DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has awarded approximately $4 million to the Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) to fund the creation of an Anacostia Arts and Culture District.
The new Arts and Culture District is expected to make Ward 8 a leading destination for the arts in Washington DC.
Through the grant, BID will hold new events and programs that will encourage residents to visit Ward 8, promote cultural institutions in Anacostia, and help support local artists in visual arts, theater, music, cinema, and more.
“The Anacostia Arts and Culture District is about creating new opportunities to highlight and support the artists, makers, and entrepreneurs who keep DC creative,” Bowser said in a statement on Friday, July 22.
“We know how critical it is to invest in the arts – to inspire people, to grow and preserve our culture, and to bring the community together. We look forward to working with the community to bring another spotlight and destination to Ward 8,” she added.
The Anacostia Arts and Culture District will create new opportunities to highlight and support the artists, makers, and entrepreneurs who keep DC creative.
We look forward to working with the community to put this new spotlight on the arts community in Ward 8.
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) July 22, 2022
Streetscape enhancements featuring public art and a neighborhood shuttle for residents and visitors will also be financed by the funding.
“Ward 8 is home to a lively arts community, and arts and culture are a major driver of tourism in the District,” Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio said.
“We know how much arts and culture make our neighborhoods more vibrant. This grant will not only support local artists and enliven the neighborhood for its residents, but it will also bring more patrons to restaurants and retail stores and create jobs for Washingtonians,” Falcicchio continued.