Artscape is an annual art festival held in Baltimore, Maryland. Previously held in the vicinity of Maryland Institute College of Art in July, Artscape was moved to Downtown and Memorial Day weekend as of 2025. Since its first annual event in 1982, Artscape has become the largest free arts festival in America. It has boasted acts such as Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin in the past, attracting over 350,000 people from the city, and surrounding areas. Film programming during Artscape is provided by Maryland Film Festival. There are artists in a variety of visual and performing media. Events are free and open to the public.
Funding According to Artscape, 43% of the funding for 2010's event came from sponsorships and contributions, while 29% came from concession income, the remaining funds came from fundraising, and grants. The report states that about 18% of their expenses in 2010 went to administrative costs, 3% to fundraising activities, while the majority 79% went to program expenses. Artscape organizers estimate that the total economic impact for the City of Baltimore in 2010 was $25.97 million. It is reported that 2009 attendees spend $9,256,046 with Artscape vendors.
Programs Artscape includes various programs and artwork displays, including juried exhibitions, installations, literary arts, visual arts, and performances. Musical performances take place at various stages across Baltimore. Past notable musical performers have included Aretha Franklin (1994), Al Green (2003), and Isaac Hayes (2004), among others.
Musical line-up
2016 BGE Main Stage Wyclef Jean Burning Spear The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Jah Works Spirit Blues Chelsey Green and the Green Project Of Tomorrow Foggy May 8 Ohms Band Tropik Sol Bond Street District Reggie Wayne Morris Thurgood Marshall Band Aztec Soul Johns Hopkins University Station North Stage Baltimore City Public Schools' Young Audiences Summer Arts and Learning Academies Hotline F featuring Landis Expandis Parks Landing The Henchmen Prince Dance Party featuring Wendel Patrick & DJ Dubble8, DJ Sam Burns Modern Nomad Fake Flowers Real Dirt Lost Keys Surf Harp Weekends Sun Club Bmore Does Bowie (featuring Aguierre's Dogs, Scroll Downers, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, SYS Band and The Band that Fell to Earth) Milestones Scroll Downers Expert Alterations Chiffon Bmore Beatscape hosted by Eze Jackson Morgan State University Sound Off Live Stage Michele McTierney Coexist Music Group and Devin Jano Spaceboy DBS Rumba Club David Bach The Coldspring Jazz Quartet Orchester Prazevica Gotham Theory Greenspan Naked Jungle Dunson Michael Raitzyk Quartet Tongue in Cheek High-Brid Band Essential Vybe The Palovations Edjacated Phools
2015 George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band Michael Franti & Spearhead Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue Martian Architect Slow Lights Reve Purple Orange Inde Kanika Goat Subtle Hustle Quinton Randall 10 Step Groove The Upstarters D.T. Huber 9 Mile Roots The Slanted Sound Hollywood Banks
2014 MEA Energy Stage Anthony Hamilton Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Ozomatli Galactic Carl Filipiak Emily King Nadine Ray & The Allstars Kelly Bell Band Joe Cooper Project By & By Sweet Leda The Crawdaddies May Weather Kevin Jackson Station North Stage The Players Band All Mighty Senators Baltimore City Public Schools Blind Man Leading Brooks Long and the Mad Dog No Good Bobby E Lee & The Sympathizers Small Apartments 8 Ohms Band Skydivers Wyoming Exploding Deaf Scene Andy Poxon Bosley Super City Connor Brendan Band Among Wolves The Festival Stage Tom Principato Cowboy Mouth The Glenmont Popes Yellow Dubmarine Reverend Horton Heat Blizz Mystic Warriors T.K. Blue Evokatones Muddy Crows Eureka Birds Honest Haloway Plurals Lotus Song & The Black Light Asylum Voodoo Pharmacology Rufus Roundtree & Da B'More Brass Factory MC Booze No BS! Brass Band
2013 Wells Fargo Main Stage Brittanie Thomas Bridget Kelly Kem iLyAIMY Krar Collective Jukebox the Ghost The Dirty Dozen Brass Band North Mississippi Allstars Tosin Meena Cryle & The Chriss Fillmore Band Flying Eyes The Wailers Festival Stage Basement Instinct Sojourne The Rez Bill O'Connell & The Latin Jazz Allstars Reina Williams The Control Straight Up Tribal UllNevaNo Lafayette Gilchrist & The New Volcanoes United States Navy Band Country Current The Booby Traps Reesa Renee Greasy Hands Don Trunk Sine' Qua Non Appaloosa Station North Stage Baltimore City Public Schools Leland Palmer Lazlo Lee & The Motherless Children J Pope & Funk Friday Matmos Victims of Experience Yellow North Thee Lexington Arrows Val Yumm Allie the Cats Dead Melotron Dreamboat Armada Bad Seed Rising Wild Honey Red Sammy
2012 Wells Fargo Stage Navasha Daya Brian McKnight Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears Clutch Dontae Winslow & Winslowdynasty Easy Star All-Stars Rebirth Brass Band Festival Stage Tom Principato Donegal X-Press Julienne Irwin Café Red Band Howard "Funkyfoot" Brooks Productions Maimouna Youssef Station North Stage Arbouretum Big In Japan Yeveto Celebration Egg Babies Orchestra Caleb Stine
2011 Wells Fargo Stage Fantasia Southern Culture On The Skids G. Love & Special Sauce Matisyahu Miguel Nikka Costa The Pietasters The 8 Ohms Band Carolyn Malachi The Players Band The Jon Bailey Band Can't Hang Festival Stage Mosno Al-Moseeki E Major Superland Stage Band Telesma Unity Reggae Band Pompeii Graffiti The Kings of Crownsville The Rise Band Andy Poxon The Crawdaddies Orch Kids The Band Belief Larry Brown Quartet Big Daddy Stallings Urbanite Stage Baltimore City Public Schools Showcase Strings and Things Matt Wigler Lee Pearson Bottle of Blues Eric Byrd Trio Turn Around Norman Love Craft Kevin Driscoll Time Out Blues Society Community Groove Tom Williams Quintet.
