“What does it mean to remove obstacles that confuse us about how to live together, and instead open and free community spaces so we can get to know each other?”

— Dr. Mindy Fullilove, author Root Shock and Urban Alchemy

Sister Neighborhood Arts Project (SNAP!)

Rooted in Northwood and partnering across Greater Baltimore, SNAP! partners with neighborhoods to use the power of civic arts—storytelling, dialogue, and creative collaboration—to deepen connection, build shared leadership, and move communities toward meaningful, resident-led change by transforming local stories into collective action.

What We Do

We work alongside residents to:

  • Build trust and deepen community dialogue

  • Empower youth and honor elder wisdom

  • Support safety, placemaking, and local development

  • Activate everyday creativity in public spaces

How It Works

Our process begins with residents’ stories—an essential tool for surfacing shared values and community priorities. Through tailored workshops, forums, and performances, we guide neighborhoods in exploring challenges, imagining new possibilities, and sometimes creating a community “play” that captures local hopes and experiences. Projects range from single-season engagements to multi-year collaborations and are designed to leave lasting skills and leadership capacity with the community.

Ways to Partner

  • Co-created events that bring neighbors together

  • Engagement and leadership trainings rooted in civic arts

  • Youth arts programs that amplify young voices in community life.

  • Long-term community devised playmaking projects that culminate in public performance

Let’s imagine what your neighborhood could build—together.

SNAP! is a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization.

Listen to an interview on Midday with Dan Roddericks, (WYPR, 88.1) with Brian Francoise discussing the launch of Sister Neighborhood Arts Project in 2014.

SNAP! Co-Artistic Director Brian Francoise (Interview starts at 13:52)
Midday with Dan Roddericks, Dec. 3, 2014 (WYPR, 88.1)

The SNAP! DIGITAL EXHIBIT is here!!!

THIS LINK will take you to an interactive archive showing SNAP!’s origins, with compelling images, digital stories, play scripts, performance recordings and other artifacts from the Covenants: A Theatrical Collage about Northwood production (performed April 23rd, 2016).

This exhibit gives insight into a concrete example and case study that illuminate the power and efficacy of neighborhood level cultural organizing practices.

Sister Neighborhood Arts Project (SNAP!) is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Fractured Atlas will receive grants for the charitable purposes of Sister Neighborhood Arts Project (SNAP!), provide oversight to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required by the grantor. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Sister Neighborhood Arts Project (SNAP!) must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.