Make a donation to the Catalogue and help us help over 300 great community-based nonprofits!
I found I could say things with colors that I couldn’t
say in any other way – things that I had no words for.
Georgia O’Keeffe
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2012 : 2013 Featured Nonprofits |
Arlington Arts CenterGrowing from a grassroots organization in 1976 to a regionally acclaimed visual arts center today, Arlington Arts Center has made incredible strides – as have the artists who call AAC their home. Committed to supporting new visual artists, educating children and adults alike, and creating residencies in which upcoming creators can thrive, it is a vital > 3550 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201, 703-248-6800 findyourartist.org |
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BlackRock Center for the ArtsIn 1996, community leaders in Germantown founded BlackRock, knowing that a cultural institution in the heart of the new Town Center would be integral to the community’s growth. They were right: since opening in 2002, the Center has grown into a destination for art, music, and theater lovers and is the cultural anchor of Germantown. The only > 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD 20874, 240-912-1054 blackrockcenter.org |
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Building Bridges Across the River t/a THEARCLocated east of the Anacostia River, THEARC (Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus) lies in the middle of Ward 8, where nearly half of the children live at or below the poverty line. Instrumental in raising the funds for this unique community and cultural center, Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) also secured the arts and social service > 1901 Mississippi Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20020, 202-889-5901 ext 1100 thearcdc.org |
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City ArtsPerhaps you've seen the striking Columbia Heights community mural as you walked up 14th Street or the Mosaic Sculpture at the District's Diamond Teague Park, right by Nationals Stadium. City Arts' thirty public artworks – which beautify neighborhoods and introduce thousands of people to the diversity and history of our nation's capital – are created by > 614 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202-331-1966 cityartsdc.org |
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Constellation Theatre CompanyAn epic story in an intimate space: that is the signature of Constellation, the ensemble-based theatre at Source on 14th Street. Each production lures the audience into a rich visual world through heightened performances, bold design, and live music. Constellation first leaped onto the scene in 2007 and received the John Aniello Award for Outstanding > 1835 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-204-7741 constellationtheatre.org |
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Cultural Tourism DCProud home of iconic monuments and buildings, DC houses even more “hidden” sites, from historic homes and embassies to intimate galleries. An advocate for the importance of local culture in the health and development of our city, CTDC is a coalition of more than 230 arts, heritage, and community organizations in one of the most walkable cities in the > 1250 H Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005, 202-661-7581 CulturalTourismDC.org |
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Dance PlaceIn its permanent home in the Brookland neighborhood of DC, Dance Place is a hub of activity where a 45-week presenting season, bustling dance school, and neighborhood cultural center thrive on each others' energy. The complex hosts performances of modern, traditional African, step, tap, and hip hop, often drawing on the 30 local, 12 touring, and 3 > 3225 8th Street NE, Washington, DC 20017, 202.269.1601 danceplace.org |
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DC Youth Orchestra ProgramThe DC Youth Orchestra Program was founded in 1960 at the request of DCPS, which identified the need for a city-wide orchestra for young people: many had very little music education; some had none at all. Now in its fifty-second year, and with fresh leadership at the helm, DCYOP is poised to enter a new era – and the need is as pressing as ever. Music > 1700 East Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20003, 202-698-0123 dcyop.org |
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Educational Theatre CompanyFounded by a dedicated core of professional teaching artists, Educational Theatre Company is a unique theater company focused purely on arts education. In close partnership with nearly 40 schools and community organizations, it brings theater and artists directly into local classrooms. All programs are participatory and students are able to make > 3700 South Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington, VA 22206, 703-271-0222 educationaltheatrecompany.org |
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FotoDCPhotography is a unique medium: fundamental to news programs, social change movements, and the art world – yet accessible to nearly anyone. And FotoDC fully embraces that versatility. Diverse, high-quality exhibits provide exposure for emerging and established photographers and increase local engagement in the art of photography – with human rights and > 1050 17th Street, NW, Suite 560, Washington, DC 20036, 202-337-3686 FotoDC.org |
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GALA Hispanic TheatreIn the heart of bustling Columbia Heights lies the National Center for Latino Performing Arts, GALA Hispanic Theatre. A unique fusion of theater, youth development, and community development in a transitioning Washington, DC neighborhood, GALA mounts classical, modern, contemporary, and new works, including musical and dance theater pieces, by artists > 3333 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20010, 202-234-7174 galatheatre.org |
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interPLAYcompany BandEach season, interPLAYcompany Band presents three concerts at the Music Center at Strathmore, featuring everything from Bartok concertos to Brazilian jazz. Alongside professional musicians, the band members play drums, bells, and tambourines – and most have moderate to severe cognitive, intellectual, or physical disabilities. Founded in 1989, interPLAY > 6777 Surreywood Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817, 301-229-0829 interplayband.org |
