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Category Archives: Culture

In The News: Mayor’s Arts Awards

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According to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities:

“Winners in five arts categories and three teaching categories were honored with the most prestigious award of the DC Arts Community . The night was also highlighted with a Mayor’s Arts Awards for Visionary Leadership to Anthony A. Williams and Mayor’s Arts Awards of Special Recognition to Paul Jorgensen.

The Mayor’s Arts Award is the highest honor conferred by the District of Columbia in recognition of artistic excellence and service among artists, arts organizations, and arts patrons in the city.

[…] Finalists were chosen by the Mayor’s Arts Awards Advisory Jury comprised of prominent members of the District’s arts community with expertise in dance, music, theatre, literary arts, visual arts and arts education.

Here at Catalogue, we would like to extend some special cheers to the five nonprofits in our network who were recognized last week at the 27th annual awards — many congratulations!

– Art Enables was recognized for Innovation in the Arts

– Atlas Performing Arts Center for Excellence to Service in the Arts

– Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education

– Step Afrika! for Excellence in An Artistic Discipline

– Koye Oyediji (the Duke Ellington School) for Arts for Teaching, Language Arts

Around Town: September 15-16

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Welcome to almost-fall, Greater Washington! And here is what’s coming up at your local nonprofits this weekend …

Accokeek Foundation (National Colonial Farm, 3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, MD)

On Saturday at noon, join in the monthly kitchen table conversation about the epicurean delights of colonial Marylanders; learn how our tastes and the food itself have changed over 300 years. More information right here!

Potomac Riverkeeper (Georgetown Waterfront Park, K st & Wisconsin Avenue NW)

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act at the Georgetown Waterfront Park on Saturday morning and afternoon; all are invited to participate in a morning paddle out on the Potomac, followed by a series of clean water advocate speakers.

See the full schedule here.

Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (4200 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington, VA)

Collect and tally trash for this annual event held in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup and Clean Virginia Waterways Day on Saturday at 1:00 PM at Barcroft Park. Groups and families are welcome; call 703-228-6406 to register today.

District of Columbia Arts Center (2438 18th Street NW, Washington, DC)

This weekend and next, Matthew Vaky (veteran of Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theatre) creates a hilarious and startling examination of US policy towards enemy combatants; call 202 462-7834 for reservations and learn more right here.

Also: Very best wishes to THEARC on their AfterDark@THEARC gala this Saturday!

Looking ahead to next week, be sure to check out Successful Women Entrepreneurs in Washington at The Women’s Center on Monday at 6:00 PM and Financial Literacy New Volunteer Orientation is coming up on Tuesday at 7:00 PM at Our Daily Bread in Fairfax.

A Colorful Addition

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By Marie LeBlanc, Community Partnerships Coordinator

The brick wall of a small alley just off U Street, between 12th and 13th streets in Northwest Washington, looks a little brighter these days. You might recognize that block as the home of a DC institution — Ben’s Chili Bowl — but another, newer DC institution has spent the past few weeks making its mark on that same corner. Catalogue nonprofit Words Beats & Life Inc., a member of the Washington-based partnership Murals DC, worked with renowned local visual artist Aniekan Udofia and Ben’s Chili Bowl to plan for and create a striking new mural, which features the faces of Bill Cosby, President Obama, Donnie Simpson, and Chuck Brown. According to the Washington Post, “the mural is a tremendous example of what happens when government and nonprofit groups work together.” The work of art has so far received a positive reception from the public, despite the push-back that graffiti-based street art has faced in the past.

Murals DC tackles this (mis)conception of street art head on. Their mission is to “help replace illegal graffiti with artistic works, to revitalize sites within the community, and to teach young people the art of aerosol painting”, and in doing so, “positively impact the District’s youth by providing them with the resources they need to engage in this project.” Words Beats & Life Inc. plays an important role in this collaboration, as a nonprofit partner working with several offices of the DC government. WBL Inc focuses more broadly on the role of popular, urban art (including music mixing and break dancing, as well as graffiti art) as a positive force in the lives of youth.

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The Architect

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Very near my sunset, I bless you, Life […]

Because I see at the end of my rough way
that I was the architect of my own destiny
and if I extracted the sweetness or the bitterness of things
it was because I put the sweetness or the bitterness in them
when I planted rose bushes I always harvested roses […]

— from “At Peace” by Mexican ambassador & poet Amado Nervo, born today in 1870

Around Town: August 24-26

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Have a relaxing final weekend of August, friends! We have some cool options for you …

Dance Place (3500 12th Street NE)

A 12-week public art celebration offering free cultural events and promoting creative expression, Artland Temporium features exhibits, dance, concerts, poetry readings, and games and free to the public. Check out the full schedule for this weekend right here.

