Baltimore-based arts non-profit Art with a Heart will open a second location in Hampden, where it will display and sell artwork by students and volunteers, and operate its workforce development program.
The non-profit is expanding to 1104 W. 36th St. on “The Avenue” in Hampden, where they will be taking over the lease at the Hampden Family Center.
Art with a Heart will maintain its location at 3000 Falls Road, Mill No. 1. The space on The Avenue will function as the organization’s satellite location and will house its social enterprise store, HeARTwares, and its workforce development program, HeARTworks.
“When we moved into Mill No.1 back in 2018, Art with a Heart had eight employees. Now, there are 17 of us and we are continuing to grow,” said Megan Gatto, Art with a Heart’s deputy director, in a statement.
Art with a Heart hopes the new store location will be able to showcase students’ and volunteers’ artwork more prominently and allow more people to view and purchase them.
The non-profit also plans to increase workforce development collaborations, community art projects, meeting spaces, and staff offices in the new space.
Art with a Heart will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, and the expansion to The Avenue comes at a time of growth for the non-profit. In the last year alone, the non-profit has provided nearly 16,000 art classes in schools, shelters, community centers, hospitals, and senior facilities.
“Using art as a vehicle, we teach Baltimoreans of all ages to believe in themselves and their abilities and the meaning and importance of collaboration,” said Randi Pupkin, Art with a Heart’s founder and executive director, in a statement. “I am immensely proud of, and grateful for, the accomplishments of Art with a Heart over the last 25 years. What started as four art classes each week out of the trunk of my car has become part of the fabric of the Baltimore community. It’s truly amazing.”
The non-profit expects to open the new space in the coming months.
“The hope is to have the new location up and running in time for the busy holiday shopping season,” Pupkin said. “We can’t wait to see everyone on The Avenue!”
