Where Are They Now: Former Program Manager Merrell Hambleton

In our Where Are They Now series, we’re catching up with some of the talented team members who once worked at the Neighborhood Design Center and sharing stories of where their career paths have taken them.

Meet Merrell Hambleton, former Program Manager in our Arts Planning & Cultural Programming department. Merrell loved working with residents to better understand how public art can be a part of a collective vision for Baltimore streets and neighborhoods. Through her work on Signal Station North and Inviting Light, she collaborated with many talented artists and designers to create new and thoughtful tools for community engagement.

We asked her some questions:

What was your proudest accomplishment or achievement?

On projects like Signal Station North and Inviting Light, I loved working with residents to better understand how public art can be a part of a collective vision for Baltimore streets and neighborhoods. I was also honored to collaborate with so many talented artists and designers to create new & thoughtful tools for community engagement.

Give us a professional update — what are you doing now and is there a recent accomplishment or achievement you want to share?

I am currently the Director of Public Engagement at the Baltimore Museum of Art. In this role, I support the Museum’s efforts to build meaningful relationships with people throughout Baltimore City and beyond. I get to work with many of the neighbors, artists, and organizations that I originally connected with during my time at Neighborhood Design Center.

As a thought leader in the industry, what is your vision for the community, built environment, design industry, etc?

I hold a vision of Baltimore City as a place where everyone feels connected to the radical potential of art. Beyond that, I imagine Baltimore as a place where there is true community ownership over the City’s public resources—including its art!

Now well into your career and the industry, is there advice you might share with others trying to enter the space?

In so many wonderful ways, Baltimore is a small city. I keep encountering the same brilliant designers, artists, and activists again and again in my work. This is good because it holds you accountable—your word matters. Following through matters. I try my best to be intentional and enter into new projects with a “do no harm” mentality. As much as possible, I also think about projects as a way to honor the contributions of the people we talk to and engage along the way.