Sarah McCann

Curatorial Experience

2024 Fusion Flow Exhibition Viewing in Contemplation: Work by E.K. Miles, Fusion Partnerships, Cork Factory, Baltimore, MD

If I Ruled the World: Loud-N-Clear!!!, Co-curated with Ali Duggan & Denise Gantt, MAX Gallery, Baltimore, MD

2023 Fusion Flow Exhibition: Wide Angle Youth Media, Fusion Partnerships, Cork Factory, Baltimore, MD

Art & Spirituality, Gormley Gallery, NDMU, Baltimore, MD

Fusion Flow Exhibition: Sara Kaltwasser, Fusion Partnerships, Cork Factory, Baltimore, MD

Loud-N-Clear, Exhibition and Film Festival, Co-curated with Allison Duggan, Jewel Guy, and Ms.

Margaret Griffin, MAX Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Fusion Flow Exhibition: Paula Phillips, Fusion Partnerships, Cork Factory, Baltimore, MD

2022 Hear Us Now!?!, Co-curated with Allison Duggan and Gerald Forte, Hoen Building, Baltimore, MD

2021 How We Are Healing, Keswick Wise & Well Center Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Looking at Leadership, Gormley Gallery, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD

2020 As It Should Be, in partnership with the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, Gallery CA,

Baltimore, MD

2019 Deck the Walls, Co-curated with Nora Howell, Jubilee Arts, Baltimore, MD

Making in the Midst of... The Hurwitz Gallery, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

East Baltimore: Her Artists and Her People, Co-curated with Allison Duggan and Gerad Forte,

MICA PLACE, Baltimore, MD

Ways of Seeing, Gallery CA, Baltimore, MD

Our Words Will Still Be Heard, in partnership with the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric,

hosted by Jubilee Arts and MICA PLACE, Baltimore, MD

2018 Portraits of People We Love: Newark, Aferro Gallery, Newark, NJ

Our Words Will Be Heard, Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, Baltimore, MD

2017 Portraits of People We Love, MICA Place, Baltimore, MD

2016 Home, Tiny Museum at the Loading Dock, Baltimore, MD

2015 Putting the Pieces Together, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2014 Experience Transformation: The Impact of Clay, Co-curated with Brett Freund, Creative Alliance,

Baltimore MD

2013 Baltimore from Many Perspectives, D Center, Baltimore MD

2012 House Show, Urbanite@Case[werks] in partnership with D Center, Baltimore, MD

Women: An Exhibition, D Center @ MAP, Baltimore, MD

2011 The Process of Peace, Towson ARTS Collective, Towson, MD

2010 What's Your War? Co-curated with Oasa DuVerney, 5 Myles Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

What’s Your War? Co-curated with Oasa DuVerney, Load of Fun Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Solo Exhibitions

2024 Portals, Pathways, and Potentials, Enoch Pratt Free Library Light Street Branch, Baltimore, MD

2020 Tracing Transformations, Keswick Wise & Well Center, Baltimore, MD

2018 Words of Love, Jubilee Arts Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Select Group Exhibitions

2024 The Big Show, Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD

Still, Tevis Gallery at the Carroll Arts Center, Westminster, MD

2023 Sacred Ground, Dadian Gallery, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC

Art & Spirituality, Gormley Gallery, NDMU, Baltimore, MD

Paint Night, Gallery CA, Baltimore, MD

It's Never Over, Co-curated by Dominic Terlizzi and Christine Stiver, St Charles Project, Baltimore, MD

2022 Laid Bare, curated by Quentin Gibeau, Gormley Gallery, NDMU, Baltimore, MD

2019 What's So Funny About... curated Dominic Terlizzi, St Charles Projects, Baltimore, MD

The Big Show, Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD

Grad Show 3, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Fox 3 Gallery, Baltimore, MD

National Association of Schools of Art and Design Exhibit, MICA Lazarus Center, Baltimore, MD

2018 Just to Live curated by Alexander Jarman, Jubilee Arts Gallery, Baltimore, MD

2017 The Big Show, The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD

Members Exhibition, The Baltimore County Arts Guild, Baltimore, MD

Resist, 2017 Mansion Show, Community Arts Network of Oneonta, Oneonta, NY

Artists for Truth Exhibition, Space Camp, Baltimore, MD

2016 Breaking the Mold, The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD

The Big Show, The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD

2015 Putting the Pieces Together, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

Connections, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2014 365 Artists 365 Days, Online, www.365artists365days.com

