(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser presented the 37th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards: “A Night of DC Stars,” to honor artists and organizations and celebrate the District’s arts, humanities, and creative communities. The event took place at Capital Turnaround and was produced by the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) and the Creative Affairs Office (CAO).
“The Mayor’s Arts Awards allows us to shine light on the artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives who make up the cultural fabric of our city,” said Mayor Bowser. “It is my pleasure to present this year’s Award for Distinguished Honor to Vanilla Beane, affectionately known as DC’s Hat lady. Today, on her 103rd birthday, we honor Ms. Beane for keeping DC stylish and making our city proud for all these years.”
The Mayor’s Arts Awards is the most prestigious honor the city can bestow upon the arts, humanities, and creative community. District residents across all eight wards nominated, voted, and selected the winners in 13 of the 14 categories via online voting.
“The 37th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards is an epic evening of DC Stars,” said Angie M. Gates, Director, DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment. “Our talented and diverse content makers representing all 8 wards, proved why DC is the Capital of Creativity.”
The Mayor’s Arts Awards celebrates, showcases, and amplifies the power of community, connection, and resilience in all eight wards of the District, honoring local creative leaders, visionaries, and trendsetters.
The presenter line-up included:
- Mayor Muriel Bowser
- Vera Oye Yaa-Anna, Founder and Executive Director, Oye Palaver Hut
- John Burns, The Burns Brothers, Managing Partner
- Luther Beckett, Youth Entrepreneur
- Kimberley Bush, Executive Director, The DC Center for the LGBT Community
- Jason Cerda, Dancer and Musician
- Keiona Clark, Artist
- Michael M. Clements, Founder, ArtJamz
- Natalie Madeira Cofield, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist
- Rebecca Crouch, Artist
- Kathy Crutcher, Artist
- Edward Daniels, Actor, Producer & Entrepreneur
- Alisha Edmonson, Co-owner, Songbyrd Music House & Record Cafe
- Sam George, GoGo Documentary Filmmaker
- Samitra Harrington, Owner & CEO, HoneyGlow Co.
- Rose Jaffee, Artist
- Ailee Johnson, Youth Entrepreneur
- Joe Lapan, Co-Owner, Songbyrd Music House & Record Cafe
- Deborah Menkart, Executive Director, Teaching For Change
- Dominique Moody, Reporter, NBC 4
- Josiah Moore, Youth Artist
- Carole Mumin, Playwright and Owner, Mumin & Associates
- Denville Myrie, Jr., Director, Jerk @ Night
- Solana M. Vander Nat, Director, Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture
- Jon Marc Sandifer, Founder, Urban Beauty | Vice President of Programming, BET
- Carla Sims, Commissioner, CAH
- Kevin Tien, Chef and Owner, Moon Rabbit, Hot Lola’s, Co-Founder of Stop AAPI Hate Movement
- Zeenat Watts, Owner, Haku Holistics | Chief Operating Officer, Loc Love Salon
- André Wells, Founder and CEO, Events by André Wells
- C. Brian Williams, Founder, Step Afrika
This year’s stellar live performances and appearances included:
- Britt Waters, Host
- Sylvia Traymore Morrison, Co-Host
- Arco & Aire
- Benjamin Gates
- Beat Ya Feet & Friends
- Christylez Bacon
- Carly Harvey
- DJ Chris Styles
- Feedel Band
- Gerdan Kaleidoscope of Ukrainian Music
- Gerson Lanza
- GoGo Symphany
- Kenny Sway
- Marcus Johnson
- EZ Street
- DJ Lance Reynolds
- Vene A. La Gon, Ms. Senior DC
- Alivia Roberts, Miss DC
The winners of the 37th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards are:
Mayor’s Arts Award for Distinguished Honor: Vanilla Beane, DC’s Hat Lady
The Mayor’s Arts Award for Distinguished Honor is a merit award given to an individual, group, nonprofit organization, or private entity whose contributions to Arts and Culture in the District of Columbia have been substantial and consistent, with achievements spanning 20 years or more with local, regional, and national impact.
Award for Excellence in Media Arts: Mia Hicks
The Award for Excellence in Media Arts honors an individual, group, nonprofit organization, or private entity that has made significant contributions in Media Arts in the District of Columbia, through the direct practice and/or production of their artistic work. Media Arts disciplines honored may include, but are not limited to film, television, radio, podcasting, content creation, augmented reality/virtual reality production, game design, and other creative tech. This award is open to media artists ages 14 and older.
Award for Excellence in Visual Arts: David “Oggi” Ogburn
The Award for Excellence in Visual Arts honors an individual, group, nonprofit organization, or private entity that has made significant contributions in Visual Arts in the District of Columbia, through the direct practice of their artistic work. Visual Arts disciplines honored may include, but are not limited to ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, photography, and crafts. This award is open to visual artists ages 14 and older.
