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Annual Report DC Commission on
the Arts & Humanities2 0 1 3
2
Contents
3. Letter from Mayor
4. Letter from Chair
5. Letter from Executive Director
6. Partners
8. 2013 Revenues
9. Ward Report
10. Grant Programs and Grantees
13. Arts Education
15. Public Art: Commissioned Projects
16. Public Art Building Communities
17. Public Art: Murals DC
18. Events: Mayor’s Arts Awards
20. Events: Poetry Out Loud
21. Events: Larry Neal Writers’ Awards
22. Events: National Cherry Blossom Festival
23. Offi ce of the Poet Laureate
2013 COMMISSIONERSJudith Terra, Chair
Lavinia Wohlfarth, Vice-Chair
Marvin Bowser
Susan Clampitt
Carl C. Cole
Christopher Cowan
Edmund Fleet
Rhona Wolfe Friedman
Alma Gates
Danielle M. St. Germain-Gordon
Darrin Glymph
Philippa Hughes
James Laws
Rogelio Maxwell
MaryAnn Miller
José Alberto Uclés
Gretchen Wharton
2013 STAFFLionell Thomas, Executive Director
Lisa Richards Toney, Deputy Director
Moshe Adams, Director of Grants
Victoria Murray Baatin, Legislative & Community Affairs Director
Ebony C. Blanks, Special Events Manager
Teresa Boersma, Graphic Designer
Marybeth Brown, Program Support Assistant
Tierra Buggs, Community Outreach Coordinator
Earica Busby, Financial Analyst
Tim Conlon, Director of Media Arts
Saheed Fawehinmi, Special Events Assistant
Alexxis Hooks, Program Support Assistant
Charlese Jennings, Program Support Assistant
Joyce Johnson, Executive Assistant
Tonya Jordan, Public Art Manager
Carlyn Madden, Arts Education Manager
Steven Mazzola, Grants Program Manager
Carolyn Parker, Offi ce Manager
Keona Pearson, Public Art Program Coordinator
Marquis Perkins, Director of Marketing and Communications
JR Russ, Grants and Legislative Affairs Assistant
Regan Spurlock, Associate Grants Manager
Zoma Wallace, Curator & Arts Collections Manager
Ariel Wilson, Arts Education Program Associate
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LETTER FROM THE MAYOR
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The District of Columbia is rich with culture and diverse in artistic expression. Simply
put, our city is the cultural capital of the United States. In many ways, the District is
a prime example of how the arts and culture can be leveraged to spur growth and
economic development. Time and again, we have seen arts, culture and humanities at
the forefront of the revitalization of neighborhoods such as Penn Quarter, 14th Street,
Columbia Heights and H Street, just to name a few. It is easy to see that our artists
and arts organizations have played and continue to play a vital role in the growth
of our city.
According to the most recent Arts and Economic Impact study, released in
2012 by Americans for the Arts, the nonprofi t arts and culture industry
in the District now contributes $1.1 billion to the local economy each
year. In the District, the arts mean business.
I am grateful to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and
the hundreds of individual artists and arts and humanities organi-
zations who have given generously of their time, expertise, and passion
to improve the quality of life for District residents and visitors alike. I thank
you for your interest in the arts and humanities in the District of Columbia and
look forward to working with you to continue the progress we are making together
as “One City.”
Sincerely,
Vincent C. Gray
Mayor of the District of Columbia
VINCEN
T C. GRAY, M
ayor of the
District of Columbia
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LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
FY 2013 has been an exciting year on many levels! We have experienced the city’s
continued renaissance and economic success. We have celebrated the 45th
Anniversary of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. We have received
the largest budget ever thanks to our wonderful Mayor and committed Council
members.
I would like to pay special tribute to my fellow Commissioners, our
dedicated staff and the hundreds of committed and amazing artists
and cultural institutions of all disciplines that make up this incredible
city. Moving forward this year, we are creating a new and broader
vision statement to refl ect our responsibilities to and dreams
for this growing city.
