APRIL 7 | Anacostia BID and Partners Launch 'Art To GoGo' Public Art Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2021 
Media Inquiries: marketing@anacostiabid.org

ANACOSTIA BID AND PARTNERS LAUNCH ‘ART TO GOGO’ PUBLIC ART PROJECT
– DC’S FIRST SCOOTER CORRAL SELF GUIDED TOUR 

DC artists and GoGo legends partner to transform Anacostia’s scooter corrals

WASHINGTON, DC – The Anacostia Business Improvement District, with its Art, Culture, Entertainment, and Education (ACEE) Council, DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME), Project Create, Lyft and the DC Department of Transportation have partnered to create the first corral ground mural, part of what will become a self-guided scooter tour in Ward 8. The first of six corrals will debut on April 7, 2021, at 3 pm, adjacent to Neighborhood Pharmacy located at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr., Avenue, SE, and U Street, SE. 

The first Art to GoGo mural is a collaboration of renowned local artist Luis Peralta and Wiley Brown, son of the famed Father of GoGo, innovator Chuck Brown. This public art project will provide the community and visitors a way to explore public art around Ward 8 via scooter corral ground murals dedicated to DC's official sound of the city - GoGo.

"Over the past year, we've seen a huge upswell in momentum toward building more resilient streets that are designed around people instead of cars. Scooter corrals create dedicated street space for a fast and convenient way to get around, and the Art to GoGo project will help make them beautiful and inviting for both riders and passersby," said Caroline Samponaro, Head of Micromobility Policy at Lyft. "We are grateful to the Anacostia BID; The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment; the District Department of Transportation; and Project Create for their partnership on this important project.”

“February 19, 2021, marked the 1st anniversary of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s signing the DC GoGo Bill, and we are proud to be a part of the ongoing celebration,” said Kristina Noell, Executive Director of the Anacostia BID. “We are bringing visual artists together with GoGo bands in a collaboration that is the first of its kind.  The Art to GoGo scooter corral ground murals will be the beginning of the Ward 8 Scooter Corral Self-Guided Public Art journey in Ward 8.  We are all adapting to the ever-changing ways that we travel, communicate, work and engage. The Anacostia BID is at the forefront of providing creative and innovative ways to connect communities.  This dynamic initiative is in line with our mission for businesses and communities alike.  It encompasses how we live, work, and play in Historic Anacostia, the heArt of the District." 

The murals will be painted directly on the asphalt floor of the scooter corrals located throughout the Ward with a scannable QR code integrated into the ground murals. The public will find information about the GoGo band and mural artist, scooter and bike safety, and Ward 8 public art. “This is a truly dynamic, 21st-century placemaking initiative and a unique way to engage the public in the arts,” said Christie Walser, Executive Director of Project Create, located in Historic Anacostia. 

Through their mobile phone’s navigation app, the public can access the self-guided tours, select from the public art around them, learn about the collaborating artists, as well as learn about local businesses along the tour route to incentivize shopping locally.

To learn more, visit www.anacostiabid.org or contact the Anacostia BID at info@anacostiabid.org.

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About the Anacostia Business Improvement District (ABID)

The Anacostia BID is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2012 and governed by a board of directors. The Anacostia BID provides valuable services to support the commercial, creative, and non-profit community located within the Anacostia BID’s boundaries.

As a community-based organization, the BID is relied upon to be an integral part of the resurgence of the commercial corridors of the Historic Anacostia neighborhood. The BID is committed to a thriving, safe, clean, and inviting community through placemaking, partnerships, and marketing. Our motto is, “Anacostia - the heART of the District."