We’re thrilled to welcome you to DesignFest 2026! Here’s what to expect on event day.
DATE AND LOCATION:
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Location: MICA — The Gateway Residence Hall: 1601 W Mount Royal Ave, Baltimore, MD 21217
WHO’S JOINING US
15 Nonprofits
100+ Design Volunteers
35 undergraduate & graduate students
26 MICA alumni
38 returning volunteer designers
79 professional designers
Schedule at a glance:
8:00 AM Welcome and breakfast provided by Dignity Plates Catering at the Franciscan Center of Baltimore.
9:00 AM Design teams meet with their nonprofits and work gets underway.
10:45 AM Workshop: Securing Grants for Creative Projects presented by Andrea Schorr.
12:15 PM Lunch provided by Parkhurst.
1:15 PM Workshop: Intellectual Property for Arts Organizations presented by Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.
2:10 PM Workshop: Board Member Bootcamp presented by Community Law Center.
4:00 PM Gallery Walk begins.
WORKSHOP 1
Securing Grants for Creative Projects by Andrea Schorr
This workshop will be a case study of two grants for arts projects in Detroit. One grant funded interior and exterior visual artwork created by Detroit artists for a new construction building in an arts district in Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood. The other grant funded a planning study for a project that will develop co-working and living space for Detroit artists. We will examine how the grant applications were prepared and strategies for finding grant funders to support creative projects.
WORKSHOP 2
Intellectual Property for Arts Orgs by Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
As an arts organization, your intellectual property is a valuable asset. Join Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (MDVLA) for a workshop about the basics of copyright, trademark, and a review of the agreement between your organization and your DesignFest designer. The presentation will discuss what each type of intellectual property does and does not cover, ownership rights, and the steps you can take to prevent or address infringement of your work.
WORKSHOP 3
Board Member Bootcamp
by Community Law Center
REPLACE — As an arts organization, your intellectual property is a valuable asset. Join Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (MDVLA) for a workshop about the basics of copyright, trademark, and a review of the agreement between your organization and your DesignFest designer. The presentation will discuss what each type of intellectual property does and does not cover, ownership rights, and the steps you can take to prevent or address infringement of your work.
See you on Event Day!
If you couldn’t make it this year, we hope you can join us next time.
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