The vision of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
is and will continue to be strong and far-reaching. Through
the programs, grants and services instituted and implemented
by the Commission, we the residents of the nation’s Capital
have an awesome opportunity to continue strengthening our local
communities, highlighting our nation’s cultural strengths and
opportunities, embracing the international legacy of this great city and
sustaining and expanding the Districts’ own cultural landscape. We shall be
working diligently with our city’s educators to ensure that our children grow
up understanding and experiencing the transforming power of the Arts. I believe
deeply that no great city, especially a capital city, is known for its government or
infrastructure. It is known for the power of its museums, its operas, its theatres, its
symphonies, its ballet, its libraries, its architecture — in essence, its culture. We are
actively engaged in developing and implementing a creative economy plan to ensure
our city’s future as a “world class cultural city”.
I believe this annual report illuminates our total commitment to this mission and its reality.
I wish to conclude with a quote from one of our greatest champions for the arts, John F.
Kennedy — “I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the Arts as
we reward achievement in business or statecraft. I look forward to an America which will
steadily raise the standards of artistic accomplishment and which will steadily enlarge
cultural opportunities for all of our citizens. And I look forward to an America which
commands respect throughout the world not only for its strength but for its civilization
as well.” (Spoken at Amherst College, October 26, 1963)
Sincerely,
Judith Terra
Chair
Judith Terra
JUDIT
H T
ERRA, C
hair
4
infrastructure. It is known for the power of its museums, its operas, its theatres, its
symphonies, its ballet, its libraries, its architecture — in essence, its culture. We are
actively engaged in developing and implementing a creative economy plan to ensure
our city’s future as a “world class cultural city”.
I believe this annual report illuminates our total commitment to this mission and its reality.
I wish to conclude with a quote from one of our greatest champions for the arts, John F.
Kennedy —
we reward achievement in business or statecraft. I look forward to an America which will
steadily raise the standards of artistic accomplishment and which will steadily enlarge
cultural opportunities for all of our citizens. And I look forward to an America which
commands respect throughout the world not only for its strength but for its civilization
as well.”
Sincerely,
Judith Terra
Chair
Judith Terra
JUDIT
H T
ERRA,
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LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In FY 2013, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities celebrated its 45th anniversary.
The Commission is proud to have continued its efforts to raise the bar in serving
Washington, DC’s arts and cultural communities — an investment that improves our
city, and enriches the lives of all our residents and visitors. The Annual Report
highlights accomplishments and our continued resolve to support and steward
the arts and culture in Washington, DC.
Investments in the arts and humanities are instrumental to improving
the quality of life for all District residents, and supporting a thriving
city economy. In FY 2013, the DC Commission on the Arts and
Humanities awarded 394 grants totaling over $8 million, which
doubled the agency’s total awarded funds for FY 2012. The
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities applauds
the tremendous work of our creative community and
appreciates all that we have accomplished together.
As a community, we continue to meet the growing
demands of our changing society and an ever-evolving
creative sector.
Our future efforts will continue to build upon strong partnerships
and collaborations within the public and private sectors. Our sights
are set to invest in high-quality arts experiences for all with special
emphasis on the education of our young people, utilizing public art to
revitalize and brand the cultural identity of our neighborhoods, and fostering
meaningful cross-cultural exchanges to promote international awareness and
dialogue. Most importantly, we will develop a robust creative economy strategy to
guide our city’s vision for the arts in years to come.
We salute the dedication of our commissioners, staff, local artists and cultural
organizations for their contributions to making our city a world-class cultural capital.
We look forward to a promising future that elevates the arts to the forefront of public
consciousness and places Washington, DC among the world’s most welcoming place to
live, work and play.
Sincerely,
Lionell Thomas
Executive Director
LIONELL TH
OM
AS, Executive Director
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PARTNERS
Artomatic
CultureCapital
DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative
Humanities Council of Greater Washington
National Endowment for the Arts
Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts
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“THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL
DISTRICT RESIDENTS AND SUPPORT A THRIVING CITY ECONOMY.”
DCCAH Grantee Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company
8
FY 2013 REVENUES
DCCAH revenue is received through the following funding streams:
LOCAL FUNDING – Generated from the DC taxpayer’s dollars. This funding provides
support to the agency’s grant programs and general operations.
FEDERAL FUNDING – Provided by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to
support the arts in under-served communities and arts education.
