DMV CREATIVE CHATS - Reimagining Public Spaces Through Art

What does it take to transform a sidewalk, a vacant lot, or an empty storefront into a living, breathing cultural space? And what happens when the installation comes down - does the community it built stick around?

Join us for the inaugural DMV Creative Chats — a new monthly series bringing together artists, cultural leaders, and creative professionals from across DC, Maryland, and Virginia for candid panel conversations and real networking.

Our first conversation: Reimagining Public Spaces Through Art: Pop-Up Projects, Programming, and Temporary Installations.

We'll be joined by three practitioners who are doing this work right now:

Shanara Gabrielle — Theater Alliance

Keyonna Jones — Congress Heights Arts + Culture Center

Kela Lester — thrdspc

The evening runs from 6:00–8:30 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, and the Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation.

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

8:30 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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