Americans for the Arts and D.C.’s Official Arts & Culture District in Historic Anacostia Partner to Establish Annual DC Arts & Economic Impact Day

Mayor Muriel Bowser proclaims May 14, 2024, as“ARTS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT DAY”

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) and Anacostia BID (ABID) announced a new strategic awareness partnership to further develop and support the District of Columbia’s Art to Go-Go Arts & Culture District, in Historic Anacostia within Ward 8, with a focus on awareness, access for artists, development, education, world-class activations and initiatives, innovation and collaboration opportunities, and infrastructure beautification with art at its core.

“The focused attention and commitment to conscious transformative placemaking through urban and environmental design with art at its core is deeply meaningful to our community. Being recognized as an Arts and Culture District by Mayor Muriel Bowser is a testament to our organic connection to the arts. The Strategic Awareness Partnership with the Americans for the Arts will facilitate knowledge sharing and evidence-based data capture to inform policy. It will also establish an artist platform, providing access to local, regional, national, and international audiences, as well as creating exhibition opportunities and collaborative spaces. This partnership will drive vibrancy to our business corridors and foster new collaborations, among other benefits,” said Kristina Noell, Executive Director of the Anacostia Business Improvement District.

Following the announcement, a roundtable meeting led by the Anacostia BID and facilitated by D.C.'s Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Nina Albert, took place at AFTA's headquarters, drawing nearly 30 local and national public officials, arts enthusiasts, business leaders, and artists. Participants included Ra Joy, Chief of Staff of the National Endowment for the Arts, Anita Cozart, Director of the DC Office of Planning, Ramon Jacobson, Executive Director of LISC DC, Scott Kratz, Senior Vice President of Building Bridges Across the River and Director of the 11th Street Bridge Park, among others.

In honor of this partnership and the inaugural roundtable gathering to support the Art to Go-Go Arts & Culture District, Mayor Muriel Bowser proclaimed May 14, 2024, as Arts & Economic Impact Day in Washington, D.C. This day is dedicated to cultivating Ward 8 as a vibrant and inclusive arts ecosystem that mirrors the diversity and vibrancy of Washington, D.C., acting as a leading example for communities worldwide.

Among the outcomes of this roundtable was the establishment of the Annual Arts & Economic Impact Awards, which will be presented annually on May 14 by the Anacostia BID in partnership with Americans for the Arts, to recognize both private and public sector innovators who stimulate and support arts and culture to nurture creatives and communities and for the economic livelihood of Washington, D.C.

“The transformational role of the arts is that it establishes identity. It invites people in, but it also grounds you in who a place is. And that’s what I think is so exciting about what we are doing with Art to Go-Go,” said Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

In 2022, Mayor Bowser proclaimed the establishment of the Art to Go-Go Arts & Culture District in Ward 8, energizing the art ecosystem and showcasing Washington, D.C., as a cultural capital. This initiative strengthens creative infrastructure, increases public access to creative activities, integrates creative resources into civic development, and sustains creative workers and businesses. Art to Go-Go focuses on investment in transformational placemaking and environmental design, creating unique, clean, and safe spaces for communities.

“The arts are a national asset that should be available to everyone across our nation,” said Americans for the Arts President and CEO Nolen Bivens. “With this awareness partnership with the Anacostia BID, we hope to set an example for communities across the country for how to advocate for and support arts and culture at the local level, while offering equitable access to its benefits. It’s well known that participation in the arts can help create stronger and safer communities, boost civic pride, teach valuable skills for all areas of life, and foster deeper connections and cultural understanding. Our research also demonstrates irrefutably that arts and culture are an economic driver for communities of all sizes, and those that support arts and culture thrive.”

By galvanizing the creative economy, the partnership aims to cultivate an environment where artists can thrive, businesses can flourish, and residents can access enriching cultural experiences. This awareness partnership celebrates the spirit of collaboration, and recognizes that by working together, greater impact can be achieved. Together, the Anacostia BID and Americans for the Arts strive to advance the arts and create a better future for all.