grant. Each artist will receive an unrestricted $4,000 grant, totaling $324,000 in direct support to Baltimore's creative community.

The ARPA Artist Grant Fund is made possible through the City's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation, part of Mayor Brandon M. Scott's strong commitment to arts and culture recovery. This initiative supports Baltimore artists in recovering from the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic- acknowledging both their creative contributions and their role as essential members of the local economy.

"Local artists and creatives help to shape and define Baltimore's identity," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "We know that these folks were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, which is why we've made the arts an especially high priority in the last few years. This grant program is a direct investment in the people who bring our city to life through storytelling, expression, and community engagement. Supporting their recovery helps drive our city forward."

"Through investing in individual artists and grassroots organizations, the City's ARPA funding has played a crucial role in sustaining Baltimore's entire creative ecosystem," said Elizabeth Tatum, Acting Chief Recovery Officer for the Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs. "These investments demonstrate a deep understanding that the arts are vital to our city's recovery- economically, culturally, and socially. We are proud to support the people and projects that make Baltimore a more vibrant, connected, and inspiring place to live."

The Baltimore Civic Fund is an independent 501c3 organization serving as the fiscal sponsor for the City of Baltimore, the Baltimore Civic Fund is proud to be the financial backbone for public-private partnerships between innovative city programs and the philanthropic community. In this role, the Civic Fund manages $20 million annually for more than 100 city programs that promote business and economic development, education, culture and the creative economy, job growth, and more.0Working alongside the mayor of Baltimore and city leadership, the Civic Fund helps realize a vision of an inclusive city where all Baltimore residents prosper.

Administered by the Baltimore Civic Fund, the grant program received over 165 applications from across the city. After reviewing the applicants' submitted documentation, 81 eligible grantees representing a wide range of creative disciplines were selected:

• Visual & Design Arts
• Public & Placemaking Arts
• Performing Arts
• Fashion & Textile Arts
• Makers & Craft Arts
• Recording & Sound Arts
• Digital & Media Arts
• Culinary Arts
• Literary Arts

"This grant is about creative resilience," said Tonya Miller Hall, Senior Advisor of Arts & Culture for the Mayor's Office of Arts, Culture & Entertainment. "It reflects our belief that artists are not only cultural visionaries but small business owners and community anchors who deserve investment and infrastructure."