Award for Excellence in the Creative Industries: Art of Noize
The Award for Excellence in the Creative Industries honors an individual, creative business, nonprofit organization, or group that has made a significant contribution in the creative industries in the District of Columbia, through the direct production of their creative work, and through their leadership in developing the creative economy. Creative industry work and disciplines may include but are not limited to design arts, graphic designers, museums, lighting designers, sound engineers, fashion, costume designers, crafters, jewelry designers, makers, food trucks, farmers markets, cosmetology industry, stylists, curators, festival organizers, and exhibitors.
Emerging Creative Award: Tommy Taylor Jr.
The Emerging Creative Award honors an individual, group, non-profit organization, or private entity that, while out of the spotlight, has made a significant contribution to the creative culture of the District of Columbia. The awardee may be from all arts and/or creative industries and the award is open to creatives ages 14 and up.
Award for Excellence as a Community Arts Advocate: Keyonna Jones
The Award for Excellence as a Community Arts Advocate honors an individual, group, nonprofit organization, or private entity that has made significant contributions as a community advocate for the arts or creative culture in the District of Columbia.
Award for Excellence in Arts Education: Ambassador Chinedu Felix Osuchukwu
The Award for Excellence in Arts Education honors an individual, group, nonprofit organization, or private entity that has made significant contributions in Arts Education in the District of Columbia by supporting the development of imagination and creativity in young people and demonstrating the value of the arts as essential to education. Honorees may include but are not limited to teachers in DC Public Schools, public charter schools, and independent arts education programs or practitioners.
Award for Excellence in Performing Arts: Matthew Crittenden
The Award for Excellence in Performing Arts honors an individual, group, nonprofit organization, or private entity that has made significant contributions in the Performing Arts in the District of Columbia, through the direct practice and/or performance of their artistic work. Performing Arts disciplines honored may include but are not limited to: All dance disciplines and styles, including, but not limited to: jazz, tap, ballet, modern, hip-hop, folk, and ballroom. Theatre practitioners, including, but not limited to: actors and directors. Music community and organizations, including, but not limited to: composers, singers, instrumentalists, bands, orchestras, small and large ensembles, and choruses. This award is open to performing artists ages 14 and older.
Award for Excellence in the Humanities: DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative
The Award for Excellence in the Humanities honors an individual, group, nonprofit organization, or private entity that has made significant contributions in the humanities in the District of Columbia through the direct practice and/or production of their work. Humanities disciplines may include but are not limited to literature, history, language, philosophy, anthropology, archeology, musicality, religion, and social science.
Award for Excellence in the Nightlife Economy: Extra Pulp
The Award for Excellence in the Nightlife Economy honors an individual, group, nonprofit organization, or private entity that has made a significant contribution to the nightlife economy of the District of Columbia through the direct production of events, activities, and establishments in the nightlife industry. The nightlife industry can include but is not limited to bars, clubs, entertainment venues, and nightlife promoters.
Award for Visionary Leadership: Jeffrey Tribble
The Award for Visionary Leadership in the Arts and Creative Industries honors one individual, group, organization, or private entity with distinguished achievements as a leader in the Arts and Creative Industries. The awardee should have demonstrated an equal commitment to their vision, mission, product, or service, and the development of the creative community in the District as a whole.
The Larry Neal Writer’s Award: Sami Miranda
The Larry Neal Writers Award commemorates the artistic legacy of author and activist Larry Neal and honors an individual that has made a significant contribution in the District of Columbia through the direct practice or production of their work as a writer. Written forms can include, but are not limited to short stories, dramatic writing, playwriting, nonfiction, and poetry. This award is open to writers ages 14 and older.
Award for Excellence in Youth Creativity: Myles Minishotta
The Award for Excellence in Youth Creativity honors any youth individual or group performing artist, entrepreneur, or business including but not limited to dance, music, writing, advocacy, and media. The youth must be at the helm and/or focus of the organization or movement that has/is creating and contributing to the District’s creative community. This award is open to youth creatives ages 14 and younger.
Award for Excellence in Fashion and Beauty Industries: Lesley Bryant, The Lady Clipper Barbershop
The Award for Excellence in Fashion and Beauty Industries honors a business, an individual, a non-profit or for-profit entity, or a collective group of Creatives that has made a significant contribution to the fashion and beauty communities in the District. This award category includes, but is not limited to: DC-based fashion and beauty retailers, and designers; fashion event producers with a portfolio demonstrating engagement of the fashion community and promoting DC as a fashion destination; technical curriculum-based sewing and fashion instructors; professional makeup artists and licensed beauty culture professionals, such as cosmetologists, barbers, tattoo artists, and salon owners, with a portfolio or body of work that exhibits significant community engagement and/or distinctive work in arts and entertainment. This award is open to fashion and beauty Creatives ages 16 and older.
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