Hampden will host the kick-off party for the Baltimore Open Studio tour this fall. 

The neighborhood is set to host the party on Oct. 19, but many of the details are still being sorted out. The Baltimore Open Studio Tour is an annual event, put on by the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, that showcases the work of about 100 of the city’s visual artists.

George Peters, a member of the Hampden Community Council, is helping to organize the kick-off party, which will involve live music, visual arts presentations and studio exhibitions in the stores of local merchants.

"It’s Hampden so we think pretty big," Peters said.

He said that Joe Lathe-Vitale, owner of Have Fun Be Lucky, will also be designing a giant fold out "pirate map" that will direct attendees to all of the party events. 

"The idea is really to just mingle with art," Peters said.

Last year the Hamilton-Lauraville neighborhoods hosted the kick-off party.

Adam Feuerstein, Hampden Community Council president, said the community thought hosting the kick-off party was a good idea, and that the neighborhood was eager to host the party.

"I think it was a good idea, I think the only trepidation was the turn around time," Feuerstein said.  

He said right now the all volunteer efforts is in the process of trying to get everything organized and that more concrete details should emerge from the council’s board meeting on Wednesday.

"I mean Hampden has and eclectic mix of individuals in our neighborhood, and we don’t do at ton of, at least to my knowledge, of artists events," Feuerstein said.

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