A list of upcoming events organized or supported by Baltimore Sister Cities and our sister city committees (Changwon, South Korea; Gbarnga, Liberia; Kawasaki, Japan; Luxor & Alexandria, Egypt; Odesa, Ukraine; Piraeus, Greece; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Xiamen, China) and our affiliates. Events include:
Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
Walk On By exhibition and artists exchange
Walk On By is an exhibition and a cultural exchange that connects Black artists, their diverse experiences, and artwork, across the Atlantic. Explore the Black Atlantic through the diverse stories of local artists in the historical port cities of Baltimore and Rotterdam, through exhibitions in both countries and an exchange program. Featuring works by Schaun Champion (Baltimore), Charles Mason III (Baltimore), Naomi King (Rotterdam), kolpeace (Baltimore), Djon Seedorf (Rotterdam), and Tarona (Rotterdam). Curated by Joy Davis, Visual Arts Director at Creative Alliance and founder of Waller Gallery.
Sep 26 – Nov 30, 2024: The exhibition is at Creative Alliance in Baltimore; the Rotterdam artists and artwork travel to Baltimore for community engagement activities in the week of the exhibition opening.
Mar 21 -June 8, 2025: The exhibition is at TENT in Rotterdam; the Baltimore artists and artwork travel to Rotterdam for the reciprocal part of the exchange.
Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC) is collaborating with curator Joy Davis, Creative Alliance, and TENT Rotterdam to plan and fundraise for this project.
Fall 2024
Asia in Maryland exhibition
Exhibition on view: September 11 – December 7, 2024 (closed October 25 and November 27-30)
Hours: Monday – Saturday 11 am – 4 pm ET
Location: Asian Arts Gallery, Center for the Arts, Towson University, 1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, MD 21204. Some works will also be on display at the Enoch Pratt Free Library (central branch), 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Opening reception: Wednesday, September 11, 7:30pm ET
Closing reception & meet the artists: Saturday December 7 at 2pm ET
More info: Towson University Asian Arts and Culture Center’s events page
Explore diverse works of art by Maryland-based Asian and AAPI visual artists which showcase the stories of, raise awareness about, and facilitate dialogue about the ideas and issues that are most important to the 500,000+ Asian and AAPI residents who play integral roles in the fabric of Maryland life.
Hosted by Towson University Asian Arts and Culture Center.
September 9 – December 14, 2024
The Me Before The War No Longer Exists: Ukrainian Portraits
Exhibition: September 9 – December 14
Receptions: Thursday September 26, 4-6pm | Saturday November 9, 1-4pm
Location:
Stevenson University
School of Design, Arts and Communication Lobby Gallery
11100 Ted Herget Way, Owings Mills MD 21117
More info: Stevenson University arts & cultural programs
Participatory project from Elena Volkova that engages the community of Ukrainians displaced by war in collaborative creation of wet plate collodion portraits, with the aim to provide a platform for refugees to reclaim their sense of selfhood. Elena Volkova is Associate Professor of Arts & Graphic Design at Stevenson University.
October 27 ,2024
Japan Day – Fall Festival 秋まつり
Time: 1-4pm ET
Location: Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, 8045 Harriett Tubman Lane, Columbia, MD 21044
Admission: Free
Hosted by Maryland-Kanagawa Sister States, Misako Ballet, Japanese Area at University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Matcha Time Cafe.
November 2024
Maryland State Trade Mission to China (Application deadline: August 3)
The Maryland Department of Commerce and the Maryland Department of Agriculture are planning to lead a trade mission to China this November aimed at strengthening economic collaboration and expanding trade opportunities between Maryland and China. The anchor event will be the China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 2-13 in Shanghai, with business networking and site tours in surrounding prefectures. A limited number of Maryland companies are being recruited to join the delegation in the following sectors: Agriculture, Cleantech, Logistics, Life Sciences.
More info: International Trade Shows on Maryland Commerce website
November 2, 2024
The Burmese Harp
ビルマの竪琴, Biruma no Tategoto
In this 1956 drama, a young Japanese officer learns and plays the Burmese harp to lift the spirits of his battalion. Silently and independently, he confronts and protests war in his own way at the close of the Pacific War in Burma. Directed by Kon Ichikawa. 117 minutes.
