On this episode of When Creatives Thrive we feature Greeyo., a Baltimore-based multidisciplinary artist whose work brings together music, movement, performance, and visual storytelling.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made a defining choice: Baltimore was where he would build, grow, and push his artistic career moving forward despite set backs. Since then, staying in the city—and using his platform to uplift other artists—has become an increasingly meaningful part of his journey. It’s taken him from work at Everyman Theatre and Baltimore Center Stage, all the way to performing at Artscape.

Greeyo. is among some amazing headers who will play Baltimore by Baltimore on October 3rd for a special edition titled The Capsule: A BxB Homecoming. The event will celebrate the Inner Harbor as Baltimore knows it today, while capturing the memories, stories and creative energy surrounding it before a new period of construction and transformation begins.

Anthony Whitaker is an artist born in The Bronx and raised on Long Island. He currently resides in Harlem, NYC. And he’s also a first responder who was on site at Ground Zero twenty-five years ago on September 11, 2001.

Immediately after he finished a night shift he was contacted by Con-Ed, who told him a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers. His employer and the local energy company informed him he was one only a few people available to address unprecedented outages in lower Manhattan.

Along with his work gear, Anthony brought along his 35mm camera. Over the next week, Anthony’s artistic intuition led him to create several iconic images, including a black and white image of the South Tower’s steel facade - the last thing standing among the debris.

Anthony's photograph, titled Steel Standing, is a symbol of courage, strength, resilience, and fortitude. It has received international claim and is archived at The United States Library of Congress.

And as part of a special anniversary exhibit, Steel Standing, among other photos from Ground Zero and a 3D rending Anthony created of the steel facade, is on display at the Top of the World Observation Level at the World Trade Center, right here in Baltimore.

Presented by Times Community Services, Inc., the Baltimore Times, and Creatively Black Baltimore, Steel Standing is on view until December 31, 2026.

Cover art photo by: JJ McQueen

On this episode we feature Nicholas Cohen - a musician, educator, and the Executive Director of Maryland Citizens for the Arts. MCA is an arts advocacy organization committed to expanding the nonprofit arts sector through public investment and service, thereby enhancing lifelong learning, quality of life, and economic vitality for all Maryland citizens.

Nicholas joins us to recap Maryland Arts Day 2026, an event produced by Maryland Citizens for the Arts, and largest annual gathering of arts professionals in Maryland. With more than 500 participants, representing every county in the state and Baltimore City, this statewide arts advocacy event connects artists, educators, administrators, and volunteers with lawmakers from every legislative district in Maryland.

Attendees of Maryland Arts Day have the opportunity to network with colleagues from around the state, learn about the arts advocacy process, and meet directly with lawmakers. Guided by county arts council directors, participants are encouraged to share specific impacts that the arts have in their community to make sure the arts stay funded in our state.

Nicholas and I are joined in studio with Barbara Hauck, a multi-hyphenate theatre artist and the Director of Arts Council Programming here at Create Baltimore, to give us her take on Maryland Arts Day, organizing, and advocacy.