Clay From the Classroom, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2013 Community Arts Teaching Artists, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

Station North Salon Show, Single Carrot Theater, Baltimore, MD

2012 Promesas (Promises), William Paterson University Gallery, Wayne, NJ

Clay From the Classroom, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

Emma Wilcox: Where it Falls, The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA

FiveMyles Gallery Exhibition and Auction, Five Myles Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

Print Show, Golden West Cafe, Baltimore, MD

2012!!! Apocalypse Art Show, Golden West Cafe, Baltimore, MD

2011 Community Arts Teaching Artists, Baltimore Clayworks Community Arts Gallery, Baltimore, MD

2010 Community Arts Brunch Cookbook Release and Exhibition, CHMCC, Baltimore, MD

What’s Your War? 5 Myles Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

FORCE: On the Culture of Rape, Current Gallery, Baltimore, MD

The Text & Its Discontexts, Towson Arts Collective, Towson, MD

A Personal Touch, Baltimore Clayworks Community Arts Gallery, Baltimore, MD

What’s Your War? Load of Fun Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Sign Language, Whole Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Social Change Exhibition, Towson Arts Collective, Towson, MD

Hope-a-holic, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island, NY

Transformations in Clay, Baltimore Clayworks Community Arts Gallery, Baltimore, MD

2009 Extra-Curricular Clay, Baltimore Clayworks Community Arts Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Summer Institute Exhibition, Youth Dreamers and Shepherd’s Clinic, Baltimore, MD

Connecting the Dots: Life in the Community Art Corps, MICA, Baltimore, MD

Youth Dreamers Housewarming Art Auction/Exhibition, Youth Dreamers, Baltimore, MD

2008 ArtScape Summer Institute Show, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Baltimore MD

MACA Thesis Exhibition, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

Sowebo Festival Salon Art Show, Baltimore, MD

2007 In the Country of Last Refuge, Gallery Aferro, Newark, NJ

2005 Storefront/Forefront, Tower Records Building, New York, NY

9x12 Works On Paper, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, TX

2003 Thesis Exhibition, Rosenberg Gallery, New York University, New York, NY

2000 Space/Structure: A Photographic Exhibition, 16 Waverly Place, New York, NY

Collaborative and Public Projects

2023

Paint Night

What happens when artists go to paint night? As a means to return to the world after covid two artists started going to paint nights. These 2021 & 2022 paint nights offered a low/no pressure space to create as they gained their footing again, and immersed in community in a fun and creative way. They then invited other artists to create all the same Paint Night paintings and exhibit them together. Consider this a painterly game of telephone! How will each person respond? Which artwork will you choose to riff off of or remix? Collaborators: Sara Kaltwasser, Gallery CA, additional artists TBA.

2019

Portraits at the Pratt

Public workshops facilitated on site at Enoch Pratt Free Library neighborhood branches. Participants brought photos of loved ones that were added to ceramic tiles as decals to create mosaic portraits. The finished pieces were on display at the Pratt branch before going home with the maker or given as a gift. Collaborators: Enoch Pratt Free Library, Maryland Institute College of Art

2012

Text It!

We use text messages to communicate quickly and immediately to our family and friends. What if we were also able to do this to a larger audience – to our neighborhood, community, the public? This project in partnership with Tinges Commons facilitated a series of text pieces painted on a sign board in the Better Waverly community. Suggestions for the sign were accepted from any and all community members that wanted to participate and were painted weekly from April – July, 2012.

2010

Odd Beauty: Signs of Absurdity and Elegance Within

Co-facilitated project with Graham Coreil-Allen. Collaboration between middle school students and artists. Installation of signs on Tinges Commons, a community garden and art space in Baltimore City. Collaborators: Youth Dreamers, Tinges Commons, Graham Coreil-Allen, Colin Benjamin and John Bylander.

It is Not Ok/I Can

Installation based project in which participants complete the phrases “It is not ok…” and “I can…” Installed in multiple venues including empty storefronts, the Stadium School and MICA’s Brown Center. Upcoming installation at Wide Angle Youth Media Festival. Collaborators: Youth Dreamers, MICA Graphic Design Department, J.J. Clarke Enterprises, public.

