Securing Studio Space for Baltimore BIPOC Artists!

Sabrina Lee, founder of Mellow Vibe Brand, and Blkottonkandy co-founders DZL MC & Uni Q. Mical, are joining forces to purchase a property in Baltimore City, soon to be known as The Mellow Kotton Klub. We intend to utilize this property as our collective arts studio workspace, as well as a small-scale venue rental for Baltimore’s BIPOC arts community (arts workshops, poetry readings, audio recordings, healing/meditation circles, etc.). As Black Baltimore natives, residents, & artists, we believe it is important to own an arts space not just to house our own creations, but to provide a resource for BIPOC creatives in Baltimore to flourish. This space will be intentionally accessible to the community, located in East Baltimore, not far from Downtown. 

While Baltimore is world-renowned for being a wellspring for creativity, many local BIPOC artists continue to work underground, producing incredible works with few resources. This, of course, is a part of the city’s magic, but also points to a deeper valve: an uneven distribution of resources and exposure for Black residents, due to the vivid and continuing legacy of segregation. Baltimore is currently home to many live/work studio spaces, and community-based arts venues; yet, many of these spaces are highly competitive in nature, inaccessible in cost, or rife with anti-Black treatment. We believe it is more vital than ever for Black local creatives to become stakeholders in arts spaces in the city, especially at a time where Baltimore is becoming increasingly gentrified. Fortunately, we were granted the opportunity to obtain this property from its previous owner. 

This studio is symbolic of contributing a safe space (and eventually, multiple spaces) for Baltimore BIPOC & QTPOC artists to craft, showcase, and sustain their own work and livelihood. We recognize how crucial of a time it is to move beyond dependency on galleries, museums, and other institutions to exhibit our work. Similarly, we recognize our space as providing artistic exposure for folks who may not attend, or feel at home within these elite spaces. 

Mellow Vibe Brand and Blkottonkandy will also utilize this space as a hub for offering exceptional, affordable community workshops in our combined skill sets, including but not limited to: graphic design, visual art, writing, music, & performance workshops, tutoring, resume, & cover letter workshops, teach-ins, and healing circles. 

As multi-talented artists, professors, and scholars, we are channeling the energy of this extraordinarily challenging time to continue to teach, perform, and produce artwork at rapid rates. However, the realities of COVID have made it more difficult to obtain the totality of these funds, with our own current means. Securing this space will allow us to move with autonomy to benefit the present and future of arts spaces in Baltimore. Your contributions would assist with covering the closing costs and renovation of the space, and 100% of your donations will go towards these costs. We are hoping to have these funds in full by February 2021. With your gracious assistance, the space will be open to the public by Fall 2021.

Any and all assistance is received with genuine gratitude! Thank you for helping to bring our personal and collective vision into fruition! Please share far and wide!!!!! 


With love,

The Mellow Kotton Klub