On Tuesday, March 29, BOPA had the honor of hosting a delegation of film & television professionals from Senegal for a day as part of their multi-week U.S. tour. Invited under the auspices of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, the purpose of the delegation's trip is to learn about the American independent film and video industry.

In the morning, the delegation met with the Baltimore Film Office to discuss the objectives of their trip. After lunch, BOPA's CEO Donna Drew Sawyer invited the delegation to visit the Top of the World Observation Level.

Not only does the Top of the World Observation Level offer stunning 360-degree views of Baltimore (on Tuesday you could see for miles), but Ernest Shaw Jr.'s solo show, 'Continuous Line,' is still on view. This exhibition examines the uninterrupted, unremitting connection between continental African traditional culture and Africans dispersed throughout the diaspora.

It was incredible to watch members of the delegation speaking with Shaw about familiar aspects in his work and pointing out things they recognized in his layered images. The continuous line came full circle that afternoon.

BOPA believes in the power of art to build bridges and bring people together. We proudly support film and television professionals all over the world and we are grateful to share our knowledge with them. Baltimore is an incredible city in which to film, due largely to the dedication of the Baltimore Film Office. To learn more about the film office's work, click the button below.

BOPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means our programming is largely funded by donations from our constituents. Your tax-deductible donation helps us produce more events like these exhibitions.

Maryland's largest producer-only market opens for its 45th season on Sunday, April 3. The Baltimore Farmers' Market runs weekly from 7:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on Sundays. With the current gas prices, the Market is one of the best places to shop local. It's a one-stop shop!

The Market takes place underneath the Jones Falls Expressway (JFX) at Holliday and Saratoga Streets rain or shine. We hope to see you there!

CityLit Project presents the 19th annual CityLit Festival, a celebration of literature for readers and writers alike. "How We Break Free: Confronting Hard Truths" is the underlying theme of the month-long event this year.

In a nod to feminist bell hooks and the beginning of April as National Poetry Month, the CityLit Festival concludes with a free, live event at Busboys & Poets on Friday, April 1, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. For the first 30 minutes, listen to musical guest Like Water before some of the region's best poets take the stage. For more information about the event, click the button below.

BOPA is a sponsor of the CityLit Festival and is proud to partner with the Enoch Pratt Free Library to support readers and writers of all ages.

Skip on down to Southeast Baltimore this Friday, April 1, from 5:00–9:00 p.m. for the April First Friday Art Walk. Take a stroll around the Highlandtown Arts District and check out several artist pop-ups at 3402 Art, The Art-O-Mat, The Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Highlandtown Gallery, HtownWellness, IndoViet Restaurant, Night Owl Gallery, Snake Hill, Hecho en Baltimore, and more. Click below to see the map of participating shops and galleries.

BOPA provides programming and technical support to the City's A&E Districts. Your tax-deductible donation helps us to support the artists and arts organizations who make Baltimore beautiful!

The Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards honors the region's best songwriters from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The contest will award a $10,000 Grand Prize and a $2,500 Young Songwriter prize. Five selected songwriters and three selected youth songwriters will perform at the concert on Friday, April 1, and the winner will be announced at the end of the show.

One of the finalists competing in Friday's concert is Baltimore's own James Fernando. Hailed as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,” James Fernando creates music that lies at the intersection of jazz, classical, and electronic music. For tickets and information, click below.

The Black Arts & Entertainment District presents Womxn of the World Poetry Slam 2022. Phenomenal poets from around the world are coming to Baltimore to compete for over $10,000 in cash prizes and the title of Woman of the World Poetry Slam Champion. The final stage is on Saturday, April 2, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. at Baltimore Soundstage. Click the link below for tickets and celebrate the start of National Poetry Month with the Black Arts District.

Join the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) on Sunday, April 3, from 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. for a fun-filled cannon-launch celebration of its Glorious Founder Rebecca Hoffberger with music, dancing, food, games, scavenger hunts, crown-making, and carnival acts. The event is free and open to the public in AVAM's outdoor plazas. If you would like to visit the museum regular admission prices apply. For details, click below.

Mount Royal Soaps, a regular vendor at the Baltimore Farmers' Market, is hosting a series of evening shopping events this spring, starting with the Night Market on Friday, April 8, from 6:00–9:30 p.m. Buy from a variety of vendors, grab a snack from the Ekiben Food Truck, and enjoy free beer and mead from Charm City Meadworks. For more information, click below.

Join Baltimore City Recreation & Parks (BCRP) on Saturday, April 9, from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at Herring Run Park to celebrate spring, parks, spaces, nature, innovation, creativity, and sustainable construction. Whew! There will be live music, food trucks, outdoor activities, and more.

BCRP is also hosting a Maker Challenge: Showcase your creativity by constructing a 3D cardboard model of your favorite native wildlife animal (a species native to Maryland) for a chance to win a free Maryland Zoo pass. Participation in the Maker Challenge is not required to attend.

To register for this free event and/or fill out the registration form for the Maker Challenge, click the button below.

From Friday, April 8–Saturday, May 28, come celebrate Baltimore’s Charles North (aka Station North) neighborhood’s constantly evolving identities as a Koreatown, arts district, and creative hub. The "Asia North 2022: A Celebration of Art, Culture & Community" exhibition is curated by the Asian Arts & Culture Center's Program Manager Nerissa Paglinauan and it features the work of 31 regional Asian and AAPI artists. For more information about the exhibiting artists, gallery locations, and hours, click below.

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BOPA is proud to serve as your arts council, event center, and film office. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we are committed to ensuring Baltimore remains a vibrant, thriving arts community. We cannot do it without the support of our community — philanthropic funders, program partners, artists, volunteers, and you!