Baltimore Unity Hall, which opened 30 months ago determined to reduce barriers in Central West Baltimore, is entering a new phase focused on the arts, community outreach and, especially, fundraising, its new director says.
Ashley (Ash) Esposito assumed management of the 30,000-square foot facility at 1505 Eutaw Place in June. At a recent open house for neighbors, she announced that all of the office space and six art studios are occupied and all but one of the 10 individual workspaces are taken. “Now we’re focusing on managing events and more consistent use of our facilities,” she said. BUH’s newest tenant is Midtown Community Benefits District, the tax-supported benefits district, which includes some, but not all, of the surrounding neighborhoods.
An earlier attempt at running a catering business out of the building’s spacious kitchen, paired with a workforce development program for would-be hospitality industry employees, did not work out “but I’ve met recently with an experienced restaurant operator and, fingers crossed, I’m hoping we can get that back on track,” she said.
Esposito, 40, an Arizona native, is a mother of a four-year-old son and a resident of the Violetville neighborhood in southwest Baltimore. She brings a background in non-profit management and technology. She is continuing to work toward an MBA at the University of Maryland. She is one of two elected at-large members of the city’s school board.
“I’m also an artist and I want to emphasize and support the work that our six artists in residence are doing. We don’t want a landlord-tenant relationship with them. We want to be an arts incubator. I’m hoping to attract grants to curate a continuing series of exhibitions here involving our residents and other artists. I’m also hoping to create a role for neighborhood volunteers to play so that we can keep the exhibits open on weekends and beyond normal business hours.”
She said she hopes to create an artists’ support fund as part of an array of fundraising aimed at nearby residents, businesses and foundations.
“The gallery at Baltimore Unity Hall enriches the space with exhibitions like our current, Unity in Full Bloom, celebrating diversity through artistic expression. It will continue, with the upcoming immersive show Color Outside the Lines: Living Flowers on Nov. 22 from 6 – 10 p.m.” It emphasizes cultural storytelling through diversity and self-expression, she said. In addition to public events, BUH hosts private gatherings, such as baby showers, anniversaries and repast ceremonies. During the summer, Unity Hall hosted youth programs led by No Boundaries Coalition, CHARM, Arts Every Day, and Beadly Speaking, a jewelry project.
The three-story building first opened in 1964 as the headquarters for the Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers national union. The 2020-22 award-winning renovation was led by a partnership of Memorial Apartments Corporation (MAC), loosely affiliated with Memorial Episcopal Church, and Somerset Development Company of D.C., a for-profit firm. Together, they own the facility.
Nancy Hooff, a partner at Somerset based in D.C., serves as chair of the seven-member board, with her husband and Somerset partner, James Campbell, as vice-chair and treasurer. They also are the primary contributors to the operating costs of BUH. She said the board soon will expand to include greater community representation. The board hired a consultant to help with outreach to a broader base of foundations, companies, government programs and small donors.
“This coming year is critical, following our open house,” she said. “We’re hoping for fundraising support from Bolton Hill, and more engagement. Our goal is to create a base in the Baltimore community for our roughly $250,000 in annual operating costs, not including the mortgage. It has to move to a more sustainable arrangement where our current commitments are matched by others.”
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