A core component of the Compound’s mission is the provision of economically accessible space for artists, artisans, and community organizations. On average, tenants at the Compound pay 37% less per square foot than the Baltimore city market rate. All Compound tenants have access to a full restaurant-grade cooking area, showers, over 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor communal space, garden access, and opportunities to generate small exhibitions and productions in our spaces. Artist-tenants have also benefited from studio visits by local institutions, established artists, and private foundations. Artists of the Compound contribute to a vibrant, creative ecosystem—in 2024 they collectively contributed to more than 91 exhibitions, events, and productions throughout Baltimore. 

During the application process for studios and apartments, which is open to all artists, applicants must answer questions about their practice, describe their need for subsidized space, and submit a portfolio of recent work.