ANNUAL Report FY 2014
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Content 3. Letter from the Mayor 4. Letter from Chair and Interim Director 5. 2014 Commissioners and Staff 6. 2014 Funding Sources 7. Ward Report 8. Grant Programs and Grantees 14. Arts Education 15. Education Events: Poetry Out Loud 16. Education Events: Larry Neal Writers’ Awards 17. Public Art: Building Communities 18. Public Art: Commissioned Projects 20. Public Art: Murals DC 21. Public Art: 5x5 2014 22. Events: Mayor’s Arts Awards 23. Events: Bayard Rustin & James Baldwin, Freedom Fighters & Friends 24. Events: Dance DC Festival 26. Events: Art All Night 27. Events: Showtime at Gateway DC 27. Office of the Poet Laureate
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities 200 I Street, SE, Suite 1400, Washinton, DC 20003 202.724.5613 • www.dcarts.dc.gov
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Letter from the
Mayor
Arts and culture are the hallmark of any great city, and I believe we are doing great things here in the District of Columbia. The arts are a critical bridge to our future, providing inspiring opportunities for our young people and attracting tourists from around the world to take part in the history on display in our Nation’s Capital. I am equally proud of the work my Administration has been able to accomplish in supporting DC’s thriving creative economy as we build pathways to the middle class. The impact and the importance of the arts cannot be understated, and I am committed to ensuring we continue to invest in the arts. It is exciting to see District artists and arts organizations continue to take creative risks and push boundaries, to innovate and grow in their craft with the support of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. And, I am grateful to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the hundreds of individual artists and organizations who have given generously of their time, expertise, and passion to enhance the quality of life for District residents and visitors alike. Together, let’s continue to foster our creative economy to ensure residents across all eight wards benefit from the arts, including the jobs, economic development and other amenities fueled by these investments.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser Mayor of the District of Columbia
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Letter from
Chair & Director
In FY 2014, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities celebrated 46 years of enriching the lives of all District of Columbia citizens and residents. We are proud to continue our efforts to effectively serve Washington, DC’s arts and cultural communities through grants, professional development opportunities, educational enrichment, and artistic programming. It is our vision to be the leading voice for arts and culture in the city, thereby elevating the impact of the arts and humanities locally, nationally, and internationally. The Annual Report highlights our accomplishments and our continued resolve to support and steward that vision. The District of Columbia is a stellar example of how the arts and culture can be leveraged to improve the quality of life for all residents. The Commission is always honored to be an integral part of that process. In FY 2014, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities awarded 319 grants totaling over $7 million. As we look to the future, we recognize that this is an exciting time for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Aligning with Mayor Muriel Bowser’s vision for a “Fresh Start” for the District of Columbia, the agency is deeply engrossed in its efforts to produce a long-range strategic plan. The plan is comprehensive and community-wide in that it is a stakeholder plan that invited broad-based participation. Through this, we have attentively listened to our constituents’ desires to see the agency play a greater role beyond grant-making in the creative sector. To that end, we are refreshing our relationships with key community partners, reshaping our leadership role in arts education, and refining our alliance to the creative economy.
REZ GAR
MARTA PE
We celebrate and applaud the dedication of our local artists and cultural organizations for giving tirelessly of their time and energy to ensure the success of the arts and humanities in the District of Columbia.
LA CIA, FUE SEPIENTE
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Sincerely,
Kay Kendall, Chair
Lisa Richards Toney, Interim Director
Commissioners
2014
Judith Terra, Chair Lavinia Wohlfarth, Vice Chair Marvin Bowser Susan Clampitt Christopher Cowan Edmund Fleet Antoinette Ford
Staff
Rhona Wolfe Friedman
2014
Alma Gates
Lionell Thomas, Executive Director
Darrin Glymph
Lisa Richards Toney, Deputy Director
James E. Laws, Jr.
