Vision

The Ambassador Arts project envisions a space that not only provides a platform for artistic expression but also fosters social and economic development in the surrounding community.

Mission

Ambassador Arts will be a vibrant, community-based cultural hub in Northwest Baltimore that:

  • Is equity-driven in its ownership, arts expression, relationships, operations, and governance;

  • Provides intergenerational opportunities for exposure to and participation in diverse arts events, education, and activities; and

  • Through creative placemaking, contributes to the social, economic, and physical health and resiliency of the surrounding community.

Imagine: Neighbors and Artists will shape this community space together, owning the experience and the results.

About the Ambassador

The Art Deco Ambassador Theater at 4604 Liberty Heights Avenue in Northwest Baltimore is being transformed from historic architecture into a vibrant cultural heartbeat.

Built in 1935 and designated a Baltimore City Landmark by the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) in 2016, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service (NPS) in 2023, the Ambassador is being restored and reimagined as a community-centered hub for Black arts and culture. The revitalization brings together construction, fundraising, and a model for collective leadership and decision-making. We are creating a place where arts and culture are alive and accessible to all, and artists and residents build, create, and grow side by side.

Reclaiming the Ambassador Theater and turning a dream into a reality has been a long journey. Community support for repurposing this Art Deco cultural icon caught the attention of the Mayor and the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development, prompting action in spring 2018. Residents came together to explore the potential for transforming the Ambassador into an arts and cultural community center. That summer, the city stabilized the building and placed it into receivership.

In spring 2019, Artspace acquired the Ambassador and served as the project's developer until 2024, when it redirected its resources to align more closely with its organizational focus on affordable artists housing. Their stewardship of the building during a critical period helped preserve the possibility of this project. To keep the project moving, the City of Baltimore helped transition stewardship to Healthy Neighborhoods, Inc. Ambassador Arts, the local nonprofit leading this vision, is now completing the process of taking ownership of the building.

Our goal is to begin construction in 2027 and develop The Ambassador under a debt-free financial structure and that will transition to local community ownership in 2036.

Enjoy this five-minute video for a deep dive into the history of the Ambassador Theater in Northwest Baltimore

Partners & Supporters

Here is our growing list of partners and supporters. We deeply appreciate their contributions, knowing this project can only come to life with a strong community of people who imagine and are willing to work for something. more

Project Team

Organizations and individuals actively leading the project today.

Financial Supporters

Public agencies, elected officials, foundations, and organizations providing funding and grants for construction, community engagement, and entity development.

Civic & Community Partners

Neighborhood associations, arts organizations, and community advocates helping shape the future of the Ambassador.

  • Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation (BARCO)

  • Creative Capital, LLC

  • Healthy Neighborhoods Inc.

  • Pulse Forward

  • Quinn Evans Architects

  • The Atkins Group (TAG)

  • Vision Design Development and Build

  • Annie E. Casey Foundation

  • Baltimore City Council

  • Baltimore City Department of Planning

  • Baltimore City Office of Recovery Programs

  • Baltimore Community Foundation

  • Congressman Kweisi Mfume

  • Maryland Historical Trust

  • MD State General Assembly – 41st District Delegation

  • Nathan Cummings Foundation

  • National Endowment for the Arts

  • National Park Service

  • Pimlico Community Development Authority

  • Preservation Maryland

  • Contemporary Arts

  • Creative Nomads

  • Forest Park Alliance

  • Forest Park Senior Center

  • Howard Park Civic Association

  • Mayor’s Office of Baltimore City

  • Uplift Alliance

  • West Arlington Community Association

Early Champions

Organizations and individuals whose early support and involvement helped carry the Ambassador's vision forward.

  • Dance Baltimore

  • Oh the Dream

  • Pulse Forward

  • Southway Builders

  • University of Maryland, Baltimore - Social Work Community Outreach Service (SWCOS)

  • University of MD Baltimore County, Shriver Center Peaceworker Program

Imagine…

It’s Saturday morning and you stop by for your painting class

Your children find their culture right in their own neighborhood.