Visual & Performing Arts

Morgan State University Choir From literature and fine art, to modern dance and music, storytelling is an important part of African-American culture. In Baltimore, our museums, galleries, theaters and concert halls serve as venues for artistic expression and cultural inspiration. African and African-American art hold the key to a unique understanding of our world. Through poetry and prose, painting and sculpture, movement and song, we link our future to our past. Visit the following venues for a taste of fine art, drama and culture.

GALLERIES, MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES

Baltimore Museum of Art 10 Art Museum Drive Baltimore, MD 21218 443-573-1700 www.artbma.org: From its permanent collection of over 2,000 pieces of African art—including textiles, masks, carvings and jewelry—to special exhibitions of African-American art throughout the year, the BMA boasts a wide range of cultural and artistic treasures. Look forward to Jazz in the Sculpture Garden, a concert series during the summer months, and the BMA's annual Kwanzaa celebration in December.

Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch 400 Cathedral Street Baltimore, MD 21201 410-396-5430 www.prattlibrary.org: The African American Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library offers a comprehensive collection of historical and contemporary materials with a special emphasis on Maryland. Researchers and readers can gain access to the treasures of the Eddie and Sylvia Brown African American Collection, in the Juanita C. Burns Reading Room of the Pratt Central Library Annex.

The James E. Lewis Museum of Art Murphy Fine Arts Center Morgan State University 1700 East Cold Spring Lane Baltimore, MD 21251 443-885-3030 www.murphyfineartscenter.org: Named for the sculptor and Morgan State University professor who established its permanent collection, the James E. Lewis Museum of Art (JELMA) displays 19th- and 20th-century American, European and traditional African art. The museum also displays the art of Morgan State faculty members and students.

The Walters Art Museum 600 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201 410-547-9000 www.thewalters.org: Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier's stunning bronze and gold sculpture of an African woman visiting Paris in 1851 (African Venus) is probably one of The Walters' best known gems. The museum also features an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian art and is the site for concerts and social gatherings.

THE PERFORMING ARTS

Arena Players, Inc. 801 McCulloh Street Baltimore, MD 21201 410-728-6500: Founded in 1953, Arena Players, Inc. is the nation's oldest continuously operating African-American community theater. The company produces five main stage productions each year, including both classic works and contemporary plays from African-American writers.

The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute & Cultural Center 847 North Howard Street Baltimore, MD 21201 410-225-3130 www.eubieblake.org: Located on Baltimore's historic Howard Street, the Eubie Blake Cultural Center is the home of permanent exhibitions on Baltimore jazz legends like Cab Calloway, Chick Webb and its inspiration, Eubie Blake. The center is also home to jazz concerts, cultural events and performing-arts classes.