Our Story
After living abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, Ariana Parrish was determined to bring the same sense of community and belonging to Baltimore. Inspired by the happiest city on earth, Nosreme nurtures connection by supporting the culture-builders of society: artists and storytellers.
What Inspires Us
Our Mission
Nosreme Baltimore builds a global pathway for artists—connecting local talent to international opportunity through public art, cultural exchange, and creative entrepreneurship. — We center Baltimore as a hub for artist-led transformation—at home and around the world.
Our Vision
A globally connected, community-rooted arts ecosystem where artists from Baltimore are leaders on the international stage, and our neighborhoods are enriched by constant cultural exchange. By 2027, Nosreme will operate a permanent live/work hub in Baltimore that hosts international artists and provides critically needed, affordable housing for local artists—creating a self-sustaining cycle of creativity and economic opportunity.
Values
At Nosreme Baltimore, we believe in:
Artist First: Artists deserve stability, pay, and long-term creative opportunity.
Global Vision, Local Impact: We connect Baltimore to the world while serving our neighborhoods.
Equity in Action: We support artists who’ve historically been excluded from capital and networks.
Community as Co-Creator: We work with—not just in—communities, building trust through shared authorship.
Creative Infrastructure: We’re building systems that make art sustainable—not just beautiful.
Our Phased Approach
Today, we host public art projects, pop-up exhibitions, and artist-led events across Baltimore that connect creatives to communities—through murals, installations, marketplaces, and collaborative dinners. These programs help us test ideas, build trust, and engage neighborhoods—laying the foundation for our permanent residency home.
Tomorrow, we plan to establish a brick-and-mortar artist residency inside a repurposed Baltimore landmark—such as a historic firehouse or church. This space will host community dinners, storytelling nights, cultural workshops, and international exchange opportunities—offering Baltimore a vibrant hub for creativity, belonging, and global connection. Together, we will usher in a brighter future for Baltimore.
We will open a permanent home in Baltimore by 2027, housing up to 10 local artists and hosting 2–3 international artists annually through partnerships with artist residencies abroad.
“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
From Humble Beginnings.
Nosreme Baltimore's roots run deep, inspired by a blend of philosophical exploration, architectural vision, and a profound commitment to community. Our namesake, "Nosreme"—"Emerson" spelled backward—first sparked founder Ariana Parrish's imagination during a middle-school English assignment on transcendentalism. Years later, while crafting her architecture thesis at Temple University, Ariana was captivated by the idea of designing communal spaces that fostered alternative societal experiences.
Ariana's journey was further shaped by a lifelong spirit of volunteerism, cultivated right here in Baltimore. Her dedication to altruism led her to organizations like the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. However, it was her experiences traveling the world, particularly as an African American woman exploring over 40 countries, that truly ignited her vision for Nosreme. In Copenhagen, she discovered the powerful concepts of ‘hygge’ (the art of coziness and well-being) and ‘fællesspisning’ (the unifying act of community eating). These shared, intimate experiences solidified her belief in how art and food bring people together, setting the profound vision for Nosreme Baltimore into motion.
Your generous support helps us uplift Baltimore's creatives and share healing, dialogue, and connection through art and culture throughout our city.