INTRA-DISTRICT FUNDING – Funding transferred between District agencies to support
joint projects and programs.
CAPITAL FUNDING – Up to one percent of city capital improvement project funds is set
aside for the Commission’s purchase and installation of public works.
BREAKDOWN OF FY 2013
FUNDS:
Capital Funding $2.7 Million
Intra-District Funding: $455K
Local Funding:
$11.8M
Federal Funding: $704K
99
24 Awards
$380,152
7 Awards
$104,49854 Awards
$1,845,898
50 Awards
$1,002,10540 Awards
$674,434
22 Awards
$199,000
117 Awards
$2,729,679
80 Awards
$1,479,612
4
3
15
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$8,415,378394awards
WARD REPORT
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GRANT PROGRAMS AND GRANTEES
Supports arts activities for youth in educational settings from early childhood through high school.
ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Arena StageBuilding Bridges Across the River t/a THEARCCapitol Hill Arts WorkshopCenter for Inspired TeachingCentroNia
City Arts Inc.CityDance Ensemble, Inc.
Critical Exposure, Inc.Dance Place
DC Creative Writing WorkshopDC SCORESFestivals DC, Ltd.
Folger Shakespeare LibraryFord’s Theatre Society
Free Minds Book Club & Writing WorkshopFriendship Public Charter School
GALA Inc Grupo de Artistas LatinoamericanosHope House
Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership InstituteJoy of Motion Dance Center, Inc.Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington DCLatin American Youth CenterMulti-Media Training Institute, Inc.National Building MuseumNational Museum of Women in the ArtsOne Common UnityRadio Rootz DCSplit This Rock, Inc.Step Afrika! Teaching for ChangeThe Dance Institute of WashingtonThe Duke Ellington School of the ArtsThe Patricia M. Sitar Center for the ArtsThe Phillips CollectionThe Selma M. Levine School of MusicThe Shakespeare TheatreThe Studio TheatreThe Textile MuseumThe Theatre Lab, Inc.The Washington BalletThelonious Monk Institute of JazzTrustees of the Corcoran Gallery of ArtTurning the PageWashington Performing Arts SocietyYoung Playwrights’ Theater, Inc.
Supports DC-based festivals promoting arts and humanities activities to varying cultures.
FESTIVALS DC
Atlas Performing Arts CenterBuilding Bridges Across the River t/a THEARCColumbia Heights Day InitiativeCultural Tourism DCDakshina Dance CompanyDC Shorts (formerly DC Film Alliance)Dance PlaceH Street Main StreetHillwood Museum and Gardens FoundationHistoric Dupont Circle Main Streets
Supports projects and festivals to promote arts and humanities activities.
CITY ARTS PROJECTS
ARCH Development Corporation • Capital Fringe • Cultural Tourism DC • CulturalDC • Dance Place • Dakshina Dance Company • DC Film Alliance • DC Jazz Festival • Environmental Film Festival in the Na-tion’s Capital • FotoDC, Inc. • Great Noise Ensemble • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts • Maru Montero Dance Company • National Museum of Women in the Arts • Opera Lafayette • Post-Classical Ensemble, Inc. • The Dance Institute of Washington • The In Series • The Shakespeare Theatre • The Stu-dio Theatre • The Washington Ballet • Transformer Inc. • Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Art • Washington Bach Consort • Washington Performing Arts Society • Washington, DC International Film Festival • Words Beats and Life, Inc.
Supports the creation and installation of public artwork that enhances District neighborhoods.
PUBLIC ART BUILDING COMMUNITIES
Lee Rubenstein (Rubenstein Studio) • CulturalDC • DC Arts Center Inc. • Jarrett Ferrier • Washington DC Jewish Community Center, Inc. • Words Beats and Life, Inc.
Supports individual artists who work as teaching artists in K-12 classrooms.
