NDC Receives Major Project Funding from NEA

Earlier this month, we got some big news: NDC, working in partnership with the Maryland Institute College of Art, the Central Baltimore Partnership, Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation, Station North Arts & Entertainment District, Inc., and with the support of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts and Baltimore City, has received an Our Town Grant in the amount of $150,000 to support Signal Station North. It’s a major, collaborative project that will create a comprehensive public space lighting plan for an area of the Arts & Entertainment District as well as light-based art interventions and DIY lighting projects throughout and beyond Station North.

NDC’s is one of 57 awards that will support projects across the nation. According to acting chairman of the NEA Mary Anne Carter, “These awards made to organizations across the United States are a testament to the artistic richness and diversity in our country. Organizations like the Neighborhood Design Center are giving people in their community the opportunity to learn, create and be inspired.”

In addition to our incredible partners, we’ll also be collaborating with local design studios PI.KL, Post Typography, and Flux Studio and local artists Jann Rosen-Querault and Stephen Towns to realize this large-scale practical and artistic lighting project that will make Station North more accessible and beautiful and connect neighbors in the area through art and light. Working with some of Baltimore’s most talented creatives and nonprofit leaders, we know Signal Station North will support an innovative, equitable and bright future for the area.

In addition to a comprehensive lighting plan for sections of the Station North Arts & Entertainment District, Signal Station North will draw on Baltimore’s distinctive legacy of DIY light culture and grassroots light activations—from Light City to lantern parades—to develop prototypes for practical, artistic and DIY lighting projects; lighting workshops and interventions to illuminate neighborhoods across the city; and a series of guides to share tools for lighting activation with everyone.