2010 Wells Fargo Stage Gov't Mule Jackie Greene Cold War Kids Musiq Soulchild Wale Maysa Matarazzo Rebelution Charm City Stage Toubab Krewe Sahffi Breaking Reign Urbanite Stage Eric Kennedy Quartet Jump Street Michael Raitzyk Trio Festival Stage Fools & Horses Higher Hands Mambo Combo
2009 Robin Thicke Cake Dionne Warwick Robert Randolph & The Family Band River City Extension Electrik Red Faction Lafayette Gilchrist Ms. Sara & The Help Beat Box No Second Troy Basshound Ellen Cherry Tim Warfield Los Reyes Del Ko Higher Hands The Drakes Gaybomb Lo Moda The Polygons Pie Boys Flat Noble Lake Fall Back Plan Tia Dae Balti Mare Jason Dove Nickodemus & Quantic Sun People Neal Conway David Andrew Smith Matt Wigler Deja Belle April Sampe Todd Marcus Needle Gun Salamander Wool Dave Fell Wolf Pac The Quartet Offensive Matt Davignon Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra Cold Spring Jazz Quartet Bay Jazz Project The Dave Tieff Band Il Culo
2008 Roberta Flack Ne-Yo The Wailers Rusted Root Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Gary B & the Notions Thrushes The Oranges Band Mike Doughty
2007 Main Stage The Isley Brothers Los Lonely Boys Lupe Fiasco Keyshia Cole Fertile Ground Ryan Shaw Burning Spear Sam Bush Nuttin' But Stringz Shaw Festival Stage Old 97's University of Baltimore Stage Damsels Soul'd Out Wendy McIntyre Fools & Horses DJ Culture stage DJ Vadim Karizma Tittsworth Pase Rock Uncle Jesse DJ Sabo with Nappy G DJ Ulken with Shanta Live DJ Impulse
2006 Common Brazilian Girls Grace Potter & The Nocturnals Michael Franti Citizen Cope Randy Travis Jarflys
2005 Morris Day and the Time Boyz II Men Q-Tip Shaggy Drive-By Truckers The Disco Biscuits Platinum Pied Pipers Danielia Cotton The Seldon Plan Swingin' Swamis
2004 Isaac Hayes Wyclef Jean Fertile Ground Violent Femmes Tortured Soul De La Soul Arrested Development
2003 Blues Traveler The Radiators The Bridge
2001 Karl Denson's Tiny Universe The North Mississippi Allstars Railroad Earth Etta James Ray Charles Fertile Ground Junkyard Saints Carl Filipiak Shemekia Copeland Smokey Robinson Junior Brown O'Malley's March Great Big Sea Koko Taylor and her Blues Machine Hugh Masekela
2000 Patti LaBelle O'Malley's March The Neville Brothers Tito Puente Dave Brubeck
1999 Ashford & Simpson with poet Maya Angelou Earl Klugh Fertile Ground The Temptations Duke Ellington Orchestra Dionne Warwick The Disco Biscuits
1998 Roger Daltrey and the British Rock Symphony and Choir Gladys Knight Buckwheat Zydeco Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Richard Thompson Stanley Jordan
1997 Patti LaBelle KoKo Taylor Tito Puente Kelly Bell Band
1995 Ethel Ennis
1994 Aretha Franklin
1993 Chaka Khan Ruben Blades (con Son Del Solar)
1992 Gladys Knight Tammy Wynette
1991 Jeffrey Osborne Emmylou Harris Hiroshima
1990 Letitia Leigh Roberta Flack Chick Corea Buckwheat Zydeco Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
1989 Martha Reeves and the Vandellas Grover Washington, Jr. Max Roach Quartet
1987 Deanna Bogart Leon Redbone
1986 The Chiffons Joan Baez Boys Choir of Harlem
1985 Spyro Gyra Bo Diddley
1984 Duke Ellington Orchestra Morgan State University Choir Wynton Marsalis Quintet Sweet Honey in the Rock
1983 Taj Mahal
1982 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Ray Charles Ethel Ennis
References
External links Official homepage The annual Foodscape Show was a parody art exhibition that ran during more than 30 years of Artscape festivals.