ARTIST RESIDENCY IN SCHOOLS
Reggie Cabico
Supports individual artists who significantly contribute to the arts and humanities
ARTIST FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Alexandra Silverthorn • Alexis Gillespie • Anna Edholm Davis • Ashley Ivey • Assane Konte • Ben Crosbie • Brandel France de Bravo • Brandon Bray • Brian Wilbur Grundstrom • Colin Hovde • Cory Oberndorfer • Dana Maier • Dana Tai Soon Burgess • Daniel Phoenix Singh • Dean Kessmann • Deb Sivigny • Elizabeth Graeber • Emma Jaster • Evangeline J. Montgomery • Frederic Yonnet • Gemal Woods • Helanius J Wilkins • Holly Bass • Jack Gordon • Jason Anderson • Jeffrey Barninger • John Anderson • Jonathan Gann • Justin McLaughlin • Kim Roberts • Kristen Arant • Kymone Freeman • Linn Meyers • Marjuan Canady • Martin Irvine • Melani Douglass • Michael Iacovone • Miya Hisaka • Nguyen Nguyen • Reggie Cabico • Roderick Turner • Sarah Browning • Terri Merz • Terry Bardelaben • Tim Doud • Tommy Taylor • William Newman • Willona Sloan
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsPan American Symphony OrchestraShaw Main StreetsThelonious Monk Institute of JazzWashington DC Jewish Community Center
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GRANT PROGRAMS AND GRANTEES
Supports arts projects by providing access to arts for residents of DC to improve their quality of life.
ARTS HEALING GRANT
Andrene Taylor • Art Enables • Creative & Therapeutic
Arts Services at Children’s National • Dance Place •
Festivals DC, Ltd. • Iona Senior Services • Joy Jones •
Margot Greenlee • Multicultural Career Intern Program
• Ruth Stenstrom • St. John’s Community Services •
The Sanctuary Theatre • The Selma M. Levine School
of Music • The Theatre Lab, Inc. • The Washington
Ballet • Speakeasy DC • Words Beats and Life, Inc. •
Young Playwrights’ Theater, Inc.
Provides one-time general operating support to established arts and humanities organizations.
ARTS STABILIZATION GRANT
Arena Stage • Atlas Performing Arts Center • CityDance Ensemble, Inc. • DC Film Alliance • Dance Place • DC Youth Orchestra Program • Gay Mens Chorus • Festi-vals DC, Ltd. • Folger Shakespeare Library • GALA, Inc. Grupo de Artistas Latinoamericanos • John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts • Joy of Motion Dance Center, Inc. • National Museum of Women in the Arts • Opera Lafayette • PEN/Faulkner Foundation • Step Afrika! U.S.A. Incorporated • The Choral Arts Society of Washington • The Dance Institute of Washington • The Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts • The Phillips Collection • The Shakespeare Theatre • The Studio Theatre • The Washington Ballet • Washington Bach Consort • Washington Chorus • Washington Performing Arts Society • Washington, DC International Film Festival • Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company • Young Playwrights’ Theater, Inc.
Supports projects that improve the quality of life, high-light cultural diversity and promote creative economy.
SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Alliance Francaise de Washington • Black Women Play-wrights’ Group • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Wash-ington • CA-FAM III Inc. • Moving Forward/Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co. • District of Columbia Arts Cen-ter • Do The Write Thing Foundation of DC • Folger Shakespeare Library • Hamiltonian Artists • Howard Theatre Restoration, Inc. • Innovative School of Per-forming Arts Foundation • Inscape Publico • Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington • Jonathan Gann • Live It Learn It • Maida Withers Dance Con-struction Company • Rorschach Theatre • Smith Cen-ter for Healing and the Arts • Southwest Renaissance Development Corp • Spooky Action Theater Company • Step Afrika! • Teatro de la Luna (The Moon Theatre) • The Ciesla Foundation • The National Hand Dance Association • Washington Youth Choir
Supports arts and humanities organizations.GRANTS IN AID
ARCH Development CorporationArena StageArt EnablesAtlas Performing Arts CenterBuilding Bridges Across the River t/a THEARCCapital City SymphonyCapital FringeCapitol Letters Writing Center (aka 826DC)CityDance Ensemble, Inc. Cultural Tourism DCCulturalDCDaniel Phoenix Singh & Company (aka Dakshina)DC Film AllianceEnvironmental Film Festival in the Nation’s CapitalGay Mens ChorusFestivals DC, Ltd.Ford’s Theatre SocietyFotoDC, Inc.Free Minds Book Club & Writing WorkshopGALA Inc Grupo de Artistas LatinoamericanosHillwood Museum and Gardens FoundationJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsJoy of Motion Dance Center, Inc.Literary, Dialogue, & Concert Series at Sixth & IOpera LafayetteProject CreateSmith Center for Healing and the ArtsSplit This Rock, Inc.Step Afrika! The Patricia M. Sitar Center for the ArtsThe Phillips CollectionThe Selma M. Levine School of MusicThe Theatre Lab, Inc.Thelonious Monk Institute of JazzThomas Circle SingersWashington Bach ConsortWashington Concert OperaWashington DC Jewish Community Center, Inc.Washington Improvisational Theater Co.Washington Project for the Arts, Inc.Washington, DC International Film FestivalWoolly Mammoth Theatre CompanyWords Beats and Life, Inc.Young Playwrights’ Theater, Inc.
