ART CART DERBY GIVES RACE FANS ANOTHER CHANCE TO CHEER

As the last vestiges of the Baltimore Grand Prix are removed from downtown, race fans turn their attention to another exciting racing event in Baltimore. On Saturday, October 8, Gough Street in Highlandtown will transform from roadway into raceway as intergenerational teams compete in the first annual Art Cart Derby. Inspired by classic soapbox racing, the Art Cart Derby is a downhill race between gravity-powered carts with a single driver.

The event kicks off at 2:00 p.m. at the intersection of Gough and Conkling Streets with music, food, beer and art. Beans & Frank, Will Hill and Wasabi are among the bands that will be performing. The Art Carts will line up at 2pm and the Art Cart Derby begins at 3:30. Racing will continue until all carts have raced. Prizes will be awarded for Fastest Cart, Coolest Cart Concept, Youngest-Oldest Art Cart Team and Fan Favorite. Teams are encouraged to dress up in costume, adopt team cheers and rally support for their drivers throughout the event. The deadline for entering the race is October 1, 2011.

The Art Cart Derby is hosted by Communities for All Ages, an intergenerational initiative of the Southeast Community Development Corporation and the Creative Alliance at the Patterson. It is sponsored by the Baltimore Community Foundation, Banner Neighborhoods, Highlandtown Community Association, Patterson Park Neighborhood Association, The Loading Dock, and Southeast Anchor Library. The core mission of the event is to bring together members of the community from all generations to interact with local art and each other. To encourage people of all ages to participate, teams with members representing three out of four age group categories are eligible to receive $100 for art cart building supplies.            

“We wanted to create an event that would give everyone from older adults to school-age kids an opportunity to participate,” said Amanda Smit, Highlandtown Main Street Manager. “We’ve got one cart that is going to be a giant cookie! I can’t wait to see it in action!”

The Laughing Pint, located at 3531 Gough Street, is sponsoring Art by the Pint in conjunction with the Art Cart Derby. Art by the Pint will be a retrospective of Laughing Pint artists who have been featured in the establishment over the years. The exhibit will highlight the multiple generations represented in our artist community.

For more information about participating in the race, joining a team or becoming a sponsor, contact Amanda Smit, Highlandtown Main Street Manager, at 410-342-3234 ext. 26 or amanda@southeastcdc.org.

http://www.southeastcdc.org/index.cfm?go=main.showPage&catID=12&docID=258