Arts boom or bust: Some burning questions about the 2023-‘24 Baltimore arts season

Sometimes what goes on behind the scenes is as interesting as what gets lit up by the spotlights. The 2023-’24 arts season is brimming with enticing plays and concerts and author talks and art exhibits. For a couple of hours, the best productions and exhibitions become a haven and shelter for audience members by creating miniature, self-enclosed worlds. That is the implicit promise of art.