(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser announced that Art All Night, the District’s only free all-night arts festival, will include DC statehood activations in eight neighborhoods throughout DC. The timely exhibition is taking place the weekend before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, under Chairman Elijah Cummings, holds a hearing on the DC statehood bill (H.R. 51), the first time the House of Representatives has taken up legislation to make DC the 51st state in 26 years.
“We are ready to make the case for DC statehood at next week’s hearing, and these activations at Art All Night are an interactive, unique, and fun way to engage residents and get everyone excited about DC statehood,” said Mayor Bowser.
Art All Night will be held today, Saturday, September 14, between 7:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. More than 1,000 artists are participating, and tens of thousands of art lovers are expected to visit eight DC neighborhoods to experience painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, music, dance, theater, silent discos, film, and poetry in a variety of unique indoor and outdoor spaces.
The DC Statehood art activations taking place in each Main Street neighborhood will encourage participants to interact with each artist and express what DC statehood means to them. Chris Pyrate, a local graphic illustrator and mural artist, is leading the activation with seven other artists assigned to manage the collaborative art pieces in each Art All Night neighborhood:
- Dupont Circle: 15 and P Street, NW - Art Rave Market.
- Artist: Jamilla Okubo
- Shaw: Northeast corner of 7th and R Street, NW - Shaw Art Market.
- Artist: Chris Pyrate
- North Capitol Street: North Capitol Street and Florida Ave, NW.
- Artist: PZay
- Tenleytown: 4100 River Rd. NW - Citizen Heights Church parking lot.
- Artist: Dieglo
- Congress Heights: Corner of 4th and MLK Ave SE.
- Artist: Keyemjay6
- H Street: 1006 H Street, NE - Parking lot between Liberty Tax and Mason’s Barber Shop.
- Artist: Trap Bob
- Minnesota Avenue: Minnesota Ave and Benning Rd., NE - East River Shopping Center parking lot.
- Artist: Rikasso
- Deanwood Heights: 5000 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE, Peanut Grove.
- Artist: Mensa Kondo
The statehood activation was commissioned by Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development.
The all-night arts festival, modeled after Paris’ Nuit Blanche, debuted in Washington, DC 11 years ago in Shaw. It is now celebrated throughout the District.
In addition to showcasing local art and talent, the festival promotes neighborhood and small businesses. During last year’s event, Art All Night generated over $2 million in revenue across all participating neighborhoods. For more information about this year’s event, as well as a detailed list of neighborhood exhibits and events, visit www.dcartallnight.org. For more information about DC statehood, visit statehood.dc.gov.
Follow Art All Night on Facebook: @DCArtAllNightFestival, Twitter: @DCArtAllNight and Instagram: @DCArtAllNight.