Image: Creative Alliance at the Patterson
The Baker Artist Portfolios and Awards, the Baltimore program that gives artists in Baltimore City and its five surrounding counties a free online portfolio and distributes $90,000 in prizes each year, has a new home at Creative Alliance. The change follows the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance's (GBCA) announcement that it will wind down this year, after administering the program for 19 years.
The awards cover a wide range of disciplines, from visual art and photography to film, literature, performance and interdisciplinary work. The program is supported by the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, whose director, David London, said that after GBCA's announcement many artists had asked what would happen to it, and that it will continue within its new host organization.
Jason Steer, executive director of Creative Alliance, described the partnership as a way to strengthen a community of artists across Baltimore and Maryland, while Connie Imboden, president of the Baker Fund, pointed to Creative Alliance's long commitment to artists and its staff and resources as reasons for the choice.
London credited GBCA as the program's founding partner. Under its management since 2008, the program grew from an awards scheme with online submissions and an annual exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art into a year-round series of events, showcases and exhibitions open to all portfolio artists. The Baker Fund also provides more than $1 million a year to the region's arts and culture organizations, with the Baker program accounting for just under 20 percent of its annual giving. Next year marks the program's 20th anniversary.
Alix Fenhagen continues to manage the program and said day-to-day work will change little, with more staff available to help artists. The move also opens up tools already tested on the Baker site: an Opportunity Portal, through which partner organizations such as The Parkway and WTMD have recruited artists using their existing portfolios, and a Juror Portal, with community landing pages for groups such as alumni networks or arts districts to follow. Bakerartist.org remains open for new portfolios.
The 2026–27 season was set to launch on October 1 with a kickoff and information sessions. Creative Alliance is hosting a kickoff on Tuesday, October 6, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., including a conversation with the artists Kei Ito, a 2026 awardee, and Shodekeh, a 2011 awardee and 2026 juror. Artists who want to be considered for the 2027 awards must create or update their portfolios by January 29, 2027.