Moshe Adams, Director of Grants Victoria Murray Baatin, Legislative & Community Affairs Director
Rogelio Maxwell
Ebony C. Blanks, Special Events Manager
MaryAnn Miller
Teresa Boersma, Graphic Designer
JosĂŠ Alberto UclĂŠs
Darlene Brown, Facilities Coordinator
Gretchen B. Wharton
Tierra Buggs, Community Outreach Coordinator Earica Busby, Financial Analyst Elizabeth Carriger, Public Art Coordinator
Y RAPHY B
ART A
T, PHOTG LL NIGH
VALERIE
RUSSELL
Tim Conlon, Director of Media Arts Brittany Dibble, Legislative & Community Affairs Assistant Willie Doggett, Executive Assistant Cheryl Goodman, Special Events Assistant Alexxis Hooks, Program Support Assistant Ron Humbertson, Collections Manager Tonya Jordan, Public Art Manager Melisa Leonard, Finance Program Assistant David Markey, Arts Education Manager Steven Mazzola, Grants Program Manager Carolyn Parker, Office Manager Keona Pearson, Public Art Program Coordinator JR Russ, Grants Manager Jeffrey Scott, Marketing & Communications Director Regan Spurlock, Associate Grants Manager Zoma Wallace, Curator & Arts Collections Manager Ariel Wilson, Arts Education Program Associate
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FY 2014
FUNDING
DCCAH revenue, totaling $15,848,718 in fiscal year 2014, was received through the following funding streams: LOCAL FUNDING – Generated from the DC taxpayers’ dollars, this funding provides support to the agency’s grant programs, special projects and commissions, festivals, partnerships, general operations and the purchase and installation of public art. FEDERAL FUNDING – Provided by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support arts in under-served communities and arts education. INTRA-DISTRICT FUNDING – Funding transferred between District agencies to support joint projects and programs.
BREAKDOWN of FY 2014 FUNDS: Intra - District Funding $253,728 Federal Funding $660,094
Local Funding $14,934,896
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Ward Report
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23 Awards $226,475
3
31 Awards $871,530
1 2
68 Awards $1,396,139
89 Awards $2,428,321
5
33 Awards $577,317
6
46 Awards $1,412,718
7
13 Awards $202,390
8
16 Awards $286,300
319/$7,401,190 AWARDS
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Grant Programs & Grantees ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington Center for Inspired Teaching CentroNía CityDance Critical Exposure Dance Institute of Washington, Inc. DC Creative Writing Workshop DC SCORES DC Youth Orchestra Program Dumbarton Concerts Ellington Fund Folger Shakespeare Library Ford’s Theatre Society Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop GALA, Inc. Grupo de Artistas Latinoamericanos Hope House Joy of Motion Dance Center Latin American Youth Center ANDRE
Selma M. Levine School of Music Life Pieces To Masterpieces
U HONE
Live It Learn It National Building Museum
M YCUTT,
National Museum of Women in the Arts One World Education
ICHAEL
Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts PEN/Faulkner Foundation
ANTHO
Project Create Split This Rock, Inc. Textile Museum of DC The Phillips Collection The Shakespeare Theatre
E ARE P
IAMS, W
L NY WIL
Smithsonian Institution
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts
ROUD TO
The Washington Ballet Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Thurgood Marshall Academy
PRESEN
Turning the Page
HEATR MOTH T LY MAM T, WOO
Washington Architectural Foundation Washington Bach Consort Washington Performing Arts Society Young Playwrights’ Theater
8 8
E
Grant Programs & Grantees ARTIST FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM Abdul Ali
Maggie Michael
Adam Davies
Marjuan Canady
Alexis Gillespie
Mark Parascandola
Anna Edholm Davis
Matt Sesow
Anne Marchand
Matthew Mann
Anu Yadav
Maureen Andary
Armando Lopez-Bircann
Maurice Saylor
Assane Konte
Michael Janis
Ayanna Gregory Brian Settles
Michael Sirvet Michelle Herman
Carmen Wong
Mickey Terry
Carolyn Joyner
Miya Hisaka
Cecilia Cackley
Molly SpringďŹ eld
Christylez Bacon Dan Steinhilber
Naomi Ayala Norman Allen
Dana Burgess Dana Ellyn
Paul Bishow Paul Reuther
David Keplinger
Paul Thornley
Dean Kessmann
Rania Hassan
Elizabeth Acevedo
Regie Cabico
Ellie Walton Emiliano Ruprah Eric Gottesman
Renee Stout Rik Freeman Ruth Forman
Fawna Xiao
Sam McCormally
Fred Joiner
Sandra Beasley
Gregory Ferrand Holly Bass
Sara Curtin Sean Hennessey
James Byers
Siobhan Rigg
Joey Manlapaz
Sondra Arkin
Jonathan Tucker
Stanley Squirewell
Juan Gaddis
Stephon Senegal
Julia Bloom
Thomas Colohan Tim Tate
