Baltimore IG Questions $1.6M in ARPA Funds Spent on Artscape

Concerns raised over potentially improper use of COVID-19 relief money for festival

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cumming is raising concerns about the city's use of $1.6 million in federal American Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief funds for the Artscape festival, including $360,000 for headlining acts and $27,000 for a VIP section. The inspector general's office found the city spent more than $500,000 in COVID-19 relief funds on Artscape 2025 music talent, exceeding the original budget, and that more than $580,000 was shifted between budget lines without the required approval.

Why it matters

The report raises questions about whether the city properly used federal COVID-19 relief funds intended to support public health and economic recovery efforts, rather than for a major arts festival. The inspector general's findings could prompt further scrutiny of the city's spending practices and the use of ARPA funds.

The details

According to the report, the Baltimore City Inspector General's office received a complaint and launched an investigation into the city's use of ARPA funds for Artscape. The investigation found the city spent $1.6 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds on the festival, including $360,000 for headlining acts and $27,000 for a VIP section. The inspector general also found the city spent more than $500,000 in ARPA funds on Artscape 2025 music talent, exceeding the original budget, and that more than $580,000 was shifted between budget lines without the required approval.

  • The inspector general's office started the investigation in June 2026.

The players

Isabel Cumming

Baltimore City Inspector General who raised concerns about the city's use of ARPA funds for the Artscape festival.

Baltimore City

The city government that used $1.6 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for the Artscape festival, according to the inspector general's report.

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What they’re saying

“We received a complaint at the office of the inspector general, and we started our investigation back probably in June about that ARPA money, which is the American Recovery Protection Act money, was used to pay for talent at one of our big festivals. And the type of money, you know, people were like, 'That can't be true.'”

— Isabel Cumming, Baltimore City Inspector General (wbal.com)

“It was used for talent. The ARPA — whether or not it's an improper use, that's — see, my office does waste, fraud , and abuse. And whether or not it's — that is much more subjective. I mean, many people would say that, no, that's not what ARPA money is used for… We were trying to find out if that's what it was used for. Was it used to pay two artists?”

— Isabel Cumming, Baltimore City Inspector General (wbal.com)

What’s next

The mayor's office has responded, saying the city did not misuse the funds because Artscape provides an economic boost to the city that was lost during the pandemic when the event was canceled. However, the inspector general's findings could prompt further investigation and scrutiny of the city's spending practices and use of ARPA funds.

The takeaway

This report highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in properly allocating federal COVID-19 relief funds, as well as the importance of oversight and transparency in how these taxpayer dollars are spent. The inspector general's findings raise questions about whether the Artscape festival was an appropriate use of ARPA funds, which were intended to support public health and economic recovery efforts.