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Catonsville arts leaders ask county for continued operating support, artist spaces and parking
Summary
Representatives of the Catonsville arts community and Baltimore County Arts Guild highlighted recent grant support, festival attendance and ongoing needs for artist studios, residential space and public parking to sustain the Catonsville Arts District.
Arts leaders and local business owners told the county they appreciate recent operating grants and festival support but said more is needed to sustain and grow the Catonsville Arts District.
Arkea Wade, president of the Baltimore County Arts Guild, thanked the county for four years of support for the annual arts-and-crafts festival and described year-round programming that reaches thousands. Steve Yampieri, owner of Jennings Cafe and a Catonsville business owner, said the arts district (designated in 2020) includes more than two dozen restaurants and multiple performance venues and that the district still needs artist studios and residences, public parking and a fairer share of Arts & Sciences grant funding for Baltimore County artists.
Wade requested two specific actions: assistance to help other areas of the county apply for arts-and-entertainment designation and creation of artists' residential studio spaces in Catonsville. Yampieri asked the county to address an apparent grant-distribution disparity he described, noting that 80% of Maryland State Arts Council Arts & Sciences grants go to Baltimore City while Baltimore County receives 20%.
Speakers said county arts grants, festivals and public art projects support local businesses and tourism; they asked county leaders to consider those priorities during budget development.