Supports access to high-quality arts and humanities for residents living east of the Anacostia River.
EAST OF THE RIVER
Capitol Letters Writing Center (aka 826DC)DC Creative Writing WorkshopDouble Nickels Theatre Company, Inc.Life Pieces To MasterpiecesMulti-Media Training Institute, Inc.Northeast Performing Arts GroupProject CreateRecreation Wish List Committee of Washington DCSmithsonian InstitutionSTR8-N-UP Productions, Inc.The Selma M. Levine School of MusicThe Washington BalletTheater Alliance of Washington DCThurgood Marshall AcademyTrustees of the Corcoran Gallery of ArtTurning the PageUnity Health Care, Inc.Washington Bach ConsortWords Beats and Life, Inc.Young Playwrights’ Theater, Inc.
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GRANT PROGRAMS AND GRANTEES
Supports projects to promote arts and humanities activities to DC residents.
COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT
Abraham and Laura Lisner Home for Aged WomenAfrican Continuum Theatre Co.Alliance for New Music-TheatreArt EnablesAtlas Performing Arts CenterBaye HarrellBuilding Bridges Across the River t/a THEARCCapital City SymphonyCapitol Movement, Inc.CarmenWong Congressional Chorus
Constellation Theatre CompanyCritical Exposure, Inc.
DC Blues Society, Inc.Daniel Phoenix Singh & CompanyDC Theatre Scene, Inc.
Dance Placedog and pony dc, Inc.
El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea de El SalvadorElizabeth Bruce Ellie Walton Federal City Performing Arts Association, Inc.Festivals DC, Ltd.FotoDC, Inc.Freddie Dunn, Jr. Free Minds Book Club & Writing WorkshopFriends of the Goethe-Institute in Washington, DC Hilary KacserHill CenterHistorical Society of Washington, DCHolly BassInternational Arts & Artists, Inc.James ZimmermanJocelyn FrankJohn JohnsonJohn Moletress Joy of Motion Dance Center, Inc.KanKouran West African Dance CompanyKaren BakerKim RobertsKirov Academy of Ballet of Washington DCLamont Carey Maru Montero Dance CompanyMeridian International CenterMia ChoumenkovichMiriam’s KitchenNational Center for Creative AgingNicole AguirreOpera LafayettePan American Symphony OrchestraProvisions Learning ProjectRex WeilRobert Michael OliverRuth StenstromSandra Y. JohnsonSocial Art and CultureSt. John’s Community Services, DCThe Choral Arts Society of WashingtonThe In SeriesThe InkwellThe Selma M. Levine School of MusicThe Shakespeare Theatre
The Studio TheatreThe Textile MuseumThe Theatre Lab, Inc.Theatre Downtown, Inc., t/a The Washington Stage GuildTransformer, Inc.Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of ArtTwentieth Century Consort, DBA 21st Century ConsortWashington Bach ConsortWashington DC Jewish Community Center, inc.Washington Project for the Arts, Inc.Washington Storytellers Theatre DBA Speakeasy DC Washington Studio SchoolWill StephensWoolly Mammoth Theatre CompanyWords Beats and Life, Inc.Young Playwrights’ Theater, Inc.
Supports cultural exchange with DC’s Sister Cities.SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL ARTS GRANT
ARCH Development CorporationCarl WalkerHolly BassMeridian International CenterSplit This Rock, Inc.Transformer, Inc.Washington, DC International Film FestivalWords Beats and Life, Inc.
