Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts
Donna Drew Sawyer is an accomplished author known for their novel "Provenance" which received various awards and recognitions. Donna currently serves as the Chief of External Affairs at the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, where Donna oversees various activities including communications, marketing, and fundraising. With extensive experience in communications and marketing roles at organizations such as Walker & Dunlop and the Smithsonian Institution, Donna Drew Sawyer has a strong background in strategic messaging and branding. Donna holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from New York Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from Texas Southern University.
Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts
The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization which serves as Baltimore City’s official arts council, events agency and film office. By providing funding and support to artists, arts programs and organizations across the city, and by producing large-scale events such as Light City, Artscape and the Baltimore Book Festival, BOPA’s goal is to make Baltimore a more vibrant and creative city. The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts manages the Creative Baltimore Fund Grants, Baltimore Mural Program, Public Art, Free Fall Baltimore, Transformative Art Prize, MECU Neighborhood Grant Program, Bright StArts Workshops For Children and other grant opportunities for artists. BOPA coordinates Baltimore's major events including Light City, a festival of light, music and innovation; Artscape, America’s largest free arts festival, Baltimore Book Festival; New Year's Eve and July 4th celebrations at the Inner Harbor; Baltimore Farmers' Market & Bazaar; School 33 Art Center’s Open Studio Tour; and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. As the Baltimore Film Office, BOPA provides service to all productions scouting and filming in Baltimore. The team works with production crews, secures permits, provides logistical support and coordinates with city agencies to secure properties, equipment and personnel. BOPA oversees historic attractions and sites including the Top of the World Observation Level, School 33 Art Center, The Cloisters, and the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower. In addition, BOPA has been called upon to orchestrate or assist with large-scale city events over the past 30+ years. The activities include Star-Spangled Spectacular in 2014, NFL Kick-Off in 2013, Star-Spangled Sailabration in 2012 and the Ravens Super Bowl Victory Parades.