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Annual Report DC Commission on

the Arts & Humanities2 0 1 3

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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

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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

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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

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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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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