Karen Baker Karen Evans Karen Zacarias Kate MacDonnell
Trevor Young Valerie Theberge Yi Chen PLAGU E
Kim Roberts Krys Kornmeier
ODERN
Linn Meyers
U. DAV IS ANNA
Liz Maestri
, THE M
Lisa Farrell
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Grant Programs & Grantees CITY ARTS PROJECTS (Organizations) Atlas Performing Arts Center Capital City Symphony Capital Fringe, Inc. Constellation Theatre Company Corcoran Gallery of Art Cultural Tourism DC Dance Place DC Blues Society, Inc. DC Film Alliance District of Columbia Arts Center dogandponydc Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital Festivals DC, Ltd. Hillwood Museum and Gardens Foundation Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts KanKouran West African Dance Company Maru Montero Dance Company Miriam’s Kitchen Moving Forward Dance Company National Museum of Women in the Arts Old Naval Hospital Foundation Opera Lafayette Pan American Symphony Orchestra Sanctuary Theatre Sixth & I Historic Synagogue Smith Farm, Ltd. Solas Nua Step Afrika! USA Incorporated Studio Theatre, Inc. The Choral Arts Society of Washington The In Series, Inc. Theater Alliance of Washington DC Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Thomas Circle Singers Washington DC Jewish Community Center Inc. Washington Project for the Arts Washington Storytellers Theatre Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Words Beats & Life
LACE
P DANCE
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Grant Programs & Grantees CITY ARTS PROJECTS (Individuals) Ruth Stenstrom Alberto Roblest
DC Creative Writing Workshop Do The Write Thing Foundation of DC
Assane Konte
Sandra Johnson
East of the River Boys and Girls Steelband
Daniel Singh
Shawn Short
Festivals DC, Ltd.
Dwayne Lawson-Brown
Will Stephens
Life Pieces To Masterpieces
Elizabeth Bruce
Multi-Media Training Institute
Holly Bass
Northeast Performing Arts Group
Jack Gordon
One World Education
James Zimmerman
Project Create
Jared Davis
Recreation Wish List Committee
Jarvis Grant
Selma M. Levine School of Music
Kim Roberts
Sewing Opportunity Never Ending (SONE)
Mary Hanley
Smithsonian Institution
Maryam Foye
Social Art and Culture
Mia Choumenkovitch
Split This Rock, Inc.
Natalie Avery
Step Afrika! USA Incorporated
Roya Bahrami
The National Hand Dance Association The Washington, DC International Film Festival
CULTURAL FACILITIES PROJECTS
Thurgood Marshall Academy
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Turning the Page
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
Washington Bach Consort
Corcoran Gallery of Art
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Dance Institute of Washington Inc.
Words Beats & Life
Dance Place
Young Playwrights’ Theater
Folger Shakespeare Library GALA, Inc. Grupo de Artistas Latinoamericanos Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts
826DC
President Lincoln’s Cottage
ARCH Development Corporation
Selma M. Levine School of Music
Arena Stage
The Phillips Collection
Art Enables
The Washington Ballet
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Tudor Place Historic House and Garden
Building Bridges Across the River t/a THEARC
Washington Studio School
Capital City Symphony Capital Fringe, Inc.
EAST OF THE RIVER PROGRAM
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
826DC
Capitol Movement, Inc.
ARCH Development Corporation
Children’s Chorus of Washington
Building Bridges Across the River t/a THEARC
CityDance
CityDance
Congressional Chorus & American Youth Chorus
Collections & Stories of American Muslims, Inc
Constellation Theatre Company
Corcoran Gallery of Art
Corcoran Gallery of Art
Critical Exposure
Critical Exposure
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Grant Programs & Grantees GRANTS-IN-AID (Continued)
Studio Theatre, Inc.
Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company
Textile Museum of DC
Dance Institute of Washington Inc.
The Choral Arts Society of Washington
DC Creative Writing Workshop
The Emergence Community Arts Collective
DC Film Alliance
The In Series, Inc.
DC Wheel Productions, Inc.
The Inkwell
DC Youth Orchestra Program
The Phillips Collection
District of Columbia Arts Center
The Shakespeare Theatre
dogandponydc
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts
Ellington Fund
The Washington Ballet
Embassy Series
The Washington Chorus
Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital
The Washington Men’s Camerata, Inc.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
The Washington, DC International Film Festival
Festivals DC, Ltd.
