Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Kennedy.
Hi Andrea, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been a creative, colorful kid. I was the one singing all the time, recording myself, creating my own little world through music. But the reality is, I didn’t have consistent access to arts education growing up. Outside of church, there weren’t many opportunities. I didn’t even have my first formal music class until high school, and by the time I got to the year I was supposed to have it in middle school, the teacher was gone.
When I finally got access, everything clicked. Music came naturally, but more than that, music theory became my love language. It gave me structure, discipline, and a way to understand something I had already been feeling all along. And I remember thinking “imagine if I had access to this sooner….”. There were so many years of untapped potential. I’m grateful for the church because it gave me a space to explore and validated my gifts when nothing else did. That perspective always stayed with me.
Before launching my organization, I worked for another nonprofit where I had the chance to build partnerships and passively survey schools and engage directly with young people. What I saw was consistent… there was a real lack of access to the arts, especially in communities that needed it the most. That wasn’t just data to me, it was personal. It reflected my own experience growing up.
At the same time, I was walking through one of the hardest seasons of my life. I experienced three pregnancy losses. That kind of grief shifts you. And while it was incredibly painful, it also pushed me. Each loss brought me closer to a place of clarity and conviction. It made me stop waiting for the “right time” and start moving in what I knew I was called to do.
In 2018, I took that leap and launched The Arts Project Incorporated, starting with Create 4 Spring Break. It was small, but it was intentional. It was built on the belief that young people deserve access to creative spaces that affirm who they are and give them room to explore their gifts without having to wait until it’s almost too late to discover them.
Since then, the organization has grown to serve youth and families across Baltimore through arts programming, community initiatives, and experiences that bring creativity directly into neighborhoods that have historically gone without it.
While I’m still building and still growing, everything I do is rooted in that younger version of me, in my lived experiences, and in the understanding that access can change everything.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road, and honestly, I don’t think purpose-driven work like this ever is.
Building The Arts Project Incorporated has required me to grow in real time. In the early days, I was figuring everything out as I went. Developing the structure, partnerships, managing finances, trying to figure out staffing, all while actively running the programs. There wasn’t a blueprint, just a vision and a commitment to make it work.
At the same time, life didn’t slow down to make space for the work. I was wearing all the hats! I was the founder, program director, and administrator all while navigating a global pandemic that completely shifted how we could serve our communities. During that season, I was also pursuing and completing my Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management in 2022, while stepping into the role of caregiver for my family and showing up in my marriage as a wife. It was a lot. There were moments where I was stretched thin in every direction, trying to be present and pour into everything and everyone at once.
Funding has been one of the biggest challenges. When you’re doing community-based work, especially in spaces that are often overlooked, you’re constantly advocating for why it matters. You’re balancing impact with sustainability, keeping programs accessible while making sure the organization can actually sustain itself. That tension doesn’t go away.
Staffing and capacity have also been real hurdles. As the organization grew, so did the need for structure, systems, and a solid team. There were seasons where I didn’t have that, which meant carrying more than I should have and learning, firsthand, what burnout looks like.
On a personal level, I’ve also had to navigate grief, healing, and now motherhood while leading. Experiencing multiple pregnancy losses and still showing up required a level of strength and faith I didn’t know I had. And even now, balancing being a wife, a new mommy, and an executive director is something I’m continuously learning.
There have been moments of doubt, moments where things didn’t go as planned, or where I questioned if I was doing enough. But every challenge forced me to build differently, lead more intentionally, and get clearer on what really matters.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth, but it’s has been purposeful. And every obstacle has shaped not just the organization, but who I am as a leader.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m the Founder and Executive Director of The Arts Project Incorporated, where I design and lead arts-integrated programming for youth and families across Baltimore. My work sits at the intersection of creativity, access, and community, making sure young people don’t just experience the arts, but feel seen, affirmed, and empowered through them.
I specialize in building programs that are both culturally relevant and intentional. Whether it’s our Create 4 Spring Break camp, afterschool clubs, or community initiatives like ArtReach, everything we do is rooted in creating safe, creative spaces… especially in communities that have historically lacked access to the arts.
Outside of TAP, I’m also a vocalist and artist. Creating is a personal practice for me; it’s something I had to return to after years of not fully seeing or believing in myself as an artist. Now, I boldly identify as both a visual and performing artist, with music available on streaming platforms. That part of my identity directly informs how I lead and how I connect with young creatives, because I’m actively doing the work of creating, not just teaching or facilitating it.
What I’m most proud of is the impact. We’ve served over 2,700 youth and families, but beyond the numbers, it’s the confidence, the expression, and the growth we see in our young people that means the most. Watching a child find their voice, try something new, or feel proud of what they created are the real wins for me.
I also take pride in how I’ve built this organization. It didn’t come from having all the resources or a perfect plan, it came from lived experience, from recognizing a gap, and from committing to fill it. I’ve built while learning, while leading, and while navigating real life, and I think that shows in how intentional the work is.
What sets me apart is that this isn’t just professional for me, it’s personal. I know what it feels like to have creative potential but limited access. I know what it means to discover your gifts later than you should have. And I lead from that place.
So when I create programs, I’m not just thinking about activities, I’m thinking about exposure, identity, confidence, and long-term impact. I’m thinking about what it would have meant for me to have this at a younger age.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about Baltimore is the creativity embedded in the people and the culture. There’s a special kind of resilient creativity here that feels raw, intuitive, and deeply rooted in community. You see it in the art, the music, the way people show up for each other. There’s a real sense of pride and identity, especially in neighborhoods that don’t always get the spotlight. Baltimore has a way of raising creatives, even when resources are limited, and that says a lot. I like to believe the church scene here has contributed to that a lot. I will always be a firm advocate and believer in the power of arts in sacred spaces.
What I like least is the lack of equitable access, especially when it comes to the arts and youth programming. There are entire communities that are still under-resourced and overlooked, and young people in those areas don’t always get the exposure or opportunities they deserve. That gap is real, and it impacts how youth see themselves, their creativity, and what’s possible for their future. So the work I do it meant to mitigate barriers that prevents the child from thriving as a whole.
Pricing:
- Many of our programs are offered free or at a low cost to ensure accessibility for youth and families.
- Signature programs like Create 4 Spring Break are intentionally subsidized to remain affordable for the communities we serve.
- Pricing for workshops, residencies, and partnerships varies based on scope, duration, and funding support.
- We partner with schools, organizations, and funders to help bring arts programming with little cost to participants.
- For programming, collaborations, or to support our work through donations, we encourage partners and community members to connect with us directly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theartsprojectinc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartsprojectinc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theartsprojectinc