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Moving Forward: Contemporary Asian American Dance Company, AKA DTSB&Co.Invitations to perform in Asia, Europe, Latin and Central America, commissions to create work from the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, and the Corcoran – Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co. is much sought after, and rightly so. The only modern dance company in DC rooted in an Asian American aesthetic, the company uses dance as a creative medium for enhancing > 2745 Arizona Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016, 202-297-2436 dtsbco.com |
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Synetic TheaterFusing the classical elements of drama, movement, dance, mime, text, and music into a distinct form of non-realistic drama, Synetic Theater has taken Washington audiences by storm. At once avant-garde and accessible, its extraordinary productions have also left critics breathless: "A fast-moving, visually stunning work, unlike anything else being done > 2611 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 103, Arlington, VA 22202, 703-824-8060 ext. 104 synetictheater.org |
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theatreWashingtonThe only organization dedicated solely to promoting, representing, and supporting the region's dynamic and diverse theater community, theatreWashington is truly a leading player on our cultural scene. Its internationally-recognized Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in local acting, design, direction, and production are just the beginning: the > 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20007, 202-337-4572 theatrewashington.org |
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Woolly Mammoth Theatre CompanyWhat does Woolly want? “To ignite an explosive engagement between theatre artists and the community by presenting plays that explore the edges of theatrical style and human experience.” Since it was first featured in the Catalogue in 2003, Woolly celebrated its 25th and 30th anniversaries – in appropriately dramatic style. It opened an award-winning > 641 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004, 202-312-5260 woollymammoth.net |
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Words Beats & LifeWords Beats & Life meets kids on their own ground and really gets them involved. Working with young people who have unique obstacles to overcome, WBL offers hip-hop inspired arts activities at its DC Urban Arts Academy: interactive workshops in "mixing" (DJ'ing), graphic arts and design, creative writing, and fashion design. A graffiti mural course and > 1525 Newton Street NW, Washington, DC 20010, 202-667-1192 wblinc.org |
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Nonprofits 2003 to 2011 |
Adventure TheatreThe longest-running professional theatre for children and families in the Washington region, Adventure Theatre offers stage adaptations of classic children's stories -- from Jack and the Beanstalk to the Helen Hayes-nominated Goodnight Moon. But it also provides more: a book club where families read together and then watch the piece unfold before their > 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD 20812, 301-634-2265 adventuretheatre-mtc.org |
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African Continuum Theatre Co.For the past 22 years, African Continuum has been more than just a theater company. It has given voice, respect, and honor to under-served populations through live performance and vibrant community engagement. The only African-American theater company in DC, ACTCo has produced over 35 professional productions, including seven world premieres – earning > 3523 12th Street NE, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20017, 202-399-7993 ext 101, 202-534-8025 africancontinuumtheatre.com |
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Alexandria Symphony OrchestraThe Alexandria Symphony Orchestra combines a commitment to artistic excellence with a dedication to entertaining and educating a wide range of audience members -- from the seasoned subscriber to the 8-year-old attending a concert for the first time. Generous discounts for seniors, students, families, and youth organizations (Girl Scouts can earn a > 2121 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 608, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-548-0885 alexsym.org |
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American Youth Philharmonic OrchestrasRecognized as one of the nation’s leading youth orchestra organizations, the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras provides orchestral training and performance experience to more than 400 of the most talented young musicians ages 7 to 21 from Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. Students are selected in a competitive audition > 4026 Hummer Road, Annandale, VA 22003, 703-642-8051 aypo.org |
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The Art LeagueThe philosophy of The Art League is simple: nurture the artist and you enrich the entire community. For seasoned artists and curious newcomers alike, The Art League provides accessible exhibition space and classes at all levels, from drawing to sculpture and from printmaking to fiber arts. Class fees are low and scholarships ensure accessibility. In > 105 North Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-549-5450 theartleague.org |
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Atlas Performing Arts CenterA once-abandoned movie theatre complex in Northeast DC reopened in 2006 as the Atlas Performing Arts Center: a visionary, community-based organization committed to the development of the H Street corridor and the growth of DC's professional artists. With four performance spaces and a welcoming lobby and cafe, this 59,000-square-foot center provides a > 1333 H Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-399-7993, ext 128 atlasarts.org |