Supports capacity building projects for arts nonprofits.UPSTART
Capital FringeCulturalDCDance PlaceThe Theatre Lab, Inc.Washington Project for the Arts, Inc.Young Playwrights’ Theater, Inc.
Supports capital improvement projects and property acquisition for nonprofit arts and cultural institutions.
CULTURAL FACILITIES PROJECTS
ARCH Development CorporationArena StageAtlas Performing Arts CenterAvalon Theatre Project, Inc.Building Bridges Across the River t/a THEARCCultural DCDance Institute of WashingtonDance PlaceDistrict of Columbia Arts CenterFolger Shakespeare LibraryGALA Inc. Grupo de Artistas LatinoamericanosHill CenterHillwood Museum and Gardens FoundationJoy of Motion Dance Center, Inc.Meridian International CenterThe Selma M. Levine School of MusicThe Shakespeare TheatreThe Studio TheatreKirov Academy of Ballet of Washington DCThe Washington BalletWashington DC Jewish Community Center, Inc.Woolly Mammoth Theater Company
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ARTS EDUCATION
BUILDING THE CREATIVE CAPACITY OF THE DISTRICT’S CHILDREN AND YOUTH
The arts have a profound impact on student success, both in and out of the classroom.
The Commission’s role in Arts Education is to make the arts and humanities an essential
thread in the lives of the youth residing in the city and to ensure they have a rich and
meaningful exposure to, and immersion in, the arts before high school graduation.
In FY13, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities granted over $869,000 in funds
to charter schools and cultural organizations providing in-school and out-of-school
time programming for children from pre-kindergarten through high school. The
DCCAH also initiated planning for a survey of arts programming in all public and
public charter schools for the 2013-2014 academic year, the results of which
will be launched in fall 2014.
SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (SYEP)
In partnership with the Department of Employment Services, DCCAH was a host site
for over 65 youth enrolled in the One City Summer Youth Employment Program. The
Commission was responsible for providing an array of enriching and constructive six-
week work experiences through job placements at DCCAH grantee sites.
The SYEP Program provided an opportunity for youth to develop their knowledge and
skills in the creative sector, including customer service, resume building, business
presentations, and social media marketing. Through these meaningful work
experiences, they interacted with dynamic professionals in the arts and
developed a final deliverable that “told their story” based on the creative
use of media and performance techniques. Family and friends joined the
youth at the Atlas Performing Arts Center for a celebration of their
work at the culminating presentation in August.
DCCAH SYEP WORKSITES:
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Capital Fringe Festival
F.R.E.S.H.H.
GALA Hispanic Theatre
Guerilla Arts
Next Stop Summer Youth Arts Program
Powell House Project
Theatre Lab for the Dramatic Arts
WE ACT Radio
DCCA
H Grantee, Life Pieces To
Masterpieces
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PUBLIC ART
BEYOND THE VISUAL RAINBOW
Artist: Amber Robles Gordon
Location: Deanwood Recreation Center and Library; Ward 7
Completed: June 2013
Partner: DC Department of Parks and Recreation
Description: Beyond the Visual Rainbow is a large-scale, sculptural wall hanging.
The foundation of the sculpture is made of chicken wire and consists of hundreds
of yards of colored, textured fabric with different shaped and sized objects.
The multi-colored fabrics honor Deanwood’s rich history and its residents’
strong engagement with love for their community
JOURNEY ANACOSTIA
Artist: Wilfredo Valladares
Location: Good Hope Road & Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE; Ward 8
Completed: June 2013
Partner: DC Department of Housing and Community Development
Description: Journey Anacostia is a public art sculpture and mural by DC artist
Wilfredo Valladares. The installation reflects the diverse history and heritage of the
Anacostia community. The walls behind the sculpture were transformed with a colorful
mural created in collaboration with youth from the United Planning Organization’s POWER
Program.
