“Dr. Grasmick’s early support of the project made it possible to move this unique public and private partnership forward,” said BSA Director Leslie Shepard. “We feel grateful that Dr. Grasmick has always recognized the BSA’s mission and success in providing BSA students with a rigorous academic program in conjunction with a pre-professional arts training program. It is exciting and fitting that the heart of the BSA academic’s center be named for Dr. Grasmick.”

The project was successfully completed through a unique combination of public funding, which included state school construction funds with a match by the City of Baltimore, MD historic tax credits, and an economic development grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development totaling $15 million – one half of the amount necessary to complete the BSA’s $30 million project. This led to the successful enlistment of donors from the private community.

Mark and Patricia Joseph were the lead donors in the campaign’s private fundraising efforts. The campaign was chaired by Clair Zamoiski Segal.

“The Baltimore School for the Arts consistently proves that artistic success goes hand-in-hand with academic excellence,” said Dr. Grasmick. “The school produces some of our state’s most gifted singers, musicians, and visual artists, but also young people well versed in the core academics. I am excited and inspired every time I walk into the school and meet with students and faculty.”

The capital campaign, funded by private and public sources, included renovations to the BSA’s 712 Cathedral Street building and expansion to the adjacent property at 704 Cathedral Street. As a result of the capital campaign, the school now offers state-of-the-art programs in theater production with its new video/audio/design lab and is able to accommodate more high school and TWIGS (To Work In Gaining Skills) students. Additionally, new facilities that were made possible by the campaign include two new dance studios; ensemble rehearsal and teaching studios for music and theatre; additional keyboard lab; four new academic classrooms, two additional science classrooms/labs; a new lecture hall for student testing, assemblies and lectures; a new physical education facility; a library/media center/computer lab; a digital photography lab; and a music MIDI studio. The campaign also addressed infrastructure issues in the existing facility such as inadequacies in the heating, cooling and ventilation systems, deterioration of the plumbing system, water penetration and flooding problems and ADA compliance.

Founded in 1980, the Baltimore School for the Arts provides students with intensive pre-professional training in the arts in the context of a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. BSA graduates go on to the most selective arts and university programs nationwide and achieve prominence in theater, film, music, dance and visual arts. Additionally, the Baltimore School for the Arts is a catalyst for young people to explore and discover their interest for the arts through TWIGS, its highly acclaimed program that provides free after-school arts classes to more than 750 Baltimore City elementary and middle school students; special dance and theatre recitals for Baltimore City Public School students; family performance series; partnerships with other arts organizations; and art exhibitions.

The Baltimore School for the Arts, where the arts change kid’s lives.