Artscape Fashion Experience
The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) is the driving force behind this annual program. By collaborating with the Walters Art Museum, we have an exciting opportunity to take the Baltimore City fashion community to new heights. Together, we can elevate their platform, provide valuable resources, and foster even stronger community engagement.
Check out the plan developed by the Project Artscape team as we hope to make Project Artscape an integral part of the vibrant Baltimore City arts community.
The Project Artscape website is set to launch in February 2024, and will serve as virtual hub for the community. The site will showcase the incredible talent of rising designers from the program — past and present. It will also include updates on what’s to come for Project Artscape and announce when applications open for 2024.
Interested designers will go through a two-part application process. First, they'll submit an application. All applicants who meet the minimum requirements will move on to the second part — the "final decision" round, where a panel of fashion professionals will carefully review and judge the designers' submissions. The panel will select 12 designers to be part of Project Artscape.
Selected designers will be announced in May of 2024 during an opening reception. Ideally, this reception will take place in the sculpture court of The Walters Art Museum.
The Opening Reception
The 2024 Project Artscape opening reception will take place from 6:00–9:00 p.m. and include delicious appetizers, a rocking DJ, and a fully stocked bar. At 7:00 p.m., the 2024 selected designers will be announced and presented along with congratulatory remarks from sponsors, Walters staff, and BOPA's CEO. The Mayor's Office will also be asked to attend and invited to speak in celebration of the rising designers.
We'd also like to use this event to pay homage to the incredible Baltimore fashion designer Bishme Cromartie with a special 15- to 20-minute artist talk with Bishme hosted by the fabulous Caprece Ann Jackson.
Fun fact, when we first came up with the idea for Project Artscape, Bishme Cromartie was the first designer we discussed showcasing during the experience, but at that time, he was busy winning the Project Runway: All Star Edition competition!
Bishme's journey and accomplishments are truly inspiring, and we believe it's important to celebrate his success. With the support of the Walters Art Museum, we have the chance to honor him with an unforgettable night and take the Project Artscape experience to a whole new level for everyone involved.
Show Time!
In collaboration with The Baltimore Jazz Alliance, the energy of live jazz bands will fill the space of the 2024 Project Artscape Experience. "Lounge areas" will surround the floor-level runway of the space and give it a club-like ambience. The space will also exhibit information on the history of Baltimore's relationship with iconic jazz players and places, diving deeper into the fashion and style expressed during the Jazz Era of the 1920s, ‘30s and beyond.
This will be a unique and immersive experience for everyone involved.
The Grand Finale at The Walters Art Museum
To wrap up the incredible journey of Project Artscape, we plan to produce a jaw-dropping "finale show" at the Walters Art Museum, which will showcase the three most highlighted designers from the 2024 festival.
The main and top levels of the sculpture court will be transformed into a stunning runway fashion experience with chairs lining the floor.
Additionally, we would absolutely love to commission Bishme Cromartie to close the finale show, adding an extra touch of celebration to an already amazing event.
We foresee this happening at the end of the year between November and December.
The Walters Art Museum Gala
In addition to Artscape, BOPA is on a mission to bring even more fashion to the Walters Art Museum's annual gala in October. Similar to the Mayor's opening reception for 2023 Artscape, we envision curating live, avant-garde and conceptualized fashion installations inspired by some of the art in the museum’s collection. The installations would be provided by Alum designers from Project Artscape 2023 & 2024. This could add an exciting layer of style to the iconic evening.
The exhibition would not only showcase fashion but also expand the artistic offerings of the Gala, creating a unique blend of visual arts in the love of fundraising.
This is another great potential partnership between BOPA and the Walters Art Museum for the Walters’ annual Gala. We have the opportunity to bridge the gap between fashion and the other forms of visual arts by creating a vibrant and dynamic experience for the community.
Partnership needs:
-Space to host the opening and closing receptions for Project Artscape.
-Funding to commission Bishme Cromartie for an artist talk and finale show.
-Annual partners to elevate Baltimore’s fashion community.
Perks as a Partner:
-Logo/brand included in the Project Artscape Experience program as a sponsor.
-Logo/brand included on the Artscape website.
-Logo/brand included on social media promotions for Project Artscape.
-Cross promotion of future programming.
-Three (3) VIP tickets for your team for the Project Artscape Experience.
-Invite to the VIP reception.
As we continue to support the fashion community in Baltimore City, forging key partnerships with The Walters Art Museum and other leading arts and culture organizations is crucial. The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts already has a strong working relationship with the Walters. Together, we can make a significant impact on the community and celebrate the intersection of fashion, art, and culture.
Contacts:
Project Artscape Staff:
Director/Creator- Devin Shacklett (Dshacklett@promotionandarts.org)
Assistant Director/Host- Caprece Ann Jackson (Bonneaucaprece@gmail.com)
Baltimore Jazz Alliance Rep/Board Member- Brynn Rhodes (Brynnrhodes5@gmail.com)
BOPA Development team:
Sarah Gibbons (Sgibbons@promotionandarts.org)
Daniella Greeman (Dgreeman@promotionandarts.org)