Theater Alliance of Washington DC
Folger Shakespeare Library Ford’s Theatre Society FotoDC, Inc. Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop Friends of Fillmore Arts Center GALA, Inc. Grupo de Artistas Latinoamericanos Great Noise Ensemble John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Joy of Motion Dance Center KanKouran West African Dance Company Life Pieces To Masterpieces Meridian International Center Moving Forward Dance Company Northeast Performing Arts Group Old Naval Hospital Foundation One Common Unity Opera Lafayette Pan American Symphony Orchestra Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts PEN/Faulkner Foundation Post-Classical Ensemble, Inc. Project Create Selma M. Levine School of Music Sixth & I Historic Synagogue Smith Farm, Ltd. Speakeasy DC Split This Rock, Inc. ERIC B.,
A, DC
TAKOM
12 12
Spooky Action Theater Company Step Afrika! USA Incorporated
Grant Programs & Grantees Theatre Downtown, Inc., t/a The Washington Stage Guild theatreWashington Thomas Circle Singers Transformer, Inc. Vocal Arts Society Washington Bach Consort Washington Concert Opera Washington Improvisational Theater Company Washington Performing Arts Society Washington Project for the Arts Washington Youth Choir Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Words Beats & Life, Inc. THEATR
E
Young Playwrights’ Theater
MMOTH
PUBLIC ART BUILDING COMMUNITIES National Museum of Women in the Art
ESENT, W OOLY MA
Washington Project for the Art Kristina Bilonick Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington Stephon Senegal
D TO PR
Nekisha Durrett
RE PROU
UPSTART PROGRAM 826DC Art Enables
LA, WE A
Constellation Theatre Company Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts
RICHARD
GALLAG
HER AND
JAMES C
AVERLY, TR
DAWN U RSU
Washington Improvisational Theater Company
IBES, STU
DIO THEA TRE
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Arts
Education
Establishing equal access to exceptional arts education programming for the city’s children and youth is one of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ top priorities. DCCAH provides Arts Education Program grants, educational activities, and outreach services for youth, teaching artists, classroom educators, and arts administrators that encourage diverse artistic expression and learning opportunities. In FY14, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities awarded over $807,400 in funds to charter schools and cultural organizations providing in-school and out-of-school-time programming for children from preschool through high school. DCCAH also implemented an Arts Education Census across public and public charter schools to determine the scope of arts resources, programming, and partnerships in the city. The results of the survey will be launched in 2015 and serve as a baseline from which to build a comprehensive arts education plan for the city.
SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, in partnership with the DC Department of Employment Services, hosted 90 youths through the 2014 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The Commission was responsible for providing an array of enriching and constructive six-week work experiences through job placements with DCCAH partner worksites. Youth placed with DCCAH and the nine partner worksites were able to hone technique and craft in the fields of arts administration, theatre, music, dance, media arts and journalism. Young people are vital to the creative sector and DCCAH is thrilled to have introduced SYEP participants to this growing industry. Family and friends joined the youth at Atlas Performing Arts Center for a celebration of their work at a culminating presentation in August.
DCCAH SYEP WORKSITES: Anacostia Arts Center Anacostia Playhouse Capital Fringe Festival City at Peace F.R.E.S.H.H. Gala Hispanic Theatre Honfleur Gallery Powell House Project We Act Radio
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CITY AT PEAC
E
Education Events POETRY OUT LOUD Through generous support from the National Endowment on the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities hosted the District of Columbia’s ninth annual Poetry Out Loud recitation competition at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company on March 4, 2014. The Poetry Out Loud program encourages local high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance, helping them to internalize and perpetuate the country’s rich literary heritage while mastering public speaking skills and building self-confidence. CAPI W
YS TAL CITY PUBLIC C DOM HOLMES, HARTER SCHOOL
