The Lab Mag Summer 2026

Welcome To The Lab

Gateway Media Arts Lab is an incubator program of the Gateway Community Development Corporation (Gateway CDC). Located within the Gateway Arts District, the Lab supports artists, media professionals, and emerging creatives through access, collaboration, and opportunity. As a coworking space, residency program, production hub, and

exhibition venue, The Lab provides space for ideas, projects, and partnerships to grow. Through professional development programming, media production, and community partnerships, the Lab helps amplify local voices, document community experiences, and contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of the Gateway Arts District.

THE GATEWAY ECOSYSTEM

The Gateway Arts District spans Mount Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood, and Hyattsville, bringing together artist studios, galleries, local businesses, and public spaces that support a thriving arts and culture corridor in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Gateway CDC helps drive this ecosystem through property development and management, economic development initiatives, and arts and community programming that connect artists, residents, businesses, and visitors throughout the district

CREATIVE JOURNEYS

WHAT A WEEKEND is a DMV lifestyle brand and entertainment project built around three interconnected pillars: a cultural brand, a mobile app, and a feature film Through storytelling, events, and digital experiences, the platform celebrates the energy, culture, and spirit of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

As a partner of Gateway CDC, What A Weekend has been engaging with businesses and organizations throughout the Gateway Arts District, helping expand visibility for local artists, businesses, and communitycentered experiences. Through storytelling and promotion, the partnership supports efforts to connect new audiences with the people and places that make the district vibrant.

SHEWA STUDIOS, founded by awardwinning filmmaker Mignotae Kebede and THR33 Productions, is a film and media production space located in the Gateway Arts District. The studio supports filmmakers, storytellers, and creative professionals through production resources, collaboration, and community centered programming. Before opening Shewa Studios, Kebede

participated in Gateway Media Arts Lab's Resident Artist Program, where she developed her work and strengthened connections within the district's creative community. Today, Shewa Studios continues its partnership with Gateway CDC while serving as a creative resource for filmmakers and storytellers and an example of how artists can establish and grow independent creative spaces within the Gateway Arts District.

SHEWA STUDIOS AT 39TH STREET STUDIOS AT GATEWAY ARTS CENTER

OPEN STUDIOS TOUR is more than an event; it's an invitation to experience the Gateway Arts District from the inside out Each year, artists across Mount Rainier, Brentwood, North Brentwood, and Hyattsville open their studio doors to collectors, neighbors, and visitors, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the spaces where creativity happens Scan the QR code to learn more about Open Studios Tour and future opportunities to explore the Gateway Arts District

INSIDE THE STUDIOS

PUBLIC STORAGE STUDIOS PROVIDES AFFORDABLE WORKSPACE FOR ARTISTS AND MAKERS IN THE GATEWAY ARTS DISTRICT THE STUDIOS SUPPORT CREATIVE EXPLORATION, PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. THIS ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS TWO ARTISTS WHOSE WORK REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT'S CREATIVE COMMUNITY.

To learn more about Jimmy James Green and explore his artwork, scan the QR code

Shange Jaara Lilaa is a wellness practitioner and botanical artisan whose work is rooted in ancestral wisdom, community care, and holistic healing. Through handcrafted botanical products and wellness experiences, she creates opportunities for reflection, connection, and healing Scan the QR code to connect with Shange Jaara Lilaa.

Jimmy James Green is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the African diaspora through painting, collage, printmaking, and design. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and former apprentice to muralist Jon Onye Lockard, he creates work rooted in culture, history, and the African American experience

NEW SPACES IN THE ARTS DISTRICT

Material Things is a North Brentwood based studio working across clay, wood, and metal. Through handcrafted works and hands on workshops, the space celebrates craftsmanship, material exploration, and the art of making. Learn more by scanning the QR code.

Liberation Studios + Gallery is a disciplinary gallery and studio space, located in North Brentwood, supporting artists, curators, writers, and culinary practitioners. Artist led and rooted in care, the space fosters collaboration, collective making, and creative exchange. To learn more about Liberation Studios + Gallery, scan the QR code below.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

The Gateway Farmers Market brings together neighbors, farmers, makers, bakers, artists, and local vendors in a vibrant weekly gathering that celebrates community, culture, and conn s to seasonal flowers and specia y. Rain or shine Scan the QR cod

Every Saturday | 9 am – 1 pm April 18 - Nov 3716 Rhode I

Mount Raini

As the Gateway Arts District approaches its 25th anniversary, we celebrate the artists, organizations, businesses, and community members whose creativity, collaboration, and vision continue to shape this vibrant cultural corridor

For 25 years, the district has demonstrated the power of the arts to transform places, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for connection Through artist studios, public programs, creative businesses, and community partnerships, the Gateway Arts District remains a place where culture, community, and creativity thrive

We believe art is more than expression, it’s a tool for liberation, preservation, healing, and possibility By supporting artists and investing in creative spaces, we help ensure that culture remains accessible, community-centered, and