In an eleventh-hour reprieve, the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts will continue to serve as Baltimore’s arts council for at least the next 18 months, the quasi-governmental organization announced Thursday.
“We are elated to continue as Baltimore City’s arts council designee,” Board Chair and Interim CEO Robyn Murphy wrote in a news release.
“BOPA has been dedicated to carrying out this work for over two decades, and with stronger collaboration moving forward, we are excited to continue working with the mayor’s office on a renewed arts ecosystem.”
After Mayor Brandon Scott’s office announced Oct. 16 that it would terminate its contract with BOPA Jan. 20 for planning New Year’s Eve fireworks and other public celebrations, the quasi-governmental agency was widely perceived as being on life support.
BOPA retained just one function — it’s designation as the city’s arts council, responsible for distributing about $500,000 in grants annually to artists and cultural groups. But even that designation appeared to be in jeopardy. Last month, 10 of the organization’s 13 volunteer board members resigned. Two weeks later, the remaining BOPA board and former CEO Rachel Graham mutually agreed to part ways.
A spokesman for Scott confirmed that BOPA will continue to serve as Baltimore’s arts council through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
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