June 2021

Summertime Fort McHenry Aerial Image

BNHA is excited to be back out in the community with all of our partners working toward a better residential and tourism environment in Baltimore! Many of the projects that you have had to delay are now happening and there is a renewed energy toward new endeavors that your organization or neighborhood can take on now as the world gets back to being a bit more normal. BNHA is activating too with innovations to our grant programs to make them more accessible and more useful to our historic neighborhoods and cultural institutions, developing new promotional materials that look to provide a more equitable light on life in Baltimore and continuing our work in our trails and parks to familiarize our residents with the natural resources available to them in the heritage area and providing ample opportunity for Baltimore youth to engage in the natural beauty of their city! As you plan your summer activities keep BNHA in mind as a potential partner. We love coming out to support your outdoor events and spreading the positive news of Baltimore heritage and legacy. While we are still keeping our tours virtual for now, please know that our "virtual" highlight tours are still available conveniently online and we can provide socially distanced and COVID-19 responsible walking tours for special events and groups. Simply reach out to us and we will make it happen! Image: Lovely Lane United Methodist Church ribbon cutting ceremony. BNHA and the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority have supported capital projects for this important cultural institution.

Shauntee Daniels Executive Director

Neighborhood Projects Pivot with BNHA's Help During the Pandemic   In January 2020, BNHA disbursed several grant awards to organizations under its Neighborhood Placemaking Grant program (NPG) right before the pandemic shutdown. Many organizations had to readjust their projects under the uncertain timeline, work with a reduction in staff, revise existing budgets and creatively re-imagine their projects into a new, virtual platform or socially-distanced program. No small feat. These projects now have become known as “pivot projects” – and many have had great success not only in executing their projects in new ways but reaching even larger and more diverse audiences than anticipated.   BNHA is proud to have supported two such pivot projects: The Great Halloween Lantern Car Parade (in lieu of its annual Great Halloween Lantern Festival and Parade) organized by the Creative Alliance with several partners (partnered with Friends of Patterson Park, SECDC, Nuestras Raices, Inc.) and First Friday Art Walks organized by the Southeast Community Development Corporation. Both organizations quickly shifted from in-person community events to socially-distanced or virtual events. The Creative Alliance’s monumental glowing Halloween Parade floats were repaired and secured in several flatbed trucks and pivoted to a car parade format, reaching a larger and more diverse audience as the parade route was expanded to other neighborhoods.    The Southeast CDC reimagined their Friday Art Walks by offering several creative alternatives, some of which included: A virtual Mariachi Fiesta to include a live stream video with performance, art demos, artist interviews; an Eye Spy Challenge with daily “eye spy” themes encouraging residents to explore the arts district on their own, with prizes for participating; to small (socially-distanced) mini sidewalk concerts.   What these organizations didn’t realize at the time, but do now, is that these new “pivot” projects actually reached larger audiences, more diverse audiences and curated new programming content.   BNHA is proud to partner with such innovative partners dedicated to heritage and cultural tourism and expanding its audiences under such a tremendous difficult year.    The current cycle for the NPG grant opens in September 2021. For more details reach out to Kenyona Moore at kmoore@baltimoreheritagearea.org.

BNHA Out in the Community! BNHA has been out supporting our partner events and spreading the word in the community about BNHA funding programs, contests and heritage area initiatives. Thanks to the teams over at Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI) and the B&O Railroad Museum for partnering with us last month. Make sure you catch us out in the community at the following upcoming events: B&O Railroad Museum Farmer's Market Thursdays - 4-7pm June 17th Cross Street Farmer's Market  Saturday, June 12th 32nd Street Farmer's Market  Saturday, June 26th  Click here for the full list of BNHA Spring/ Summer community events.

Get Plugged Into Baltimore Pride 2021! Baltimore Pride is The PRIDE Center of Maryland’s largest fundraising event each year. The PRIDE Center uses all proceeds generated from Baltimore Pride to help over 800 SGM (sexual & gender minority) individuals each month.   Each year in June, PCOM kicks off Pride Month in celebration of Baltimore’s vibrant SGL community. Baltimore Pride has grown from a small rally of a dozen activists in 1975, to a cavalcade of diversity showcasing the energy, culture and experience of our SGM community to more than 30,000 revelers each year.   For a Full List of Baltimore Pride 2021 Events Click Here

The Young Saturday ‘Visiter’ Awards (SVAs) are a new honor, presented by Poe Baltimore and sponsored by the Baltimore National Heritage Area (BNHA), recognizing High School students in Maryland who create artistic works inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. The prizes honor media, art, performance and writing that adapts or is inspired by Poe’s life and works, created by a High School student (grade 9 - 12 or equivalent during the 2021-22 school year) in the State of Maryland. The deadline for entries is September 15, 2021. Visit the SaturdayVisiterAwards.org to learn more.

Work in the City You Love! BNHA Urban Rangers for Public Tours & Museum Support Interpret the Heritage Area Share the Story of Baltimore $15 per Hour After Training Click for Details 

ARE YOU AN ASPIRING PHOTOJOURNALIST OR JUST AN AVID SHUTTERBUG? It's a SNAP! Baltimore Photo Contest 2021 is OPEN! No matter your level of expertise, here’s your chance to share your special photographs that reveal the best of Baltimore - the people and places of Charm City! Winning photographers receive prizes, and the best images will be showcased on BNHA’s social media channels and a special Baltimore National Heritage Area promotional product in 2022. Photographs must be taken within the Baltimore National Heritage Area. All hi-res entries must be submitted electronically by October 29, 2021. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

The Star-Spangled Flag House An inside tour of the Flag House and information on its important historical ties to Baltimore.

DONATE A $5 donation to BNHA gets you one of our one-of-a-kind Baltimore themed reusable tote bags. These eco-friendly bags feature some of the best Baltimore images by many of your favorite local photographers. Get your bag today!

The Baltimore National Heritage Area works to promote, preserve, and enhance Baltimore's historic and cultural legacy and natural resources.

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