Our Mission: To provide a supportive platform for new & emerging visual artists and filmmakers to grow and prosper through education, opportunities and an inclusive, evolving annual arts festival, and to unite families and community through enjoyment of the arts.
About this Organization
Overlea ArtsFest Founded in 2016, Overlea ArtsFest has evolved from a local art festival to a community based 501c3 arts organization. We work closely with county & state agencies to develop a viable pipeline for emerging artists and filmmakers making the transition from hobby to career. In 2024, Overlea ArtsFest began offering workshops on business skills, specifically addressing the legal, marketing and financial strategies undergirding successful creatives. Our annual ArtsFest festival provides emerging artists a low-cost, juried exhibition and vending opportunity as they hone their business, while our Youth Art Show showcases and inspires the next generation of young artists. And in the Spring of 2026, the Short Films Festival will break off as its own 3-day event, in a new partnership with the Digital Media Production Department at CCBC Essex. We continually network with arts organizations in and around Baltimore to identify synergies, as we strive to develop a vibrant arts community.Services/Opportunities
Overlea ArtsFest presents an annual Juried Art Show & Sale for new & emerging Maryland artists, which is held at the Holt Park & Center for the Arts on Elmont Avenue in Overlea, MD. Starting in 2026, each show will focus on a specific genre in order to explore it more thoroughly. The 2026 ArtsFest will showcase 3D work - Indoor Sculpture, Outdoor Sculpture, Assemblage and Mixed Media.
There is a modest submission fee for artists to enter the juried show or to be an art vendor at the event. Cash prizes and certificates are given to the top winners in each category.
The festivals run from 2 to 3 days depending on the program, and include live music, food, a few select art vendors, family art activities, People's Choice voting, and sometimes educational workshops for artists.
Starting in Spring of 2026, the Short Films Festival will break off as its own 3-day event, in a new partnership with the Digital Media Production Department at CCBC Essex on Rossville Blvd in Baltimore. The film festival will showcase new, emerging and established filmmakers and their work, with student filmmakers being especially welcomed. Filmmakers aged 16 and older are eligible to submit, and films must be between 1 and 30 minutes long. Multiple film genres are accepted. Submissions are accepted through our Film Freeway portal.
Cash prizes and laurel certificates are given to the top winners in each category. A special "EDGE" Best in Show Award will be given to the strongest film with the most unique vision.
The festival program includes an opening reception with refreshments on Friday evening dedicated to showcasing student film projects from the Digital Media Production department; a day of educational seminars for student and emerging filmmakers on Saturday; 2 hours of film screenings on Saturday evening; a full day of film screenings on Sunday; and an awards ceremony on Sunday evening.
Part of our mission is to help connect young people to their instinctive love of art in all its forms, as we believe nurturing young talent is the best way to ensure the growth of a vibrant community.
The Youth Art Show takes place roughly every other year at Holt Park & Center for the Arts on Elmont Avenue in Overlea, MD. It offers a professional art show experience to Baltimore area kids & teens between 6 and 17 years old. Educators, art teachers and schools are encouraged to connect with us to help their students participate.
The Youth Art Show offers family art & nature activities in the park, snacks for kids and families, and a few select vendors like local independent bookstores. Participation and attendance at the Youth Art Show and its activities are FREE.
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