Art with a Heart (AWAH) is marking its 26th anniversary by organizing a community art initiative at its social enterprise store, HeARTwares in Hampden. The event will kick off on Wednesday, March 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Community members—from supporters and volunteers to families and neighbors—are invited to join in the celebration by picking up a paintbrush and contributing to a vibrant birthday mural. This mural will become a permanent feature of workshops and other events held at HeARTwares.
“Art with a Heart is dedicated to bringing people together to create beauty, spread joy, and connect through art. It’s natural for us to include this celebration into our birthday activities,” said Megan Gatto, executive director of AWAH. “This mural will act as a lasting representation of our mission to inspire, strengthen, and heal through visual art.”
The mural itself, chosen by staff and supporters through social media input, features a whimsical design of a colorful sun. This image encapsulates the joyful, resilient spirit of Art with a Heart.
There will be four scheduled sessions for mural painting, where attendees of all ages can also learn about AWAH’s diverse programs:
- Wednesday, March 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursday, March 19, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, March 21, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Sunday, March 22, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Founded in 2000, Art with a Heart is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people in need through visual arts projects, community programs, workforce development, service-learning initiatives, and more. The organization expanded its reach by opening a second location in Hampden in 2024, allowing it to offer a wider array of arts programming across Baltimore City and beyond. In 2025, AWAH successfully facilitated over 13,000 art classes, collaborated with 95 community partners, and engaged more than 6,000 volunteers in their mission.
HeARTwares, situated at 1104 W. 36th St., Baltimore, MD, serves as a boutique where AWAH showcases and sells the artwork created by students, volunteers, and participants in their workforce development program. Visitors can admire and purchase the artwork, with sales proceeds shared between AWAH and the respective artists or community partners. This Hampden location also functions as a space for staff offices, meetings, and community projects.
For more information about the mural project, please visit Art with a Heart’s official website or call 410-366-8886.