Participating students represented nine high schools including Archbishop Carroll High School, Ballou Senior High School, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Capital City Public Charter School, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, McKinley Technology High School, St. Anselm’s Abbey School, The SEED School of Washington, and Washington Latin Public Charter School. Kayla Forde of Duke Ellington School of the Arts took first place and went on to represent Washington, DC at the Poetry Out Loud National finals on April 29, 2014 at the George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FINALISTS: 1st Place: Kayla Forde, Duke Ellington School of the Arts 2nd Place: Ayinde Grimes, St. Anselm’s Abbey School 3rd Place: Wysdom Holmes, Capital City Charter School AYINDE
GRIMES,
ST. ANSE LM
’S ABBEY
SCHOOL
KAYLA FO
RDE, DU
KE ELLIN
GTON SC H
OOL OF
THE ART
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S
Education Events LARRY NEAL AWARDS Since 1981, DCCAH has recognized and celebrated the literary accomplishments of District of Columbia resident writers through the Larry Neal Writers’ Awards. The event commemorates the artistic legacy and vision of cultural understanding embodied by Larry Neal, a renowned author, academic, and former Executive Director of DCCAH. In FY14, DCCAH received more than 130 submissions from local emerging and established writers. Children and youth (grades 4 to 12) and adults were eligible to enter submissions in poetry, short story, essay, and dramatic writing. In 2014, DCCAH awarded over $7,500 to nine winners. A new component was added to the program with eight creative workshops taking place across the eight wards of the city to celebrate the legacy of Larry Neal. The awardees of the competition were honored at a special ceremony at the Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage on May 9, 2014. Karen Joy Fowler, 2014 winner of the prestigious PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, provided opening remarks. WINNERS/FINALISTS OF THE 2014 LARRY NEAL WRITERS’ AWARDS:
POETRY ADULT eid Caitlin R NER Luce WIN y r o g e r G e Levine Laurenc low ry Wins Rosema Miranda Samuel
ADULT FICTION
ADULT DRAMATIC WRITING
Dorothy Reno
Danielle Mohlman
Fataima Warner WIN NE
Larry Sharpe
Tara Campbell
Liz Maestri
R
Michael Moss WINNER
TEEN FICTION
TEEN POETRY Daniela Shia-Sevilla WINNER Edward Maloney
Eliza Zizka Jaymir Wise Raya Kenney CO-WINNER R Sophia Diggs-Galligan CO-WINNE
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Jacob Ausubel Kay Dosunmu WINNE R
Nancy Scofield
YOUTH POETRY Alissa Simon
Gavrielle Jacobovitz
YOUTH FICTION
YOUTH AND TEEN ESSAY
Ellida Parker WINNER
Sasha Alston
Madeleine Eggen
Sofia Giorgianni
Margo James
Zahir Muhammad WIN NER
Sadie Wyatt
Public Art
NEKISHA DU
RRETT, THE
RD MOBI
AVI GUPT A, UPWA
Guided by principles of creative placemaking and community engagement, the Public Art Building Communities grant facilitates the creation and installation of temporary or permanent public artwork that enhances District neighborhoods. Eligible projects include sculpture, mosaics, artistic streetscape improvements, murals, paving patterns, video installations, custom benches, stained glass windows, artistic gates and railings.
LITY
Building Communities
WAIT
Art Bank Each year the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities purchases original works of art from artists who reside full time or maintain studio space in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The artworks are loaned to other District government agencies for display in public areas of government buildings. In FY 2014, DCCAH collected BETSY ST EWART, M 52 new artworks by 47 local and regional artists. ICROAQ
WILLIAM
HARRIS,
THE ROYA
AMY SHER
ALD, PU
LTY OF SO JOURNER ’S TRUTH
PPET MA STER
UEA NO 1
17
U
M IO, COM
UD LASS ST GTON G WASHIN
RIDER,
C SHEILA
HERE TO
TEWAY NITY GA
IND ME
MAN, W
BRAIT JACKIE
HERE GON’S RD, DRA
RAWFO
WC ANDRE
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CK!
UP CHU
GATE
Public Art
Completed Commissioned Projects 2014 COMMUNITY GATEWAY
ARTIST: Washington Glass Studio and Ward 7 community members LOCATION: Unity Parkside Health Care Health Center, Ward 7 COMPLETED: June 2014 PARTNERS: Unity Parkside Health Care Health Center, DC Primary Care Association Description: Community Gateway is a large-scale, archway sculpture with two strong pillars. Comprised of cast glass and woven steel, the arch contains images created by artists of the Washington Glass Studio along with members of the Ward 7 community. The sculpture serves as a gesture of welcome to a nurturing and thriving community.
WIND ME UP CHUCK! ARTIST: Jackie Braitman LOCATION: Chuck Brown Memorial Park, Ward 5 COMPLETED: August 2014 PARTNERS: Executive Office of the Mayor, Department of General Services, Department of Parks and Recreation Description: Wind Me Up Chuck! is a large-scale sculpture consisting of three abstract representations of Mr. Brown engaging with two dancers. The sculpture is interactive, allowing visitors to experience the Go-Go “call and response” through LED lights activated by motion pads/sensors.