NEW YORK AVENUE BRIDGE GATEWAY WINGS
Artist: Kent Bloomer / Bloomer Studios
Location: New York Avenue Bridge; Ward 5
Completed: September 2013
Partner: DC Department of Transportation
Description: Yale School of Architecture professor, Kent Blomer created two ornamental 50-
foot wings made of galvanized steel to form a welcoming gateway into the city by way of the
New York Avenue Bridge into the NoMA neighborhood.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS BRONZE STATUE
Artist: Steven Weitzman
Location: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Completed: Originally commissioned in 2006 and placed in One Judiciary Square;
relocated to the US Capitol in June 2013.
Partners: The White House, United States Congress, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton,
D-DC, Executive Office of the Mayor, Vincent C. Gray
Description: The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities facilitated the relocation of
the commissioned statue of the famed abolitionist and writer Frederick Douglass from One
Judiciary Square to the United States Capitol Visitor Center’s Emancipation Hall.
2013 COMPLETED COMMISSIONED PROJECTS
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PUBLIC ART BUILDING COMMUNITIES
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.
KIM’S GARDEN INTERACTIVE MOSAIC PROJECT
Artist Deirdre Saunders created an installation of an interactive mosaic in tribute to the
memory of local community environmentalist Kim Brenegar.
Grant Amount: $30,000
Location: Ward 6
CONNECT 4: A PUBLIC ART SERIES
Produced by CulturalDC, CONNECT 4 takes CulturalDC’s visual arts programming
off-site and into the public sphere creating an opportunity for local contemporary
artists to enliven the Martin Luther King Jr. Library and respond to the space. The partici-
pating artists included Brian Davis Nekisha, Durrett, Sam Scharf and Anna Tsouhlarakis.
Grant Amount: $24,000
Location : Ward 1
SUKKAT SHALOM: TABERNACLE OF PEACE
Artist Dalya Luttwak created a steel Sukkah, a temporary hut used by current and
ancestral Jewish families to eat, pray and sleep in during the holiday of Sukkot.
This steel structure mimics images of a palm tree, whereby the walls are
made of roots of palm and palm fronds
form the roof of the Sukkah.
Grant Amount: $8,000
Location: Ward 2
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PUBLIC ART
17
MURALS DC
Murals DC in partnership with the Department of Public Works was
created in 2007 to replace illegal graffiti 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.
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PUBLIC ART
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EVENTS
MAYOR’S ARTS AWARDS
The Honorable Mayor Vincent C. Gray and the DC Commission on the Arts and
Humanities (DCCAH) celebrated the 28th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards on October 22,
2013. Finalists, winners, and honorees were feted at the Warner Theatre in a celebration
that highlighted the accomplishments of several individuals and organizations including
Jane Harman, President of the Harman Family Foundation and Barbara Harman,
Executive Director of the Harman Family Foundation, recognized with the Visionary
Leadership Award; Howard University’s Division of Fine Arts received the Lifetime
Achievement Award; and Jim Abdo, President and CEO of Abdo Development, was
presented with the Special Recognition Award.
The 28th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards celebration was marked by performances
from the Washington National Opera, Sharón Clark and Take Dance. Mistress
of Ceremonies, Helen Hayes Award-winning actress E. Faye Butler, also
performed “Let the Good Times Roll” and “Let’s Go Out Tonight.”
The Mayor’s Arts Award 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.
WINNERS FOR THE 28TH ANNUAL MAYOR’S ARTS AWARDS:
Outstanding Service to the ArtsCarla Perlo
Innovation in the ArtsMiriam’s KitchenThe Corcoran Gallery of Art
Outstanding Emerging ArtistBrian Wilbur Grundstrom Excellence in Artistic DisciplineThe Phillips Collection
Outstanding Contribution to Arts EducationMarta Reid StewartCritical Exposure
Mayor’s Arts Awards for Teaching — Language ArtsTopher Kandick
Mayor’s Arts Awards for Teaching — Performing ArtsSarah Pace
Mayor’s Arts Award for Teaching — Visual ArtsPaige Byrne
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20
POETRY OUT LOUD
EVENTS
Through generous support from the National Endowment on the Arts and the Poetry
Foundation, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities hosted the seventh annual
national recitation competition, Poetry Out Loud, at the National Portrait Gallery.
