2019 Madonnari Arts Festival
In 2019, the Madonnari Arts Festival had its best year yet in Baltimore. The weather was beautiful and the artwork was astounding. Over 30,000 people visited Little Italy in September for the Madonnari Arts Festival and the local businesses had their best weekends all year.
2019 was the best year yet
The 2019 Madonnari Arts Festival was the best year yet for the festival. Over 30,000 people visited the event over 3 days in September. We were able to host more artists from across Maryland, the United States, Italy, Belgium, Mexico, and more. The local restaurants in Little Italy had their best weekends of the year and we hope to continue this tradition in Baltimore. The festival was able to incorporate more schools into the Madonnari Arts Festival from across Maryland. We wish to thank all our sponsors and supporters over the years for helping this event flourish. Thank you to our judges Christine Sciacca (Associate Curator, European Art, 300-1400 CE- The Walters Art Museum), Rebecca Alban Hoffberger (Director, American Visionary Arts Museum), Craig Hankin, Director Emeritus of the Center for Visual Arts, Johns Hopkins University) and Denise Koch (Anchor/Reporter, WJZ-TV).
Thank you, Mayor Jack Young, City Council Vice President Sharon Middleton, Councilman Zeke Cohen, and Senator Bill Ferguson for joining us and awarding the Madonnari artists a special commendation. We are also grateful to the Residents of Little Italy for their collaboration and enthusiasm for this glorious event and for their generosity and kindness to our international guests.
Our School Workshops Prior to the Festival
Girl Scouts
Thank you to the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland where we were able to hold a workshop in Ellicott City.
City Springs
Thank you to City Springs for bringing your kids to the festival and participating in the workshop with Anthony Cappetto and Wendy Stum.
Jemecy Upper School
Thank you to Jemecy Upper School for allowing us to host a workshop in your school.
Jemecy Upper
Thank you again Jemecy Upper for hosting one of our artists from Mexico, Abraham Burciaga, and allowing him to give a presentation of his work.
Press and Publicity
Baltimore Sun
Weekly Best
Ambassador, National Italian American Foundation
Arts Guide
Baltimore Magazine
Founder and Producer, Michael Kirby
Our Prize Winners: Classical
First Prize
Abraham Burciaga
School Prize
Baltimore School for the Arts
Second Prize
Flavio Coppola
Third Prize
Nicole Flaig
Third Prize
Andrea Starinieri
Our Prize Winners: Contemporary
First Prize
Julie Jilek
People’s Choice Award
Lissette Aguirre
Blessing of the Chalk
On the Friday of the first day of the Madonnari Arts Festival, we begin the event with the Blessing of the Chalk. Madonnari is rich in history and started with the Catholic Church with Madonnari creating religious icons in front of churches in the 1400s. We honor this history by allowing the local catholic church to select a work from our artists and bless the chalks that this artist will use to create their image. Thank you to Father Sal and Father James Worley from St. Ursula’s.
Ivann Garc from Mexico was selected this year to receive the Blessed Chalk to create his work in the Madonnari Arts Festival