HERE TO HERE ARTIST: Sheila Crider LOCATION: St. Elizabeths East, Ward 8 COMPLETED: September 2014 PARTNER: The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Description: Here to Here consists of 24 brightly colored triangular sculptures that lead visitors from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to the St. Elizabeths East campus.
CONSERVATION In 2014, the DC Art Commission established a yearly conservation initiative to manage the restoration and repair of the District’s public art collection. In FY 2014, the following projects were completed as part of our inaugural conservation schedule: •
Dragon’s Gate by Andrew Crawford - Chinatown
•
Balance by Marcia Billig - North Lincoln Park
• •
Cornerstones of History by Steven Weitzman - Bladensburg Road, NE Vivace by Craig Kraft - Shaw Library
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Public Art Murals DC
Murals DC, in partnership with the Department of Public Works, was created in 2007 to replace illegal grafďŹ ti with artistic works, to support the revitalization of communities in the District of Columbia, and to teach youth the art of aerosol painting. This program positively engages the District’s youth by teaching proper professional art techniques, providing supplies, and a legal means to practice and perform their artistic skill in a way that promotes respect for public and private property and community awareness.
C
,D KOMA
ELI, TA
AD CITA S
ANIEKAN UDOFIA, AQUATIC CENTER
JBAK,
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TREET 13TH S
Public Art 5X5: 2014
5x5: 2014 was an ambitious, District-wide program of temporary public art dedicated to exploring new perspectives on the city through the lens of five curators and 25 artists. Curators: Lance Fung, Shamim Momin, Stephanie Sherman, Justine Topfer, A.M. Weaver September – December 2014 Multiple Locations, All 8 Wards
LARRY C OOK
ABIGA
IL DEV
& KENN ETH CAR ROLL, R EGALIA #2
ILLE, A
NACOS TIA PA
RADE, T
HE NEW
MIGRA TION
KOTA E ZAWA , HAN
D VOTE
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GLENN KAINO, BRIDGE
Events
Mayor’s Arts Awards The Mayor of the District of Columbia and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities celebrated the 29th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards on October 29, 2014. Finalists, winners and honorees were feted at the Lisner Auditorium with an “Arts on Parade” themed ceremony. The accomplishments of several individuals were highlighted with special honors: Maida Withers, founder of Maida Withers Dance Construction Company and Victor Shargai, DC theatre advocate received the Award for Special Recognition; James Billington, Librarian of Congress was presented the Award for Lifetime Achievement; Rebecca and Hugo Medrano, co-founders of GALA Theatre and Cathy Hughes, Chairperson of Radio One and TV One received the Award for Visionary Leadership. The 29th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards featured performances by Split This Rock, Kendall Isadore, Chamber Dance Project and the cast of Arena Stage’s Five Guys Named Moe. The Mayor’s Arts Awards is the highest honor conferred by the District of Columbia for artistic excellence and service among artists, arts organizations and arts patrons in the city. Winners in eight categories were recognized, demonstrating the wide range of exceptional talent within the District of Columbia Arts community.
AWARDEES MAYOR’S ARTS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO ARTS EDUCATION 826DC
MAYOR’S ARTS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EMERGING ARTIST Rachel Kerwin
VISUAL ARTS Bryan Hill, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School
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L RUSSEL
E ME HOM
VISUAL ARTS Garwin Zamora, DC Bilingual Public Charter School
ALERIE HY BY V
GRAP PHOTO
HEY CO
THEN T
PERFORMING ARTS Nakia Espinal, John Philip Sousa Middle School
... AND
MAYOR’S ARTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARTS TEACHING
UNDS XIT WO JECT, E CE PRO
MAYOR’S ARTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO THE ARTS Washington Project for the Arts
ER DAN
MAYOR’S ARTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN AN ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Children’s Chorus of Washington
CHAMB
MAYOR’S ARTS AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN THE ARTS Lance Kramer
Events
Bayard Rustin & James Baldwin Freedom Fighters & Friends ’S ARTS
MAYOR
CE ORMAN G PERF
PENIN
S, O AWARD
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities joined the Black History Month Celebration Committee to present Bayard Rustin and James Baldwin: Freedom Fighters & Friends on Monday February 24, 2014, at Arena Stage. Bayard Rustin and James Baldwin: Freedom Fighters & Friends highlighted Bayard Rustin and James Baldwin’s immeasurable contribution to the advancement of black people in America through advocacy and the arts. The program illuminated stories, chronicling Rustin and Baldwin’s lives as activists, artists, political figures and friends. The multimedia presentation included performance, song and poetry to enhance the story, while a narrated video montage provided key facts and highlights of their accomplishments. Performers: Theodore Snead, Charles Reese, Reverb, Princess Mhoon Cooper, SynchroniCity, Solomon Howard and DC Poet Laureate Dolores Kendrick. INCESS
TERS
M FIGH
FREEDO
DS, PR & FRIEN
MHOON
R COOPE
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Events
Dance DC Festival DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities celebrated 10 years of the Dance DC Festival May 16-18, 2014, a three-day event highlighting folk and traditional dance from around the world at venues across the city. The Dance DC Festival featured both main stage performances and interactive workshops. Performers included Silk Road Dance Company, Ancient Rhythms Dance Company, Golden Universe Dance Studio, Dr. Janaki Rangarajan, Fiesta Asia and workshops by Capoeira DC, DC Casineros, Music2YourFeet Line Dance, Coyaba Dance Theatre, Radieant Movement and Da Originalz.