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Bowen McCauley DanceFounded in 1996 by dancer, teacher, and choreographer Lucy Bowen McCauley, whose dual training in music and dance is the hallmark of her choreography, BMDC is known for its live music, talented corps of dancers, and the intense musicality of its artistic director and founder. Through performances, workshops, and community outreach, BMDC energizes > 818 N Quincy Street, Suite 104, Arlington, VA 22203, 703-524-4641 bmdc.org |
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Capital FringeTake a community of young, emerging artists who need opportunities to present their work to a larger audience; pair it with an adventurous arts audience eager to take a gamble on what's fresh and cutting-edge; then watch Capital Fringe emerge. Each year the Fringe connects over a hundred groups of artists with some 20,000 audience members who > 607 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202.737-7230 capitalfringe.org |
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Capitol Hill Arts WorkshopThe arts create challenge; the arts create common ground; the arts must be accessible to all: these are the rallying cries of Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, which serves all ages and provides tuition assistance for youth and adult classes. Offerings include photography, writing, visual arts, textiles, ceramics, acting, and dance. CHAW offers after-school > 545 7th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, 202-547-6839 chaw.org |
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Children's Chorus of WashingtonAs after school programs face budget cuts that force them to reduce services or close down entirely, the real casualties are the youngsters. But Children’s Chorus of Washington helps fill the void. Many choristers come with no formal musical training and little or no opportunity to learn and perform music in a rigorous and intensive environment. Some > 4626 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20016, 202-237-1005 childrenschorus.com |
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The Choral Arts Society of WashingtonThe Choral Arts Society of Washington is a small but mighty force on the DC arts scene, bringing the power of choral music to thousands of people each year through concerts, recordings, broadcasts, special events, and community and education programs. Its Annual Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a cherished community tradition, provides an > 5225 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 603, Washington, DC 20015, 202-244-3669 ext 100 choralarts.org |
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CityDance EnsembleA leader in high-quality arts programming for our city's most at-risk students, CityDance has introduced music, movement, and inspiration to tens of thousands of DC-area children. Students ages 3 to 88 explore ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop in over 70 studio classes. CityDance Early Arts sparks an early love of dance through arts-integrated school > 1111 16th Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036, 202-347-3909 citydance.net |
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Class Acts ArtsThe arts play a critical role in children's lives: through theater and dance, drawing and singing, they are not only able to express themselves, but to explore a world beyond the classroom walls. While the arts have faced devastating cutbacks in many schools, Class Acts Arts ensures that creativity has a place. Since 1995, it has brought culturally > 8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 303, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 588-4474 classactsarts.org |
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Critical ExposurePicture equality: give cameras to kids; train them in documentary photography and writing; encourage them to capture images that illustrate the realities of their lives; and show them how to use photographs and writing to tell their stories and advocate for improvements in their schools and communities. This is the idea, at once straightforward and > 1816 12th Street NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC 20009, 202-745-3745 ext 20 criticalexposure.org |
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CulturalDC (formerly Cultural Development Corporation)Before canvas or costumes, one thing is on every artist’s wish list: space. In a city where real estate is both scarce and expensive, artists are hard pressed to find a gallery or theater to call home. Fortunately, CulturalDC makes space for art. Partnering with local businesses and developers, CulturalDC creates and maintains high-quality performance, > 916 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, (202) 315-1308 culturaldc.org |
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Dance ExchangeOne of the first companies to foster an intergenerational approach to dance -- performers range in age from 25 to 74 -- and to use dancers of different sizes and physical capabilities -- slim and large, professional and non-professional, in their wheelchairs and on their feet -- Liz Lerman Dance Exchange has, for over three decades, created > 7117 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912, 301-270-6700 ext 13 danceexchange.org |
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The Dance Institute of WashingtonWhen Fabian Barnes retired from the Dance Theatre of Harlem he possessed two important things: a $7,000 pension and the desire to give back to others what dance had given to him. Barnes’s dream was to offer year-round, high-quality, pre-professional training to Washington, DC teens – regardless of their ability to pay. Today, DIW has a brand new > 3400 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010, 202.371.9656 danceinstitute.org |
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DC Jazz FestivalWhen can over 100,000 people experience the world's best jazz performers – from Roberta Flack to Poncho Sanchez to the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars? The answer is: every summer at over 50 venues in 20 neighborhoods of Washington. In celebration of our nation's original art form, the DC Jazz Festival offers exciting programs, and features internationally > 2550 M Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20037, 202-457-7628 dcjazzfest.org |
