Takoma Park’s Arts and Humanities Division has partnered with the Takoma ARTery to promote the work of local artists through a new online artist directory at takomaartery.com. Per the City of Takoma Park: The volunteer-led artist collective was organized during the COVID-19 pandemic to connect local artists and help them share their work with the public. Artwork displays have filled storefront windows in downtown Takoma Park and at the Historic Takoma building at the Takoma Junction. The City’s Arts and Humanities Coordinator Brendan Smith also helped organize a previous grant to support the group’s start-up costs and its first art fair last summer outside the Takoma Park Community Center.

Takoma ARTery artists have reported not only sales but also a broadened sense of connection and support from other artists and residents, according to ARTery co-founder Eleanor Landstreet. “The financial and staff support from the City have helped transform the ARTery from an innovative pandemic-related arts project into a vibrant artist community, which is boosting the creative economy and small businesses run by artists,” Landstreet said.