24 DANCE DC FESTIVAL, PHOTGRAPHY BY YERO BROWN AND JATI LINDSAY
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Events
Art All Night In 2014, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities expanded the popular Art All Night arts festival to become a true citywide event. In partnership with the Congress Heights, Dupont Circle, H Street NE and Shaw Main Streets Organizations. The nighttime festival featured an eclectic mix of visual and performing arts presented by more than 150 artists in over 70 venues, drawing 32,000 attendees.
26 ART ALL NIGHT, PHOTGRAPHY BY VALERIE RUSSELL
Events
Showtime at the Gateway DC DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, in partnership with the Executive Office of the Mayor, presented Showtime at the Gateway DC summer performance series. Free, interactive performances were offered by local artists once a month from May to July of 2014 on the St. Elizabeth’s East Campus. Performances included the “official dance of the Nation’s Capital” with the National Hand Dance Association; music performances by Black Alley Band, Christylez Bacon and SynchroniCity; and dance and music performances by The Adinkra Group Farafina Kan, Maimuna Youseff and Spyda.
A KAN
FARAFIN
Dolores Kendrick
Poet Laureate
Native Washingtonian Dolores Kendrick was named the second Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia on May 14, 1999. As Poet Laureate, Ms. Kendrick works to promote education in and appreciation of poetry and the literary arts. Ms. Kendrick was interviewed for the Pink Line Project about her two passions: her work as a poet and her work as an educator. She also presented her 13th Annual Poet in Progress Reading Series at the Folger Shakespeare Library which supports local poets that demonstrate great promise. Ms. Kendrick hosted a reading later in the spring at Busboys and Poets. In June, she was invited to be the Guest Speaker for Roosevelt STAY High School’s graduation ceremony. As the summer ended, she provided a reading at Dunbar Senior High School for the Paul Laurence Dunbar Dedication ceremony. In the fall, she participated in “A Splendid Wake” at George Washington University’s Gelman Library. The event included several panel discussions about the District of Columbia’s poetic history and a new online archive of Washington poetry from 1900 to the present day. Ms. Kendrick also provided opening remarks for the District of Literature event with DC poets, fiction writers, and literary critics.
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Mission Our mission is to provide grant funds, programs and educational activities that encourage diverse artistic expressions and learning opportunities, so that all District of Columbia residents and visitors can experience the rich culture of our city.
Vision As the Nation’s Capital, the District of Columbia is a worldclass cultural destination. The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities will be the leading voice for arts and culture in the city, thereby elevating the impact of the arts and humanities locally, nationally and internationally. Recognizing the changing dynamics within the city, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is poised to increase our depth and expand our breadth of creative opportunities for residents and visitors.
Partners CultureCapital | DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative Humanities Council of Washington, DC | National Endowment for the Arts Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts
Acknowledgments Phil Mendelson, Chairman Vincent Orange, At-Large Anita Bonds, At-Large David Grosso, At-Large David Catania, At-Large Jim Graham, Ward 1 Jack Evans, Ward 2 Mary M. Cheh, Ward 3 Muriel Bowser, Ward 4 Kenyan McDufďŹ e, Ward 5 Tommy Wells, Ward 6 Yvette Alexander, Ward 7 Marion Barry, Ward 8
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