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Founded by volunteers in 1995 as the Fells Point Creative Alliance,
the Creative Alliance operated for several years out of an old Fells
Point rowhouse as an innovative hybrid of gallery, performance space
and artist guild. Integrating the arts and humanities into the fabric
of daily life, the Creative Alliance presented exhibitions of contemporary
art, readings of poetry and fiction, workshops for adults and youth,
and lectures on regional aspects of art and history. Partnerships
were built with neighborhood businesses and community organizations,
and both audiences and memberships grew exponentially each year.
With increased demand for space, the Creative Alliance established
performance venues first at a former Moose Lodge in Highlandtown
(“the Lodge”), then at a former trolley barn in Fells
Point (“the Ground Floor”). Meanwhile, programs continued
to expand. Responding to a need from filmmakers, career support
services for film, video and digital artists were added to those
already offered for visual artists (Creative Alliance MovieMakers,
or “CAmm”). Saturday life drawing sessions went from
monthly to biweekly to weekly affairs. Our children’s art
education programs - initially a modest but successful monthlong
Summer program in Southeast libraries - are now conducted year-round
in teen centers, schools, libraries and in our new classroom. Signature
events during this growth phase included Homicide Live, a benefit
performance featuring actors from the hit TV show, Water Shorts,
Fluid Movement’s water ballet in Patterson Park which Creative
Alliance co-produced, and the Great Halloween Lantern Parade, directed
by Molly Ross, which celebrates its fifth year in 2004 and is a
one-of-a-kind, community-driven art spectacle.
In 1998, the Creative Alliance (CA) began working with a coalition
of business, religious and political leaders on a revitalization
plan for Highlandtown, a working class neighborhood just northeast
of Fells Point. The Creative Alliance proposed the idea of a multi-arts
center with artist studios, galleries, a theater, sidewalk cafe,
and offices. Neighborhood leaders responded enthusiastically, the
landmark Patterson Movie Theater was selected as the site, and the
idea for The Patterson was born. In 2001, the Creative Alliance
moved again, this time consolidating its offices, gallery and performance
space under one roof, a former Pep Boys auto parts store at 413
S. Conkling Street. The move to Highlandtown demonstrated our commitment
to the neighborhood, and allowed us to strengthen our partnerships
in the area, including Southeast CDC and Patterson Park CDC.
The Creative Alliance established a $4.5 million capital campaign
for the $3.6 million Patterson project. Former State Senator Perry
Sfikas accessed State of Maryland “smart growth” bond
funds for the project and U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski, whose parents
were Highlandtown shopowners, earmarked $750,000 in HUD funds. Major
capital funders include the Abell Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation,
Wm. G. Baker, Jr. Fund, The St. Paul Companies, Constellation Energy
Group, and Amalie R. Rothschild, the Alvin and Fanny Thalheimer
Foundation and National Arts Strategies. The Creative Alliance capital
campaign for The Patterson continues through 2004.
The Creative Alliance reopened The Patterson as a multi-purpose
arts center on May 16, 2003. The facility includes two galleries
for contemporary art, a 180 seat flexible theater, a classroom,
media lab, offices and live/work studios for 8 artists making The
Patterson their home.
The Creative Alliance at The Patterson draws audiences, artists
and media attention to Southeast Baltimore. Our partnerships with
organizations like the Patterson Park CDC, Southeast CDC, Friends
of Patterson Park, the Enoch Pratt Free Libraries and area schools
are creating positive changes in our community.
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