2009

Joy Banners

Facilitated project in which students from the Youth Dreamers, their parents, and patients of Shepherd’s Clinic designed banners for the Joy Wellness Center with the theme, “What does Joy Mean to You?” Collaborators: Youth Dreamers, Youth Dreamer parents, Shepherd’s Clinic, Shepherd’s Clinic patients, Joy Wellness Center, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts.

Youth Dreamers Mural, Baltimore MD

Designed and painted mural in the Youth Dreamers Youth Center. Collaborators: Youth Dreamers, Youth Dreamer Board, Youth Dreamer parents.

105 – 115 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore MD

Organized two art exhibitions in the windows of 5 vacant buildings in downtown Baltimore. Collaborators: Youth Dreamers, J.J. Clarke Enterprises, Mr. Ghee, Lara Emerling, The Stadium School.

Kirk Avenue Banners, Baltimore, MD

Project in which students in the Youth Dreamers Live Out Loud summer program designed banners that were installed on Kirk Avenue as part of James W. Rouse Community Service Day. Collaborators: Youth Dreamers, Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse, Baltimore City.

Community/Work Experience

2020 - Present Fusion Partnerships, Inc.

Director of Partnerships

The Director of Partnerships is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships across Fusion’s stakeholder groups. As part of the leadership team the Director of Partnerships oversees and provides support to the Partner Engagement Team, works with the Board of Directors to cultivate the philanthropic community, and finds ways for Fusion to leverage additional resources to strengthen the organization and partner portfolio.

2008 - Present SBM Consulting, Baltimore MD

Consulting

Support organizations in fundraising, grant-writing and development planning. Create and facilitate classes, workshops and after school programs. Organize and install exhibitions and related programming. Partner organizations include, but are not limited to: Baltimore Clayworks, Creative Alliance, D Center, Load of Fun Gallery, Towson Arts Collective, Wide Angle Youth Media, Young Audiences and the Youth Dreamers. For more information visit: www.sarahbmccann.com

2017 - 2018 Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore MD

Grants Manager

Responsible for planning and executing a $600,000 annual grant writing program for the Library's Department of Institutional Advancement. Cultivate corporations and foundations, research new funding opportunities and maintain donor reporting and site visits. Raise additional funds for capital campaigns and special initiatives. Track and report on all grants that have been awarded to the Library and maintains relationships with grantors. Project Director for pilot year of Social Worker in the Library.

2013 - 2017 Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MD

Executive Director

Provide visionary leadership for organization, manage day-to-day affairs, under the direction of the board of directors and its committees. Collaboratively manage staff. Responsible for Clayworks' overall management and consistent achievement of its mission, strategic goals and financial objectives. Chief fundraiser and relationship manager.

2012 – 2013 Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MD

Development Director

Responsible for all development activities at a mid-sized arts non-profit organization including: grant writing, identifying and cultivating prospective donors, managing donor database, coordinating membership, corporate sponsorship, event planning and implementation, managing staff, volunteers and interns, working with Marketing Department to produce material for events and mailings and developing the annual appeal.

2008 – 2017 Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MD

Instructor/Community Artist/Summer Camp Director

Develop curriculum, plan and implement arts and community arts workshops with diverse populations, teach ceramic arts skills, utilize ceramic arts as a means of connecting people. Recruit, supervise summer camp instructors, interns and students. Direct all aspects of 2011 summer camps, which served over 170 students.

2011 – 2012 Creative Alliance, Baltimore MD

Instructor Open Minds Program

Write and implement curriculum with the theme Cultural Legacy/Exploring Community for the Open Minds Art Clubs at the Creative Alliance and at Patterson Park Public Charter School. Lead drop in family activities. Coordinate end of semester exhibition and celebration.

2010 - 2011 Wide Angle Youth Media

Festival Coordinator

Facilitate Youth Media Festival Committee, a group of high school students that plan, implement, and create all aspects of the annual Who Are You? Youth Media Festival, write curriculum, train teachers, develop and maintain partnerships, coordinate visiting artists, design festival press material, organize submission process, present at schools and after school programs.

2008 – 2010 The Stadium School Youth Dreamers, Baltimore MD

Community Artist-in-Residence

Work closely with executive director, plan, implement and facilitate community arts activities including: an after school community arts program, in school community arts projects, multigenerational workshops with patients from the Shepherd’s Clinic, incorporate art into service days, recruit volunteers, organize art auction, grant write, coordinate visiting artists.

