Reviews

'Too important': How community support saved Baltimore's Lineup Room from shutting down

Baltimore Channel 2 - WMAR By Taylor Epps

6-08.2026

A Baltimore music studio and creative space that nearly shut down last month is staying open after community support helped secure its future.

The Lineup Room, a community resource in downtown Baltimore for the past 15 years, gives young artists a place to perform, record, and take classes.

"It's been tough for a while just keeping things moving as it is with many businesses right now. I got really lucky at the last minute; we were shutting down last month," Owner Brandon Lackey said.

Maryland Art Place, which houses the studio on W Saratoga Street, stepped in to help, and Lackey partnered with artists to ensure the space could continue its work.

"Extremely blown away by it because of the amount of support that came with it and the amount of impact that we've had, so I consider myself really lucky in this economy to be supported so much by the community because they want us to keep going," Lackey said.

The Lineup Room is known for its Beat Club events, where producers and artists collaborate in real time.

"We put producers and MCs together at random, and they make a song on the spot," Lackey said.

The space also offers studio time and classes, and Lackey said it serves as a lifeline for young people who want to be creative.

"We work with a lot of students that would be out potentially in trouble; they get to come in here and record what they want. People you can trust, and that's what's really driven my mission a lot here is just pointing artists in the right direction," Lackey said.

For artist Kevin "Icon" Ben, The Lineup Room is where his music career began.

"Coming from Baltimore, we don't have a space to speak. I know personally for myself, I started doing music because I wasn't allowed to say a lot of things," Ben said.

Ben said the community was not willing to let the space disappear.

"We weren't having it. We tried to figure out everything we could to keep it. It's like losing your house. There's too many people under this roof to let this place go, it's too important," Ben said.

Ben described the space as more than a studio.

"It's an outlet first, but then it's also a family," Ben said. "It's good to know that we got a place where you can hone your skills and become whatever you want to be."

The Lineup Room will celebrate its continued operation at the next Beat Club event on June 26. For more information, click here.

This story was reported onair by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Create! Podcast

May 2, 2026

In this episode of the Create! Podcast, host Ekaterina Popova sits down with Amy Cavanaugh, the Executive Director of Maryland Art Place (MAP). Amy shares her journey from a professional touring cellist and recording artist to a leader in arts administration, providing a candid look at the resilience required to sustain a major contemporary arts hub. The conversation explores the intersection of creative empathy and executive leadership, emphasizing why protecting physical space is vital for the health of a city's creative economy.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Highlights

The Evolution of a Practitioner: Amy explains how her background as a freelance musician allowed her to bring a unique level of empathy to her leadership role.

Understanding the Process: She highlights the importance of leaders understanding what it takes for artists to get to a final product to effectively advocate for them.

Protecting Creative Real Estate: A discussion on Amy's commitment to retaining MAP's 20,000-square-foot building in downtown Baltimore to ensure artists stay within the context of general commerce.

Fundraising and Resilience: Amy offers insights into the different funding landscapes of DC and Baltimore, noting that persistence is key and that a "no" from a potential donor often simply means "not now".

Creating Artist Opportunities: From the "Out of Order" annual auction to managing the Maryland State Arts Directory, Amy explains how MAP connects artists with collectors and public art projects.

The Bromo Art Walk: Amy previews the upcoming event on May 14th, featuring a New York–Baltimore exchange curated by Jim Condren and Glenn Goldenberg.

About Maryland Art Place (MAP)

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid-Atlantic since 1981.

Take Action

Submit Your Work: Visit the Create! Magazine Call for Art to find current opportunities to get your work in front of a global audience.

Support the Mission: Learn more about Maryland Art Place, become a member, or donate by visiting mdartplace.org.

Visit the Gallery: Explore the current exhibitions at 218 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD.