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The Arena Players By Donna Stallworth For BaltimoreStories.com A small group of aspiring young black actors banded together in the 1950s to find a place to perform. The result was Arena Players, Baltimore's only predominantly black theater company and the nation's oldest continuous black theater.

Jazzed up in Mount Vernon By Tara Jones For BaltimoreStories.com Where else in Baltimore can you go for a history lesson, voice training, and dance sessions& Located at 847 North Howard St., the Eubie Blake Center provides the Mount Vernon and surrounding communities with a place to learn about a wide array of topics. The aim of the center is to give citizens an outlet through which African-American art and culture can be experienced, either through direct participation or observation. Program Director Troy Burton asserts, “We are a cultural center with a focus on the fine arts with a heavy emphasis on jazz”. Read the story, watch the slideshow tour or listen to a documentary on the after-school program.

	Contemporary Museum By Tynisha Carroll For BaltimoreStories.com In the heart of the Mount Vernon Cultural District at 100 W. Centre Street, the Contemporary Museum is working to bridge the gap between avant-garde art and the Baltimore community.

The museum was founded on a radical idea to take new art to the people. Over the years the museum has operated as a traveling presenter of art and has found new ways to expose people to many new artists.

Through collaborations with some of the other cultural institutions in Mount Vernon, a newly attained permanent home base and a number of educational programs, the museum is branching out to the community in innovative and ever-changing ways to bring diverse exhibits and social themes to light.

Other Stories

A Bar Out of the Ordinary: Paloma's: Bar out of the ordinary.

A Day Well Spent: Charles Street Corridor offers, fine eats and a touch of culture.

A Fortuitous Find: A cultural gem in the heart of Historic Charles Street, the Italian Cultural Center.

After School at Eubie Blake: These kids have better things to do than just sit around watching television after school. They participate in a Cultural Arts Enrichment program at the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute that introduces them to singing, music, drama, and art.

ArtBeat Festival Attracts Diverse Crowd with Diverse Cultural Celebration: ArtBeat Festival.

Baltimore Book Festival: Mt. Vernon's baltimore book festival is a novel way to celebrate the Fall.

Contemporary Museum branches out in the community: Museum establishes art education programs for community of Baltimore

Contemporary Museum innovates with collaborations: Museum seeks to innovate in collaborations with other Mount Vernon cultural institutions.

Contemporary Museum picks social themes for exhibitions: The Contemporary Museum brings art to the community that has a message.

Contemporary Museum takes art to new heights: Baltimore museum goes out of its way to bring art to the community

Critical Mass: Critical Mass Rallies

Douglas Felmer: Long-time resident -- and part-time actor -- Douglas Felmer.

Eubie Blake: A Jazzy Place To Be: With its exhibition and Cultural Arts Enrichment program, there is always something to learn at the center.

Great Blacks in Wax Museum: The most visited museum in the city helps the younger generation learn about black history.

Great Blacks in Wax Museum brings hope back to the community: Four dark figures cast long stretching shadows across a small apartment bedroom.

Jazzed up in Mount Vernon: The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center brings history and flavor to Charm City.

Mount Vernon at its Best: Mount Vernon is about as eclectic as Baltimore City is going to be in one small area.

Palazzo Italia Events and Programs: The Italian Cultural Center is flourishing with activities to commemorate Italy past, present and future.

Seth Ciferri: An interview with Seth.

Seth Ciferri, Mastermind, Mechanic, and Maker of Read Street Tattoo

Take a Walk Through Mount Vernon: Video tour of Mount Vernon.

The American Dime Museum: If you like the eccentric and weird collections the American Dime Museum is a must see.

The Great Blacks in Wax Museum shall not be moved

The Reel Deal: The Charles Theater (old Douglas Theater), home of independent films that you just can’t see anywhere else.

The Stagecoach: The Stagecoach Restaurant

Transcription of Interview - Charles Theater

Transcription of Interview - Eubie Blake

Walters Art Museum: One of Baltimore's true art treasures, the Walters Art Museum showcases a collection of rare jewelry and Egyptian treasures -- as well as plays, lectures and other activities for the public.