By Megan SaylesAFRO Employees Writermsayles@afro.com
Baltimore-based photographer Devin Allen will function the 2026 curator for SCOUT, an reasonably priced artwork truthful held as a part of Artscape. Create Baltimore, town’s official arts council and promotion company, introduced the choice on March 27.
SCOUT was launched by visible and efficiency artist Derrick Adams in 2025 to forge stronger connections between artists and the neighborhood by way of accessible worth factors—an goal that’s private to Allen.
“The laborious fact is that a whole lot of Baltimore artists have needed to depart town to search out actual alternative, and I perceive that—artists at all times need to develop, at all times need to unfold their wings,” stated Allen. “However, platforms like SCOUT give artists a purpose to remain … a spot to develop proper right here at residence.”
A self-taught photographer, Allen stated turning into a working artist appeared like a lofty aim when he was rising up in West Baltimore. For him, platforms like SCOUT carry visibility to native artists and finally present them an opportunity to develop their work.
“Artwork can get costly, and that may create a wall between artists and the individuals who genuinely love their work,” stated Allen. “SCOUT breaks that wall down. It permits actual followers—individuals who might not be main collectors however who join together with your work—to really personal a bit of it. That relationship between artist and neighborhood is every thing. When the individuals round you’ll be able to afford to help you, that’s when a artistic ecosystem actually begins to thrive.”
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Because the 2026 curator, Allen will oversee the design of SCOUT. He might be working alongside co-curator Cierra Britton, proprietor of the Cierra Britton Gallery, and a panel of judges to pick out artists to showcase on the platform. His staff can also be collaborating with Below Armour to create a restricted version SCOUT t-shirt.
Allen recalled excitedly anticipating the annual return of Artscape whereas rising up in Baltimore. He stated he by no means imagined turning into greater than a customer to his hometown’s competition.
“To go from that—a child catching the bus to Artscape—to now being trusted to curate SCOUT in its second yr? That’s monumental. That’s full circle,” stated Allen. “Professionally, this can be a milestone I’m happy with. It validates the work, the expansion and the persistence it takes to construct a profession as an artist on this metropolis.”
This yr, SCOUT will kick off with its opening preview on Might 21, and Artscape will run Might 23-24. Collaborating artists might be introduced this month and embody a variety of native, nationwide and worldwide expertise.
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A part of Allen’s cost as curator is to amplify the artistic voice of town, a duty Create Baltimore CEO Robyn Murphy believes he’ll be capable to execute on.
“Devin Allen represents the very spirit of Baltimore—resilient, visionary and deeply related to neighborhood,” stated Murphy in an announcement. “His management as curator seamlessly continues the work of Derrick Adams: to solidify Baltimore as a world class metropolis for arts and tradition.”
