Mellon Foundation Presents The Last Resort Artist Retreat with $1.25M
Last month, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, sponsored by Maryland Art Place, presented the visionary artist residency program The Last Resort Artist Retreat (TLRAR), founded by Baltimore-born and Brooklyn-based artist Derrick Adams with a momentous $1.25 million grant. Adams is a prolific multidisciplinary creative, whose own visual and performance art champions Black American joy and leisure in vibrant and unexpected ways. This pure celebration of Black vitality lies at the heart of TLRAR, a tranquil hub of community and curated experiences for creatives in the historic Baltimore neighborhood of Waverly.
Photo by Alyssa Schukar for The Mellon Foundation, courtesy of The Last Resort Artist Retreat.
Derrick Adams’s Charm City Cultural Cultivation Strengthens Baltimore’s Underserved Communities
In 2022, Adams instituted Charm City Cultural Cultivation, a non-profit assembly of three programs that aim to strengthen and inspire underserved communities within Baltimore: TLRAR which focuses on the theory of “leisure as therapy”; The Black Baltimore Digital Database, a counter-institutional initiative which assists the community in gathering and safely storing local archival materials; and Zora’s Den, an online collective, promotes the guidance, empowerment, and fellowship of Black women writers. This establishment and bolstering of public programs in arts, education, and social enrichment advocates for cultural expansion in Baltimore as well as for a global network of Black creatives.
Courtesy of The Last Resort Artist Retreat.
The Last Resort Artist Retreat is a Nourishing, Safe Haven for Mind, Body, and Soul
TLRAR was born out of Adams’s own positive experiences sharing and working with other Black creatives, as well as his identification of an urgent need for safe and welcoming spaces in which Black talents can find peace in order to flourish. The picturesque private residence unites the ease and serenity of a bed-and-breakfast, the nourishment of a wellness retreat, and the singular creative support of a distinguished artist residency — culminating in a divine and intimate experience. Significant collaboration with a notable advisory board will invite a varied group of individuals for invitation-only residencies throughout the year.
Courtesy of The Last Resort Artist Retreat.
No-obligation, four-week residencies take place from March until November, ideal seasons for indoor and outdoor respite and development. Artists in a myriad of disciplines, from visual, sound, and movement-based endeavors, to literary and culinary enterprises, are given comfortable living quarters, wholesome food, and individual spaces in which to work. Restorative experiences such as guided yoga and meditation sessions, lively dinners with esteemed guests, as well as opportunities to enjoy the retreat’s natural surroundings, spark confidence and meaningful connections.
Community mentorships, internships, and social gatherings will also evolve as an integral aspect of the substantial initiative. “It is TLRAR’s belief that by providing respite for visionary artists and practitioners, we can continue our work within their communities and the participatory roles they play across institutions and beyond,” said Adams.
The Last Resort Artist Retreat is part of the Charm City Cultural Cultivation (CharmCCC), a non-profit foundation.
