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Le Mondo is...
an artist-run space project based in downtown Baltimore, USA!
The project was founded by local artists to address the ongoing lack of safe, accessible, artist-owned spaces to make and present work in the city.
From the seeds of that vision, Le Mondo has grown into a grassroots initiative that is redeveloping three long-vacant buildings into an artist-owned multi-use hub for experimental performing arts and radical community collaboration.
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What we do
We run space for art
It's a performance venue, bar, and community gathering space with affordable artist studios that we created out of a gutted former movie theater! Here, we produce performance programming focused on new works development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experimentation. We also host artist-organized events and affordable venue rentals of all kinds.
We make space for art (literally)
Community-owned-and-operated. So far, we took a closed-down uniform store and transformed it into our performance venue, bar, and studio space where we've been cultivating programming since 2022. We are also phasing the development of our two vacant buildings next door with plans to include affordable artist live-work apartments, a cafe, studios, and storefront space.
Keep your eyes peeled - 2026 marks the addition of more affordable artist studios and residency development space at our 410 N Howard building. (Last activated in 1994!)
Why we are doing it...
To provide truly affordable and sustainable space for artists and small community organizations in Baltimore to expand their practice, grow their businesses, and in turn pay themselves and their collaborators.
To cultivate a permanent hub for the appreciation and incubation of new, daring performance work while bringing new life to a once-thriving corridor in the city.
To create a new model for cultural economy that empowers its constituents and transforms its surroundings.
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Risk-taking, bold, and unusual art and programming.
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Creating and maintaining live/work spaces that are safe and accessible to all people and walks of life, free from harassment and discrimination.
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Advancing racial and gender equity through our organizational training, programming, staffing, and community partnerships.
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Actively supporting and highlighting a diversity of art-makers and art-lovers regardless of age, physical limitations, race, creed, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.
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Providing open platforms for expression and intersection.
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Providing support and sharing institutional knowledge with other artists, from grant-writing to navigating real estate.
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Cultivating an environment of experimentation, mutual respect, and transparent ongoing dialogue in the interest of growth, radical transformation, and a deeper understanding of our work and the work of our invested communities.
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Acknowledging the limitations of ourselves today while laboring toward a more positive and impactful future.
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Leading with empathy and integrity, and an overarching goal of fostering kindness and compassion toward each other and the world around us.
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Working to achieve all the above, while searching out and amplifying other voices in our community.
What we are about...
Le Mondo is led by...
Founding Artistic Director
Carly J. Bales
Programs Manager
Lucy Sands
Events & Production Assistant
Nana Lora
Board of Directors
Carly J. Bales
Laure Drogoul
Kanika Feaster
Peter Fillat
April Lewis
Maggie Villegas
Tech Director In Memorium
David Crandall
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