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The Delaplaine Arts CenterThe place positively hums. A full schedule of multi-media, multi-skill, multi-cultural exhibitions of paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, installation art and more enriches the lives of residents and visitors to Frederick. As befits a community arts center, The Delaplaine strives to maintain a nice balance between the familiar and the > 40 South Carroll Street, Frederick, MD 21701, 301-698-0656 delaplaine.org |
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District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC)A veritable hub of activity for individual artists, community groups, fledgling theatre companies, and professional groups without a home base, District of Columbia Arts Center is an incubator for young, emerging artists and arts groups. DCAC provides a structured environment in which artists not only present their art, but also gain the practical > 2438 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-462-7833 dcartscenter.org |
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Encore Stage & StudioTheater is for everyone – of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. And no one understands this better than Encore Stage & Studio. A community children’s theatre with a strong educational mission, Encore has produced 165 full-scale, high-quality plays for over 225,000 audience members – and every role, from leading player to ensemble, has been held by > PO Box 969, Arlington, VA 22216, 703-548-1154 Ext. 8 encorestage.org |
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Fairfax Symphony OrchestraFounded as a volunteer orchestra in 1957 -- the Symphony's business was conducted for years around board members' kitchen tables -- FSO has now been a professional orchestra for over half of its half century. Its six-concert Masterworks Series at George Mason University's Center for the Arts mixes world-renowned performers and tomorrow's young stars > 3905 Railroad Avenue, Suite 202N, Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-563-1990 fairfaxsymphony.org |
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Free Minds Book Club & Writing WorkshopIn 2010, more than 100 males ages 16 and 17 were charged as adults for felony crimes and incarcerated at the DC Jail. On average, they read at a fifth-grade level and many see criminal activity as their only recourse when they return home. Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop uses books and creative writing to empower young inmates (450 in the last > 2201 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, 202-758-0829 freemindsbookclub.org |
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Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and CultureA step into Glen Echo Park is a step into history. It began as a Chautauqua Assembly in 1891 before serving as a popular amusement park for nearly 80 years. And since 2002, the Glen Echo Park Partnership, in collaboration with the National Park Service and Montgomery County, has orchestrated the park’s incredible revitalization – populating the park > 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD 20812, 301-634-2225 glenechopark.org |
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Joe's Movement Emporium/World Arts FocusOpen 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, for classes, rehearsals, performances, and arts education programs, Joe's Movement Emporium is a hub of cultural and community activity. Home to more than 25 regional artists and groups who create, perform, and teach in its 20,000 square-foot facility, Joe's also invests heavily in after-school programs (2:30-6pm > 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD 20712, 301-699-1819 joesmovement.org |
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Joy of Motion Dance CenterDance is for Everyone! That is the rallying cry of Joy of Motion Dance Center, which embraces a wide range of dance and dancers from Middle Eastern to flamenco, hip hop to ballet, West African to tap. Students are first-timers and professionals, 13-month to 90-year-olds, tuition-paying students and those in Project Motion Community Outreach for whom > 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-399-6764 joyofmotion.org |
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Life Pieces To MasterpiecesAt first glance, there is meager material for artistic inspiration in Washington’s public housing projects. Young males living east of the Anacostia River often grow up without fathers, in families plagued by poverty and substance abuse. But at Life Pieces to Masterpieces, “apprentices” use paint, storytelling, rap, and poetry to make something of > C/O Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School, 5600 Eads Street NE, Washington, DC 20019, 202-399-7703 lifepieces.org |
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MusicLink FoundationWith members of the National Symphony Orchestra on the Board, these folks know talent when they hear it. But talent doesn’t always mean opportunity for students who cannot afford private music lessons. MusicLink offers scholarships to budding musicians recommended by their music teachers – and private lessons mean the opportunity to excel. In its > 1043 N. McKinley Rd., Arlington, VA 22205, 703-534-9490 musiclinkfoundation.org |
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National PhilharmonicWith its long-standing history of offering high-quality performances and reasonably priced tickets for the widest possible audience, the National Philharmonic is a significant player on the Greater Washington cultural scene. The orchestra's concert selections appeal not only to music aficionados but also to those less familiar with the classical > 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852, 301-493-9283 nationalphilharmonic.org |
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Project CreateProject Create has found its niche as an after-school provider for some of the most damaged and impoverished children in Washington, DC -- those without permanent homes or stability in their lives. Working at five transitional housing sites in partnership with Community of Hope and So Others Might Eat, Project Create's professional artists teach small, > 2401 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037, 202-660-2555 projectcreatedc.org |
