Annapolis Arts District

The Annapolis Arts District was created at the request of City, County, and State officials to manage a state-designated arts district for Annapolis. We provide marketing support, public art, community improvements, and a list of resources to help artists, arts organizations, and local businesses, including, tax credits that are exclusive to State arts districts.

Working with our partners on the local and state level we create economic development through arts and culture. We are home to galleries, arts educators, artist studios, festivals, creative professionals, performing arts venues, and arts organizations. There are a wide range of restaurants, hotels, and other businesses that call the Annapolis Arts District home.

This organization supports this creative and artistic community and encourages collaboration, inclusiveness, creativity, and respect for our cultural history. This has created a vibrant arts destination for visitors, residents, artists, and creative professionals to come together.

Staff

Board of Directors

Laura Price - President

Laura Price is the Director of Marketing & Ticketing for Rams Head On Stage and Rams Head Presents, and has worked for Rams Head in several capacities since 1997. She also worked as Front of House Restaurant Manager and Maître D’ for Harry Browns Restaurant and O’Leary’s Seafood. Prior to that she managed a touring company that provided elementary school kids around the country with multi-cultural themed field trips and events, and managed an independent record label located in Severn, Maryland (Severn Records). She has been an Annapolis resident for more than 25 years and is a strong supporter and advocate for music and art education in schools.

Jim Martin - Secretary

Jim Martin spent forty years in his printing business working with theatres, musicians, artists, and authors. He serviced on City Advisory Boards including comprehensive planning, transportation, recreation, re-districting and mayoral transition planning. He was actively involved in the over one billion dollar physical and economic revitalization of the Inner West Street corridor. Jim served as president of the Severn River Association, a member of the Severn River Commission, and a founding member of the Scenic (Severn) River Land Trust. He volunteers at the Office of Emergency Management Food Bank. He is Commissioner on the Annapolis Art In Public Places Commission.

Don Lamb-Minor - Treasurer

Don Lamb-Minor has worked closely with a diverse range of public, private and political organizations in positioning and advancing their interests. Don is a business entrepreneur, consultant, former member of the Maryland House of Delegates and has been active in local, state and national initiatives. As a successful entrepreneur, he has helped conceive, organize, and implement many public and private initiatives in both the profit and nonprofit arenas, such as for the Adventure Sports Center International, which helped reduce unemployment in Garrett County from 14% to 3%. Don’s extensive experience building coalitions and networks, mediating, and creating public affairs and grassroots strategies, has been invaluable in developing innovative and successful solutions to complex issues.

Chanel Compton Johnson

Chanel C. Johnson is the Executive Director for the Banneker-Douglass Museum and Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture. She has been recognized by receiving Awards from the Association of African American Museums; Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County; Young Women’s Christian Association of the United States of America/YWCA. Her volunteer with Anne Arundel Women Giving Together; Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center; Maryland Humanities; and Afro Charities. Chanel is a visual artist, expressing Black diasporic experiences, history, and identity through portraits, abstract paintings, and mosaics.

Jimi (Haha) Davies

Jimi Davies is the publisher and creative director of UpStArt Annapolis Magazine which a high-quality quarterly arts and culture magazine. Jimi is the lead singer/guitarist/songwriter for national recording artist Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, who has released eight records and toured for over 30 years. Jimi also is the founding member of the local band, Jarflys. Jimi is a visual artist who works in multiple mediums and has done many murals and child mentoring camps. Jimi is a Founding Circle member of the MTPA Maryland Theatre for the Performing Arts as well as an events and marketing consultant.

Carol Denny

Carol Denny is a writer and editor specializing in content creation and project management for digital and print communications. As a principal at River Writing LLC, she focuses mainly on conservation issues. She was the founding editor of What’s Up Annapolis magazine and managing editor of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Save the Bay magazine, and has written for clients including The Washington Post, National Geographic Films, Chesapeake Life, Baltimore Style, and #FlyWashington. Carol has served on the board of the Cultural Arts Foundation of Anne Arundel County and as president of the board of directors for Footworks, a dance company.

Shelton Willett

Shelton Willett is an entrepreneur, a business consultant and a community activist. He is the owner of Vitola 121 and is also the CEO of We Care and Friends, a well known grass roots nonprofit. Shelton is a trained musician and artist development professional specializing in hip hop, graffiti, and graphic arts. Shelton’s goal in being on the arts district board is to find opportunities for artists to earn revenue for themselves and occupy business space in the Annapolis Arts District.

Crystal Charlotte Lynch

Crystal Charlotte Lynch is a writer, poet, storyteller, performance artist, artist, and filmmaker. She created and hosts Wordsmith Poets of Annapolis which is a monthly poetry event showcasing diverse talents in the local community. In addition she is an artist/member of the Annapolis Arts Alliance and was featured in the 13th Annual AAA Juried Exhibit: Water, Wings & Windows. Crystal is a Creative Wellness Advisor with the Street Angel Project inc. She provides guidance in Creative Arts Wellness for psychological, physical, and emotional well-being, incorporating painting, music, and dance. She is also part of the Wood Craft Artisans.               

Deborah Wood

Dr. Deborah Wood is a child development specialist residing in Cape. St. Claire with her husband of 45 years. She was a teacher for preschoolers before becoming a parenting educator/counselor prior to starting Chesapeake Children's Museum in 1992. A lifelong pursuer of artistic expression, she was known at school for writing poetry beginning in kindergarten. She played the piccolo in her high school marching band, performed in an Israeli folk dance troupe, Tantz L'Chaim, in high school and college, and has also dabbled in drama. She currently serves as the Director of the Chesapeake Children’s Museum.

Reneé Spears

Reneé Spears is a retired Severn School teacher who lives in her restored childhood home in Arnold, Maryland. She has dabbled in drama, music, and art and is an avid reader. She played the flute in elementary and high school and is teaching herself the ukulele. Reneé has chaired and served as a board member of the Kunta Kinte Festival. She served on the diversity board of Maryland Hall and was a committee member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. Since 2002 she has been an active board member of the Chesapeake Children's Museum.

Board Advisors

Willam Rowel

William F. Rowel is a senior advisor to the Mayor in the City of Annapolis, focusing on high-level policy, community engagement, and public relations, while centering race equity and with the goal of increasing capacity and inclusion in populations historically marginalized and disconnected from governmental affairs. William is a published poet, actor, playwright, and public speaker who brings personal experiences, critical and strategic thinking to bear on pertinent social issues. From his work in philanthropy and community-based advocacy, to policy initiatives, and speaking to students, Rowel seeks to increase equity and awareness through any and all mediums. He is a product of Howard University’s School of Fine Arts and the D.C. Black Reparatory Theater. As an actor, he has been featured in numerous network television shows, films, and theatres across the country.

Brian Cahalan

Brian Cahalan and his wife Sarah own 49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar and Gallery which hosts regular art exhibits and live performances. Several years after opening the restaurant, with two other partners, opened Acousticopia where they sold acoustic instruments and accessories to local and national acts touring through Annapolis.  He was an advocate in the creation of the Annapolis Arts District, was involved in the creation of the First Sunday Arts Festival and serves on the board of AMFM, the Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians.  He now works in the Mayor’s office as an arts liaison.

990 Public Disclosure