Baltimore School for the Arts Raises $740K at Annual Expressions Fundraiser

The Baltimore School for the Arts' annual Expressions fundraiser brought in $740,000 in gross revenue this month, netting $500,000 for school programming after expenses, with foundation director Stephanie Moore calling the multi-night event "a wild success."

Held March 5, 7, and 8 at the school's home at 712 Cathedral Street under the theme "The Power of Wonder and Awe," the 2026 installment drew donors, community members, and arts enthusiasts across four performances. Thursday and Saturday evenings opened with cocktail hours and featured student performances; Sunday offered two afternoon and early-evening shows, running from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. and again from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Moore, who leads the Baltimore School for the Arts Foundation, was clear about what the money does. "This gala is our second highest revenue-driven line item for the foundation each year. Supporting through 'Expressions' helps us fund the Baltimore School for the Arts," she said. "It pays for all the part-time arts faculty, master classes, field trips and seminars with working artists. This money also helps us cover some costs for the TWIGS program, which is our completely free out-of-school program for Baltimore City youth in second through eighth grade."

That last point carries particular weight in a city where access to arts instruction outside school hours is uneven. TWIGS serves Baltimore children from second through eighth grade at no cost, and the $500,000 in net proceeds also supports scholarships, equipment upgrades, technology, and academic resources at BSA itself.

Among the students who performed during the 2026 installment were Langston Fortier and Casey Sellers, captured in a photograph by Jill Fannon that appeared alongside coverage of the event.

Expressions has become a cornerstone of BSA's financial calendar. The 2025 edition, titled "A Celebration of Transformation," was held at the Schaefer Ballroom across three dates in March of that year, with tickets ranging from $30 to $350. The TWIGS program has historically drawn support from a range of Baltimore-area funders, including the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, the Aaron and Lillie Straus Foundation, Clayton Baker Trust, and the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, among others.

With half a million dollars now directed toward BSA's programming, the school enters the spring semester with resources to sustain the faculty, outreach, and student experiences that define its reputation as one of Baltimore's premier public arts institutions.