Thirty-six finalists were announced this week for the 2025 Baker Artist Awards, demonstrating excellence in visual, literary, interdisciplinary, film/ video, performance, and music arts.An anonymous jury examined more than 800 portfolios and ultimately selected six finalists in each of the six artis tic disciplines.“The work of this year’s finalist pool exemplifies the myriad creativity of the artists in the Baltimore region,” said Connie Imboden, president of the William G. Baker Jr. Memorial Fund, in a statement.For the first time in 17 years, all finalists in the visual arts category are women, Imboden added.An artwork by 2025 Baker Artist Award finalist Monica Ikegwu.The 2025 Baker Artist Awardees will be announced in May. One artist from each of the six disciplines will receive a $10,000 Mary Sawyers Baker Prize. One of the six awardees will also receive the additional $30,000 Mary Sawyers Imboden Prize, with their award money totaling $40,000.Over 156 artists have been awarded more than $1.4 million through the Baker Artist Awards program since 2009.“We are excited that the 2025 finalists include newcomers to the site, as well as those who have participated in the past,” said Jeannie Howe, Executive Director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance. “The Portfolios and the finalists continue to reflect the dynamic and historic nature of Baltimore’s creative character.”The finalists’ work can be viewed online as well as through a free series of public performances, events, screenings, and exhibitions in April and May.This year’s finalists include:Visual ArtsSanah Brown-Bowers Suzanne Coley Andrea Sherrill Evans Monica Ikegwu Ann Margaret Morris Bria SterlingInterdisciplinaryLynn Cazabon Collis Donadio Jim Doran Phylicia Ghee Dave Greber Bruce WillenFilm/ VideoCathy C. Cook Marnie Ellen Hertzler Chung-Wei Huang Corey Hughes Daniela Mileykovsky Lynn TomlinsonLiterary ArtsKathy Flann Bry Reed Timmy Reed Kate Reed Petty Lysley Tenorio Jeannie VanascoMusicEvan Nicole Bell Lavena Johanson Delandria Mills Outcalls band Mark Navarro Daniel RyanPerformanceRuth MarGraff Nicole A Martinell Lola B Pierson Juanita Rockwell Unique Robinson Vincent Thomas ...read more read less