Bibliography

McCann, Sarah "At the Intersection of Art, Motherhood, and Entrepreneurship: Greenmount Tile" Studio Potter. July 2020.

McCann, Sarah "Does Outreach Equal Equity? Thoughts on the Impact and Challenges of Off-site Community Programs and the Struggle to Use the Arts in Achieving Social Justice" In E. Garber, L. Hochtritt, & M. Sharma (Eds.), Makers, crafters, educators: Working for cultural change. New York, NY: Routledge, 2018.

McCann, Sarah "Sallah Jenkins: Mother, Artist, Creator" Studio Potter. Vol. 45 No. 1 Winter/Spring 2017, p 59-60.

Cohen, Laura and McCann, Sarah "Americorps at Baltimore Clayworks" Ceramics Technical. No. 37 2013, p 14-17.

Scharper, Julie. "In Waverly, Messages of Inspiration" The Baltimore Sun. 19 July 2012. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-text-it-20120728,0,5024499.story

Stuelpnagel, Daniel. Women, an Exhibition What Weekly 2012 http://whatweekly.com/2012/03/07/women-an-exhibition

McCann, Sarah. This is Visual Poetry. Chapbook Publishers, 2010.

http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2009/10/22/its-not-ok-to-hang-unconventional-public-art-downtown/

-ship, a collective autobiography, an argument and a consensus on authorship today based on the model of Wikipedia, collected by lmackler.

Wilcox, Emma, ed. In the Country of Last Refuge. Aferro Publication No. 1.

Viewing Programs

Baker Artist Portfolio

Maryland State Arts Council

Education

2019 Maryland Institute College of Art, MFA in Community Arts

2015 The LEADERship, a program of the Greater Baltimore Committee

2011 Advancing Youth Development Certificate, The After School Institute

2007 - 2008 Maryland Institute College of Art, MA in Community Arts - Blaustein Scholar

1999 – 2003 New York University, B.S. in Studio Art

Grants and Awards

2019 Ways of Seeing Kickstarter Campaign - successfully raised $5,000 in 30 days

Maryland State Arts Council Creativity Grant

Maryland Institute College of Art Community Engagement Grant

2018 Creative Baltimore Fund Mayor's Individual Artist Award

Raised over $300,000 for Baltimore City Community College (4 month contract)

2017 As Grants Manager at Enoch Pratt Free Library raised $1.4million including: $650,000 annual operating funds, $500,000 for capital improvements, and $250,000 for special projects.

2016 Smart CEO Brava Award

2014 - 2017 As Executive Director of Baltimore Clayworks, part of a Development Team that raised an average of $509,000 each year including corporate, foundation, government, individual funds, and events.

2013 As Development Director at Baltimore Clayworks raised $532,798 including corporate, foundation, government, and individual funds.

2009 Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts Community Arts Projects Grant

Parks & People Foundation Neighborhood Greening Grant

2008 Americorps Make a Difference Day Grant

Parks & People Foundation Neighborhood Greening Grant

Boards & Committees

2017 - 2021 Board Member, Treasurer (2018-2019) & Chair (2020-2021), Intersection of Change

2016 -2019 Board Member and Co-Dean 2017-2019, Awesome Foundation, Baltimore Chapter

2015 - 2018 Care Taking Council, Baltimore and Beyond: Mindfulness Community

2015 - 2018 Representative of the Class of 2015, The LEADERship, Greater Baltimore Committee

2010 – 2013 Board Member, Youth Dreamers, Inc.

Skills

Administrative: Adobe Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Board Development, Communications, Crowdfunding, Executive Leadership, Event Planning, Facilitation, Facilities Management, Fundraising, Grants Management, Graphic Design, Mac and PC, Google and Microsoft Office, Project Management, Public Speaking, Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter), Strategic Planning, Web Content

Artistic: 2D and 3D Design, Backsplash Design and Installation, Blogging, Ceramics, Curating, Drawing, Embroidery, Exhibition Installation, Graphic Design, Illustration, Laser Cut, Mosaic, Mural Design and Facilitation, Organizing Artists, Photography (Digital and Traditional), Power Tools, Printmaking, Residency Management, Sewing, Studio Practice, Video Editing

Community/Education: Community Organizing, Curriculum Development, Grant Writing, Higher Education, K-12, Lesson Planning, Museum Education, Partner Development, Project Facilitation, Out of School Time, Teaching Adults and Seniors

Sarah B. McCann