“BALTIMORE’S CREATIVE COMMUNITIES ARE COMING TOGETHER TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AND SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS, CULTURE AND THE HUMANITIES IN BALTIMORE CITY. SHARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES, GET INFORMED ON THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES, AND VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION ON APRIL 26, 2016.” - Citizen Artist Baltimore

On January 5, I had the privilege of attending the first listening session of Citizen Artist Baltimore, an initiative looking at motivating artists to get out and vote and leverage their potential political power to ensure arts and culture are on the agenda of our local politicians. The listening session, which is one of six ongoing (for more info visit: http://citizenartist.vote/priorities/) are happening across the city and looking to engage the broad and diverse creative community of Baltimore. The conversation was deep and varied as artists gathered at the WindUp Space during D Center Baltimore's monthly Design Conversation. A few of the items brought up by artists in attendance were: artists being represented on decision making committees that impact policy (there are precedents for this in Chicago and Boston), ways to access and activate abandoned spaces, additional funding for public arts projects, etc. Artists also brought up their own experiences with power structures, as well as positive stories of how arts programs have had a positive impact on lives.

It was a good discussion, but I left the conversation wanting to ask additional questions. If successful, what larger impact can the arts community have? If artists find ways to organize into a power bloc, how can this power can be used not just to leverage additional resources for artists, but to address larger structural issues of power and equity? Especially in a city like Baltimore, where the issues of wealth, equity, race and gentrification are visible and need discussion and action, how can artists make sure they are not being coopted by a system that still needs a major transformation and instead act as catalysts for change. How can artists engage and organize not just to help themselves, but to ensure their gain is growing opportunities for others as well?

There is a need to organize within the structure of this current mayoral election and Citizen Artist is doing a great job at getting the arts on the radar of our mayoral candidates. I want to be sure that we are also investigating the power artists have for larger transformational change that will activate and impact access to resources, issues of equity and moving toward a more just and equitable city for all.

There is much work to do. Grateful for all here who are working on many levels from grassroots work at the ground level to policy work and working directly in our institutions.