DMV CREATIVE CHATS - Arts Policy and Advocacy

Arts policy shapes which spaces get built, which communities get served, which artists get support, and who gets a seat at the table when those decisions are made - and how the arts ecosystem grows…or doesn’t. Policy - and advocacy - happen at local, state, regional, and national levels - and shape our lives as artists, creative practitioners, arts lovers, and community members.

With a changing political landscape, arts policy is top of mind. For June's DMV Creative Chats, we've brought together four practitioners who work across the full spectrum of arts policy and advocacy - from the national stage to the streets of the DMV. 

Together, they can speak to how arts policy gets made, how it gets fought for, how it gets administered, what it actually means for practitioners on the ground, and what it will take to build a more vibrant arts ecosystem across the region. 

Julianne Brienza - Founder of Capital Fringe Festival, with decades of experience building independent arts infrastructure in DC.

Nicholas Cohen - Maryland Citizens for the Arts, working on statewide arts advocacy in Maryland.

Kerry Kennedy - DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, administering the Public Art Building Communities grant program.

 Ben Stone - Stone Strategies, bringing perspective from his years at the National Endowment for the Arts.

Join us for the conversation - and stick around after the panel for open networking with fellow DMV creatives.

The evening runs from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, with doors opening at 6:00 for refreshments and casual conversation. The panel kicks off at 6:30, followed by audience Q&A and open networking.

We're gathering at Westminster Presbyterian Church - a cultural cornerstone of Southwest DC and home of Jazz Night in DC (Fridays) and Blue Monday Blues (Mondays).

This event is presented in partnership with Southwest BID, Theater Alliance, the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, and Golob Art.

DMV Creative Chats is an approachable, region-wide monthly series of arts sector discussions and connection-points for DMV creative professionals. Each event brings together artists, cultural leaders, creative sector professionals, and the public for engaging conversation about the creative sector - followed by relaxed networking and community-building with light refreshments.

The combination of inquisitive panel conversations with casual socializing is designed to foster connections between creative professionals, advance the regional arts policy dialogue, and support the DMV cultural economy.

We're just getting started, and we want this series to reflect and serve the community it's built for. If you'd like to suggest a future topic, be considered as a panelist, or find out how to get more involved - we'd love to hear from you.

Join the mailing list: Sign up here

Follow along: @DMVCreativeChats on Instagram

6:00 pm — Doors open, refreshments, casual chat

6:30 pm — Panel conversation

7:30 pm — Networking + debrief

8:00 pm — Wrap up

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I Street Southwest, Washington, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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