Event is free; registration is required. To register, find the film on Asian Arts & Culture Center events page and click the registration link next to the film. This film is part of Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister Committee’s Japan Film Program series.
Hosted by Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister Committee in partnership with Towson University College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean’s Office (COFAC) and Towson University Asian Arts and Culture Center.
November 12, 2024
Baltimore Sister Cities Meet & Greet
Come mingle with our volunteers and friends!
Time: 6-8pm
Location: R.House, 301 West 29th Street, Baltimore MD 21211
Admission: Free
More info & to RSVP: BSCFallSocial2024.eventbrite.com
Join us November 12 for a fantastic fall meet-and-greet! We’re excited to bring together friends, old and new, to celebrate our city’s diverse cultures and connections. This in-person gathering promises an evening filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow Baltimoreans, make lasting memories, and find out more about our sister cities and our activities at this informal fall get-together. Mark your calendars and get ready for a night of good vibes, great food, and amazing company.
Spread the word to others in your network and invite them to come, too!
November 16, 2024
‘Walk On By’ Artist Talk
Date: Saturday, Nov 16 at 1pm ET (Baltimore time), 19.00 CET (Rotterdam time)
Location: Online via Zoom
Admission: Free
More info & to RSVP: https://creativealliance.org/event/walk-on-by-artist-talk/
Discover the vibrant narratives of the African diaspora at the artist talk for the groundbreaking exhibition ‘Walk On By.’ Join the artists of Walk On By from Baltimore and Rotterdam as they dig into the details of their artist practice, how the project started, and reflections of the cultural exchange. The program is moderated by Joy Davis, curator of Walk On By.
The ‘Walk On By’ exhibition is on view at Creative Alliance in Baltimore Tuesdays through Saturdays 12-6pm, until November 30, 2024. It travels to TENT in Rotterdam March 21 – June 8, 2025. About the exhibition: https://creativealliance.org/event/walk-on-by-baltimore-rotterdam/
November 20, 2024
Maryland State of the Ports & Global Flavor Showcase
Time: 3:30-7pm ET
Location: Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore
More info: WTCI State of the Ports events page
An annual event hosted by World Trade Center Institute in Baltimore where leaders from the Mid-Atlantic come together to learn about the challenges and opportunities at Maryland’s ports.
- Sample wines and food from around the world at the Global Flavor Showcase
- Learn about key challenges impacting international trade at our breakout sessions
- Network with the influential leaders driving economic growth in our region
- Hear the State of the Ports address directly from Maryland’s Secretary of Transportation
Baltimore Sister Cities is a member of World Trade Center Institute.
November 21, 2024
Our APIMEDA Thanksgivings – Food, Stories, and Culture
Time: 6pm ET
Location: Center for the Arts Atrium, Towson University, 1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, MD 21204
An Interactive Community Installation & Performance — Celebrate the diversity of APIMEDA (Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American) culinary traditions in this storytelling gathering highlighting APIMEDA foods shared on Thanksgiving. Presenters include TU-APIMEDA students, faculty, and staff and other guests. Audience members are also invited to share their stories and enjoy Asian food together. Co-presented by TU Asian Arts & Culture Center, TU Department of Theater Arts, and TU Center for Student Diversity. Supported in part by TU-COFAC Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
December 8, 2024
Egypt World of Spices event
The Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister City Committee is planning a special event in Baltimore where you can sample the flavors of Egypt! Details to come.
December 14, 2024
Bonenkai
Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee hosts a year-end get-together (“Bonenkai”) at Ramen Ustuke in Baltimore. Details to come.
April 2025
Dutch urban design delegation – Research trip to Baltimore
City planners, community organizers, and researchers from Amsterdam and Rotterdam will come to Baltimore in early April 2025 for a work week. Goals for this research trip: learning how community-led visioning and urban development happens in Baltimore, and alternatives to real-estate-developer-driven development; sharing examples of community-led initiatives in Amsterdam and Rotterdam; how city government can support community-led development; how to engage/empower youth in shaping the future of their neighborhood.
This trip is a follow-on to an earlier exchange when students and faculty from Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (SA+P), design professionals, and representatives from Baltimore City Department of Planning traveled to the Netherlands in spring 2024. More about the 2024 exchange.
Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC) helps fundraise, promote, and plan the exchange activities.
June 8, 2024
Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee’s annual picnic.
Details to come.