Maryland Art Place (MAP) is a nonprofit contemporary arts organization founded in 1981 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was created by a coalition of artists, community leaders, and supporters who wanted to expand opportunities for Maryland’s visual artists and increase public access to contemporary art. With early support from the Maryland State Arts Council, MAP officially incorporated in 1982 and quickly became an important cultural institution in the region.
MAP's signature programs include our annual art sales, Out of Order and UNDER $2500, and our rotating exhibitions at Hotel Indigo, Baltimore. MAP is also the caretaker of the Maryland Arts Directory and Resource Bulletin.
map is an organization of firsts
Our exhibitions offer first time opportunities to artists to exhibit and sell their work while also creating a welcoming environment for first-time buyers to engage with art and artists.
FIRST EXHIBITION
FIRST SALE
FIRST ARTWORK PURCHASE
Our STORY
Originally located near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in the Candler Building, Maryland Art Place (MAP) presented exhibitions, performances, and public programs that highlighted emerging and established artists. After several relocations during the 1980s, the organization purchased and renovated a five-story industrial building at 218 West Saratoga Street in downtown Baltimore. The renovated space became a permanent home for galleries, artist programs, and the 14Karat Cabaret performance venue.
Throughout its history, MAP has supported Maryland artists through exhibitions, educational initiatives, and community programming. Signature programs such as Out of Order, Young Blood, and the Maryland Artist Registry (now Arts Directory) have helped promote emerging talent and strengthen Maryland’s contemporary arts scene. Today, MAP remains a central force in the city’s Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District, continuing its mission to connect artists and the public through innovative contemporary art programming.
OUR MISSION
MAP inspires people throughout the region by championing creatives and cultivating engagement between artists and the public.
OUR VISION
MAP imagines a world where arts are universally respected, freely expressed, and culturally fundamental.