District of Columbia Arts Center (2438 18th Street NW)

On Friday at 7:30 PM at “No Tea, No Shade” (presented by Sampson McCormick) comes to the DCAC theatre; and on Saturday at 10:00 PM, the Capital City Showcase brings together a great variety of comedians, musicians, and performing artists. Learn more here!

Anacostia Watershed Society (Bladensburg Waterfront Park) — EVENT NOW FULL

Join AWS on Saturday at 10:00 AM to water, weed, and mulch these tiny trees that, with your help, will grow to do great things for the River. More information this way.

Potomac Conservancy (Boathouse at Fletcher’s Cove, 4940 Canal Rd NW)

Just bring a water bottle, sunscreen, and casual clothing — and help clean up the picnic area and surrounding trails at Fletcher’s Cove on Sunday at 10:00 AM. Learn more right here!

Tax For Arts

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Just caught this Marketplace story on the way home today:

The Detroit Institute of Arts is joining a small group of museums experimenting with a new way to fundraise. They’ve asked local taxpayers to chip in. Voters in three Michigan counties passed a tax increase — known as a millage.

According to Annmarie Erickson, executive vice president and chief operating officer:

“A home that has a market value of about $150,000, those individuals will pay about $15 a year for this tax.” But that adds up quickly for the museum. She says the millage plan allows the Detroit Institute of Arts to take in $23 million a year for 10 years, and that money will be spent on the museum’s operating budget.

With the fundraising burdened eased, at least in part, the development staff could then focus on building an endowment to strengthen the 125-year-old museum for the future.

What do you think about supporting community nonprofits through community taxes? Would you vote for a similar millage in your city or county in order to support a local museum or theatre?

Around Town: August 17-19

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Planning your weekend? Consider a non-profit destination, such as …

Dance Place (3500 12th Street NE)

A 12-week public art celebration offering free cultural events and promoting creative expression, Artland Temporium features exhibits, dance, concerts, poetry readings, and games and free to the public. Check out the full schedule for this weekend right here.

District of Columbia Arts Center (2438 18th Street NW)

The DCAC Gallery is open from 2:00 to 7:00 PM on Wednesday through Sunday; so you can check the final week of “Wallmountables.” Any artist can purchase up to four 2′ x 2′ spaces and work is accepted from a wide range of media.

Accokeek Foundation (3400 Bryan Point Rd, Accokeek, MD)

Join a kitchen table conversation and introduction to the epicurean delights of colonial Marylanders; explore “receipts” (recipes) and meal preparation on Saturday at noon. Learn more right here!

Potomac Conservancy (River Center at Lock 8, 7906 Riverside Drive, Cabin John, MD)

Extra busy Sunday with Potomac Conservancy! A Canal Stewards river cleanup begins at 10:00 AM, followed by a Tree ID Walk at noon (can you tell a sycamore from a maple tree?) and Wilderness 101 at 1:30 PM. More info right here.

Around Town: August 10-12

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A few great nonprofit destinations for your weekend …

Dance Place (3500 12th Street NE)

A 12-week public art celebration offering free cultural events and promoting creative expression, Artland Temporium features exhibits, dance, concerts, poetry readings, and games and free to the public. Check out the full schedule for this weekend right here.

HomeAid Northern Virginia (at Pfitzner Stadium, 7 County Complex Court Woodbridge, VA)

Help HomeAid send 200 kids and parents to watch the Potomac Nationals vs. the Winston-Salem Dash on Friday at 7:00 PM; for many of these children, this is the first baseball game that they’ll attend. Learn more right here.

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Around Town: August 2-5

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Some great nonprofit destinations for the coming days:

Dance Place (3500 12th Street NE)

A 12-week public art celebration offering free cultural events and promoting creative expression, Artland Temporium features exhibits, dance, concerts, poetry readings, and games and free to the public. Check out the full schedule for this weekend right here.

District of Columbia Arts Center (2438 18th Street NW, Washington, DC)

Topher and Joe, purveyors of fine improv comedy, join with special guests Sistine Robot and Season Six this coming Friday at 10:00 PM. Tickets available right here.

Accokeek Foundation (15769 Livingston Road, Accokeek, MD)

On Saturday at 10:00 AM, Eileen Watts of Hard Bargain Farm offers a hands-on exploration of basic cheese-making; participants will assemble two recipes: a semi-soft farmer’s cheese and a 30-minute mozzarella. Sign up here!

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D Street NW, Washington, DC)

Following the Saturday 8:00 PM performance of The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, Woolly presents a one-time-only conversation with Mike Daisey and Apple, Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak. More information right here.