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Quest: arts for everyoneAt Quest, inclusive casts and production staff create visual theater so powerful that the spoken word becomes … superfluous. Using mime, gesture, masks, dance, and digital media, what sets this physical theatre company apart is its desire to reach through the barriers of hearing to embrace multicultural and mixed-ability actors and stage crew in order > 7414 Newburg Drive, Lanham, MD 20706, 301-552-1703 quest4arts.org |
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Sitar Arts CenterWhen Sitar Arts Center opened in the basement of an apartment building, the idea was simple: create a safe, nurturing, after-school environment in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, where 80% of students come from low-income households. And let the arts flourish. Well, flourish they did. In just a decade, Sitar has evolved into a multidisciplinary arts > 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Suite 101, Washington, DC 20009, 202-797-2145, ext 100 sitarartscenter.org |
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Step Afrika! USAWhen a young graduate of Howard University traveled to Africa in 1991, he came across the gumboot dance. Created by South African mineworkers, it bore a strong resemblance to the stepping he had learned in his college fraternity. He later met members of the Soweto Dance Theatre, and the Step Afrika International Cultural Festival was born – the first > 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-399-7993, ext 102 stepafrika.org |
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Theatre Downtown, Inc., t/a The Washington Stage GuildAt the Washington Stage Guild, committed actors, artisans, and administrators are looking to create a stir of their own. The Stage Guild produces works that other area companies often overlook: lesser known works of famous playwrights, neglected classics, foreign plays unfamiliar in this country, and new plays of merit. The Guild presents the works of > 4018 Argyle Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20011, 240 582-0050 stageguild.org |
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The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic ArtsIsolated immigrant students, expelled youth working toward a GED, young men in juvenile detention, seniors in assisted living: everyone has a story to tell, a voice that needs to be heard, a life that’s waiting to be transformed. At The Theatre Lab School they get to tell those stories; teamwork and training help them sort through their lives and > 733 8th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202-824-0449 ext22 theatrelab.org |
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United States Capitol Historical SocietyRecent surveys have revealed a woeful lack of historical education in the United States – and this is true even for DC students who live in a city with a wealth of learning opportunities. But many have never even visited the Capitol. The non-partisan (and non-governmental) US Capitol Historical Society is committed to turning things around. Programs > 200 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-543-8919 ext 22 uschs.org |
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Washington Bach ConsortThe Washington Bach Consort has grown into one of the country's premier Baroque choral and orchestral groups, with a four-concert season, preceded by the free Talking Bach lecture series, that has earned rave reviews from the Washington Post ("one of America's finest musical ensembles"). Over the years, the group has made critically acclaimed European > 1010 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005, 202 429 2121 bachconsort.org |
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Washington Improv TheaterWashington Improv Theater presents a year-long season of performances, sharing improvisational theater with thousands of audience members. The joy of taking part in a collaborative process, of creating moments that will never be performed again, is central to the experience of actors and audience members alike. And WIT players do more than perform with > 1835 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-204-7770 washingtonimprovtheater.com |
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Washington RevelsWith its unique combination of traditional performing arts and community participation, Washington Revels blends professionals and non-professionals, children and adults, to create something entirely new. Exploring community traditions in events both staged and informal, large and small, Revels invites us to understand our shared experience – at a time > 531 Dale Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-587-3835 revelsdc.org |
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The Writer's CenterA small hive buzzing with activity, The Writer’s Center nourishes writers of all ages, from youngsters who are just learning to tell their stories, to emerging writers eager to hone their skills and share their work with new audiences. Believing that the craft of writing is unique among the arts for its ability to touch on all aspects of the human > 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20910, 301-654-8664 writer.org |
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WSC Avant Bard (formerly Washington Shakespeare Company)Where can audiences experience the best of classical theater in an intimate setting (just 125 seats!) with a cast composed entirely of local actors? Only at WSC Avant Bard, whose bold and experimental productions of classic and contemporary works have invigorated the Greater Washington arts community for over two decades. As a relatively small company, > c/o Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209, 703-418-4808 washingtonshakespeare.org |
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Young Playwrights' TheaterIt isn't news that low-income, urban youth are especially at risk for disengagement from school. Ethnically diverse and chronically underserved (98% qualify for the Free Lunch Program), they need the cognitive, social, and personal skills that arts education is uniquely suited to offer but that today's stripped-down school budgets just don't provide. > 2437 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-387-9173 yptdc.org |
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