The event encourages the nation’s 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-confi dence. In 2013, Nathalie Dary of Archbishop Carroll High School placed fi rst in
the District fi nals and represented the District of Columbia in the national fi nals on April
28th at The George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FINALISTS:
DC fi
nals 1s
t place
win
ner N
atha
lie D
ary
DC fi nals participant Tshala Pajibo
1st Place: Nathalie Dary
Archbishop Carroll High School
2nd Place: Jayme Lawson
Duke Ellington School of the Arts
3rd Place: Sam Giradot
St. Anselm’s Abbey School
21
LARRY NEAL WRITERS’ AWARDS
EVENTS
Since 1981, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities 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 FY13, the DCCAH received more than 200 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 2013, DCCAH
awarded over $7,500 in cash prizes to nine winners. The awardees were honored
at a special awards ceremony presented in partnership with the PEN/
Faulkner Foundation on Friday, May 3, 2013 at the Hill Center at the Old
Naval Hospital. Writer Benjamin Saenz, 2013 winner of the prestigious
PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, provided opening remarks.
WINNERS OF THE 2013 LARRY NEAL WRITERS’ AWARDS:
DRAMATIC WRITING
Norman Allen
Stephen Spotswood
Hal Weiner
FICTION
Adult Awards
Kathy Crutcher
Binahkaye Joy
Brendan Williams-Childs
Teen Awards
Bridget Dease
Lucy Rose Freshour
Chidinma Onuohas
Youth Awards
Celia Doherty
Naomi Steinglass
POETRY
Adult Awards
Abdul Ali
D. Gilson
Lisa Pegram
Teen Awards
Quadaja Herriott
Anna Pomper
Maya Wesby
Zachary Wood
Youth Awards
Sophia Diggs-Galligan
Seané Hamiel
Ladeisha Meriweather
Alissa Simon
Daisha Wilson
ESSAY
Teen Awards
Kareema Badawi
Messai Tadesse
Youth Awards
Ally Han
Raya Kenney
Josh Taubman
22
EVENTS
NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ curator, Zoma Wallace,
presented an exhibition of fine art to celebrate the commencement of
the 2013 National Cherry Blossom Festival. The exhibition brought
together the works of Japanese-born sculptor Yuriko Yamaguchi,
painter Michi Fugita, and internationally renowned multimedia
artist iona rozeal brown to form an other-worldly landscape
in bloom and was marked with an opening event at the
Gallery in the District’s 200 I Street office building.
The work of Native Washingtonian iona rozeal
brown was also presented in live performance
at the Corcoran Gallery of Art Atrium with
battle of yestermore as an extension of the
allegories in her paintings. Originally commis-
sioned for the Performa 2011 festival in New York,
and reprised at Art Basel Miami, battle of yestermore
draws from the myth-based genres of Kabuki and Noh
theater, as well as hip-hop culture and “vogueing”. The
performance featured creative kimono adaptations by costume
stylist Brent Barkhaus and was a spectacular mash-up of hip
hop and kabuki, break dancing and martial arts, all set
to the bumping score of DJ brown. changeling tree:
the forest lies about you was commissioned as a
continuation of brown’s ever-evolving narrative
and a direct nod to Japanese Noh theater;
which is, by tradition, tied to nature. The
choreographed procession of two of
brown’s mythic characters took
place just before dusk along the
Tidal Basin amongst the blossoms.
DC Commission on the Arts and
Humanities closed out programming for
the 2013 National Cherry Blossom Festival
with a temporary installation of a biodegradable
origami mural at Yards Park created and installed
by iona rozeal brown, DCCAH staff, and a host of
public participants.
Photography by Deadra Bryant
23
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 in February of 2013 for
the Pink Line Project about her two passions: her work as a poet
and her work as an educator. Later that month, she participated
in the Folger Shakespeare Library’s 11th Annual Poet in
Progress Reading Series. Ms. Kendrick hosted a reading
later that 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.
NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
Origam
i Mural
DOLORESKENDRICK
DO
LORES KEN
DRICK, Poet Laureate
24
THE RTS AND UMANITIES THE RTS AND
TRANSFORMING THE DISTRICT THROUGH
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 world-class 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.
THE RTS ANDTHE RTS ANDA UMANITIESH