By Brianna Rhodes,
This September marks the four year anniversary of 202Creates Month in the District and all month long Washington, D.C. residents will have the chance to participate in events and activities to recognize the creative community in the city.
Beginning as a monthly celebration by Mayor Muriel Bowser in 2016, the initiative turned into a movement created to honor and showcase creatives in all eight Wards who contribute to D.C.’s growing economy through various platforms such as fashion, music, culinary arts and more, according to its site.
Office of Cable Television of Film Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) Director Angie M. Gates is helping lead the celebration of events in the city throughout the month to recognize and amplify the city’s growing creative achievements and culture.
“What we’ve realized with 202Creates when it started in 2016, is [that] a month is not enough time to contain everything that we need to do as far as the creatives– but to dedicate an entire month to the creative community has been key,” Gates said. “As you know, D.C. is a very culturally diverse community and I think that at the end of the day, it’s just going to continue to grow even more — become more engaged. I think this gives the creatives the opportunity to share their talents.”
202Creates has reached many achievements throughout the years, including being deemed one of the top 40 most vibrant arts communities in America, according to the 2018 NCAR Arts Vibrancy Index.
202Creates also offers many resources for creatives and entrepreneurs including office space, a podcast studio, a photography studio a residency program and more, according to its website.
Check out some of the events that are open to the public during 202Creates Month below:
Aug. 29 – 202Creates Month Kickoff Event at Eaton Hotel, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
- Aug. 31 – Sept. 1 – Labor Day Weekend Music Festival at the Lincoln Theatre, 7 p.m. -10 p.m.
- Sept. 7 – La Cosecha Presents: Calle Latina at Union Market at Union Market, 11 a.m.-7 pm.
- Sept. 7 – Sept. 22 – The REACH Opening Festival at the Kennedy Center
- Sept. 9 – Sept. 13 – DC Startup Week at Metro DC, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.
- Sept. 14 – Art All Night, various locations, 7 pm. – Midnight
- Sept. 19 – OCTFME celebrates second anniversary of radio station at Union District Oyster Bar and Lounge, 6 p.m.-9 pm.
- Sept. 21 – Fiesta DC Parade on Constitution Ave, 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Sept. 22 – Fiesta DC Festival on 7th Street NW 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Sept. 23- Sept. 29 – March on Washington Film Festival
- Sept. 28 – The Sound of Family and Fun Festival at 2240 Martin Luther King Ave, SE, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
- Sept. 28 – Closing Event, Busboys and Poets (Anacostia Area), 6-10 p.m.
To learn more visit http://www.202creates.com.
This article originally appeared in The Afro.
