In a small office inside the Baltimore Office of Promotion of Arts’ downtown base, there’s a treasure trove of images and artifacts from decades’ worth of Artscape celebrations. In boxes and folders, stacked up in piles, there are photos of large art pieces, of past mayors, and of generations of families strolling through the festival.
Barbara Hauck, BOPA’s communications manager, estimates that they have thousands of images in various formats.
“The ’80s are mostly 35mm slides — we have multiple binders full of them. For the ’90s, we have about 207 sheets each with [about] five strips of negatives. Each strip has 5-6 pictures. Ballpark that’s over 5,000 images.”
The organization doesn’t yet have a count for how much of the other Artscape paraphernalia they are in possession of — that includes things like programs, postcards, staff badges, and more.
This year marks Baltimore’s 40th Artscape celebration. The festival will be held August 2-4 and feature performances from Sheila E. and Chaka Khan, fashion shows, film screenings, and more.
Hauck said that she began thinking about the cache of memorabilia when she realized that this year would be a milestone celebration. She hopes to eventually have everything digitized and made accessible to the public.
“When I realized this was the 40th Artscape, I started poking around to see what I could find for the newsletter. It was the public art pieces that got me. It occurred to me that these photos are the only evidence that these incredible creations ever existed and that lit a fire,” she said.
“I think preserving and protecting our cultural history are super important. Besides, this history doesn’t belong to BOPA, it belongs to Baltimore.”
1982
Ray Charles performs at the first ever Artscape in 1982. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.Ray Charles performs at the first ever Artscape in 1982. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.A group of kids with one person wearing a “Baltimore is for everybody” sign on their back in 1982. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.A giant inflatable crab wearing a top hat is pulled down North Charles Street by Penn Station in 1982. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.
1985
Two young boys wearing big trucker hats enjoy a snack and beverages during Artscape in 1985. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.Children blow air out of their mouths to push styrofoam boats in water during the 1985 Artscape. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.Thousands of people fill the street during Artscape in 1985. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.
1989
A work of art displayed at Artscape in 1989. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.
1994
Aretha Franklin at Artscape in 1994 with a big crowd behind her near the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.Aretha Franklin singing at Artscape in 1994. Photo credit: Janis Rettaliata.
1995
Children’s television star Kinderman entertains young people. Photo credit: Janis Rettaliata
1996
People gather around a car covered in bumper stickers at Artscape in 1996. Photo credit: Janis Rettaliata
1998
Mayor Kurt Schmoke hands a plaque of honorary citizenship to British rockstar Roger Daltrey, one of the headliners at Artscape in 1998. Photo credit: Janis Rettaliata
2002
A flier advertising the 20th Artscape in 2001 featuring a letter from Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.
2016
The staff badges used at Artscape in 2016. Image courtesy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & Arts.
