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EXPOSING YOUTH TO CREATIVE AVENUES OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
OUR STORY
History of The Arts Project Inc.
The Arts Project (TAP Inc.) was born out of a vision to transform lives through the power of creativity. Founded in 2018 by Andrea Kennedy, a proud Baltimore City native, TAP Inc. is a response to a need Andrea knew intimately: the lack of safe spaces where young creatives can explore their potential. Growing up in the Baltimore City Public School System, Andrea recognized her creative spark but struggled to find opportunities to nurture it. Later, as she built connections with community leaders, she saw the gaps in arts funding and access in underserved communities—gaps that inspired her to take action.
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In March 2018, Andrea’s dream became a reality with the launch of TAP Inc. Our very first program, Create 4 Spring Break, brought 18 children ages 6-11 together for a free, five-day arts-integrated camp. Held in the heart of the Greater Rosemont community, it was more than a camp—it was a haven where children could dream, create, and discover. That first event planted a seed that has grown into something extraordinary.
Today, TAP Inc.. has impacted over 2,700 youth and families across Southwest Baltimore and beyond. Through partnerships with schools, Judy Centers, and Recreation Centers in neighborhoods like Lakeland, Cherry Hill, and Greater Rosemont, we provide empowering arts programming that helps young people see themselves as artists and equips them with skills to build brighter futures. Whether through after-school programs, community events, or our newly launched ArtReach initiative, we create spaces where art becomes a tool for connection, healing, and growth.​​
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2025: Building on Success
This year, TAP Inc. aims to build on this momentum by becoming fully funded and continuing to expand our reach. One of our key goals for 2025 is to scale Create 4 Spring Break into multiple sites, ensuring more children across Baltimore can experience the magic of our arts-integrated camps. We’re also thrilled to deepen the impact of ArtReach, activating creativity in neighborhoods often overlooked, beautifying communities, and fostering a sense of unity through art.
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Our vision doesn’t stop here. We dream of becoming a citywide after-school program and launching a mobile creation station to bring pop-up art experiences directly to the neighborhoods that need them most. Imagine a world where any child in Baltimore, no matter their zip code, can pick up a paintbrush, a piece of chalk, or a mic and see their potential reflected back at them. That’s the world we’re working to create.
Powered by Community
What makes TAP Inc. special isn’t just our programs—it’s the people who make them possible. Our work is sustained by the generous support of community members who believe in our mission and share our vision for a more creative and equitable Baltimore.
This is just the beginning. Whether we’re hosting events in churches, recreation centers, or studios, or one day bringing art directly to you with our mobile creation station, TAP Inc. is here to inspire, connect, and transform through the arts.
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Join us. Subscribe to our email list, follow us on social media, and get involved in creating a brighter, more creative future for Baltimore’s youth. Together, we can empower the next generation of artists, leaders, and dreamers to shape the world we all want to see.
OUR TEAM
ANDREA KENNEDY
Executive Director/ Founder
MARIAH ASH
Program Coordinator / Co-Founder
SHARONDA LANG
Board President
BRIELL MCCOY-ENGLISH
Community Engagement Specialist
ASHLIE DUBOSE
Board Vice-President
JANA'Y MOORE
Board Secretary
Board Member
ASHENA SPARROW
TYREE MILLER
Board Member
Do you see yourself making a difference with us?
Join our team or board and be the spark that ignites creativity and transforms lives in Baltimore! Email us at contact@theartsprojectinc.org for more information!
OUR WHY
Why The City Needs Art Programming...
At TAP Inc., we believe that art transforms lives. Decades of research prove that student involvement in the arts profoundly impacts academic success, cognitive growth, and emotional well-being. Students who participate in arts education consistently show higher GPAs across all subjects and are four times more likely to achieve academic recognition. Beyond the classroom, arts students develop crucial skills—creative problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking—that translate into higher earning potential and career advancement throughout their lives.
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A 2013 University of Maryland study revealed that students engaged in the arts are 20% less likely to face suspension, demonstrate significantly higher college attendance rates, and are 26% less likely to have encounters with the justice system.
Yet in Baltimore, where we boast three vibrant Arts & Entertainment Districts and the nation's largest National Heritage Area, many young people still lack access to arts education. Public schools in underserved communities often struggle to maintain consistent arts programming, creating a gap between cultural resources and the students who could benefit from them most.
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This is why TAP Inc. exists. Since 2018, we've brought arts education directly to Baltimore's underserved communities, giving children and youth the tools to express themselves creatively, build confidence, and imagine broader possibilities. Our work isn't just about creating art—it's about unlocking the boundless potential that exists within every young person, potential that often goes undiscovered without exposure to creative education.
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Through our programs, we're building a more equitable Baltimore where every young person has access to the transformative power of the arts. Because when we invest in creativity, we invest in brighter futures for our entire community.
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Address
Office Address: 250 W. Dickman Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 25213, Baltimore, MD 21229
Contact
(443) 996-3009
contact@theartsprojectinc.org