About this Event
DMV Creative Industries: Individual Stories, Unique Opportunities, Regional Challenges
A panel conversation on what’s going right - and wrong - for the DMV’s creative industries .
Do DMV creatives have to leave the region to get recognized? Or can they (we) find that recognition and success here? The DMV is full of talent, but much of what supports a creative career - studios, production, platforms, markets - comes down both to individuals building up the next institution and to the broader systems that support - or hinder - creative flourishing.
For October’s DMV Creative Chats, we’ve brought together four creatives who have stayed and contributed to growing the creative sector. They have built the studios, brands, and platforms they needed, and done so while bringing others up with them.
Together, they can speak to what it takes to build a creative career and business in the DMV. Their range runs from a recording studio that has mentored generations of independent artists, to a size-inclusive fashion label, to a shoppable streaming network putting Black-owned brands on screen, to a custom apparel warehouse serving independent brands across the region. They can also speak to what the region still needs to keep its creatives here.
- Erinn Dumas - Self-taught fashion designer and CEO of e.Laniese, a contemporary women’s clothing brand founded in 2017, offering whimsical, small-batch designs in sizes S–3XL.
- Judah - DC-native, Grammy-nominated recording engineer and producer; owner of The Syence Lab, his studio for more than two decades, with production for artists including Wale and Raheem DeVaughn.
- Folasadé Ogunmokun - Founder and CEO of Unskrypted TV, a shoppable streaming network connecting viewers with the Black-owned businesses featured in its shows, from The BAG to Legacy DC.
- Riz Tha Great - DC artist and entrepreneur; founder of DMV Wholesale Department, a hub giving independent brands, artists, and entrepreneurs access to quality apparel, custom printing, and resources to grow.
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 The Lily in Columbia Heights, a boutique art gallery, event, and gathering space for folx seeking to build community through creativity, founded by Candace Leigh. It continues DMV Creative Chats’ move from place to place each month, carried forward by the partners and creative spaces that make each one possible.
This event is presented in partnership with Southwest BID, Theater Alliance, Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, and Golob Art.
ABOUT THE SERIES
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
Schedule
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
3120 13th St NW, 3120 13th Street Northwest, Washington, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.