Wednesday, September 15th, 2015 // The Statement
8B

For over thirty years, ArtScape, the largest free arts festival in the U.S., has taken place over a three-day period in mid July, centered in downtown Baltimore between Penn 

Station and the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Most vendors and performance stages are located on either Charles St. or Mt. Royal Ave. The event annually draws more than 400,000 
attendees, despite very hot and humid weather. Both local and national artists are drawn to the festival resulting in a diverse display of art and performance. Highlights include the main 
performance stage by the Maryland Institute College of Art and an extensive menu of international food served around the festival.

Four roller-skaters talk amongst themselves while preparing to dance on skates at ArtScape in Balti-
more. 

Each year the main stage at ArtScape draws large crowds that come to listen to the free music, even if many have never heard of each group before. In 2015 the headline act was Michael Franti & Spearhead 
on Saturday. Here, the audience lines the hill of the old Mt. Royal Train Station where the main stage is located to see the final performances on a Sunday night in July. 

LEFT: Though there are many scheduled performances by artists on multiple stages over multiple days, many local musicians simply play amongst the crowd on the sidewalk for tips. This saxophonist played 
for those taking a break to eat by a group of food trucks on the final day of ArtScape. RIGHT: Always held in mid-July, ArtScape is plagued by high-temperatures that are compounded by Baltimore’s consis-
tently high humidity. Multiple cooling stations offered at the event combat highs that in past years have reached triple digits.

Members of the Capoeira Angola Baltimore chapter perform near University of Baltimore on Mt. Royal 
Ave. at ArtScape on the festival’s last day. 

Photo Story by 
Grant Hardy

V I S U A L S T A T E M E N T : A R T S C A P E

