Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) press release:
The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) announces the cancellation of Baltimore’s 2020 New Year’s Eve Spectacular, due to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic and public health restrictions for gathering. Each year, Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular lit up the Inner Harbor basin with fireworks accompanied by live music and celebratory crowds along the promenade. However, to maintain safety and public health, it is not possible to produce the celebration at the harbor this year. BOPA looks forward to gathering together once it is safe to do so, and continues to plan for a new year full of arts and cultural experiences.
“We will all miss the annual New Year’s Eve Spectacular this year, but public health is our top concern as we do everything possible to keep Baltimore safe,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “When you celebrate this year, please do so while following the guidelines that will help us all emerge safely from this pandemic. Wear a mask, practice physical distancing, and limit your gatherings to those in your household. The difficult decisions we make this year will impact our future celebrations together.”
“Because of the continuing development of the COVID-19 global pandemic and in collaboration with Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s office, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel Baltimore’s 2020 New Year’s Eve Spectacular. For all of us, health and safety is our primary concern,” saidDonna Drew Sawyer, CEO of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts. “The annual Spectacular is always a special night for Baltimore, full of live music, celebration and a brilliant display of fireworks enjoyed with friends and family. We understand this cancellation impacts many, but we hope taking these important precautions now will allow us to safely reunite at the annual celebration next year. BOPA wishes all of Baltimore a Happy New Year and a safe holiday season.”
Throughout the pandemic, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) has continued to connect the City to robust cultural experiences through several socially safe initiatives. At the onset of the mandatory stay at home declaration in Maryland, BOPA collaborated with several area arts organization to launch the Baltimore Artists Emergency Relief Fund. The generosity of funders and individuals enabled the fund to distribute more than $161,000 in grants to help sustain independent artists.
BOPA also adapted much of its annual programming to occur on virtual platforms and in safe outdoor spaces. In October, BOPA presented a hybrid of virtual and small in-person events for Free Fall Baltimore, including a virtual Baltimore Open Studio Tour and the Baltimore debut of Society’s Cage, an experiential art exhibition on War Memorial Plaza. During the summer, the Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize occurred virtually, as well as the Artscape Online Artists’ Market. Throughout August, BOPA continued to celebrate the arts with various virtual and in-person programs as part of Art in August.
As the Baltimore Film Office, BOPA has continued to safely shepherd productions filming in Baltimore. The Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar’s 43rdseason continues as an essential food source until Sunday, December 20, 2020, with applications now open for the 44th season. Additionally, BOPA continues to provide safe studio space at School 33 Art Center and the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower. These spaces will exhibit the work of local artists once safe gathering can resume. The Cloisters Castle offers private tours by appointment, and plans for virtual Open Houses in January and February 2021. BOPA also continues to manage the Public Arts Commission, and the 1-Percent for Art initiative for Baltimore City.
Looking ahead at the new year, applications are now open for the 16th annual Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize, the Baltimore Screenwriters Competition, and for Regional Jurors for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. More information will be released soon regarding upcoming programming for 2021, as BOPA continues to plan for a year full of arts and cultural experiences on both virtual platforms and safely in person when possible.
Information on BOPA programs and initiatives is available on www.promotionandarts.org and BOPA’s social media channels. Look to Instagram,Twitter and Facebook for updates on arts resources, virtual art displays, and to learn about how Baltimore’s creative community continues to keep the arts thriving remotely.
To learn more about COVID-19, please visit the Baltimore City Health Department website.
The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which serves as Baltimore City’s arts council, events center and film office. By providing funding and support to artists, arts programs and organizations across the city, and by producing large-scale events such as Artscape, Baltimore Book Festival and Light City, BOPA’s goal is to make Baltimore a more vibrant and creative city.
The post Baltimore Cancels New Year's Eve Fireworks first appeared on SouthBMore.com.