ART TO GO-GO
KRISTINA NOELL
A LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANACOSTIA BID
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It is with great excitement that the Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) presents the second annual Arts and Culture District Magazine! This publication is a celebration of the rich creativity and dynamic energy that define the Anacostia Arts and Culture District—Art to Go-Go. Our community is an ever-growing hub of artistic expression and we invite you to visit, explore and engage with the artists, businesses and cultural experiences that make our district thrive.
This year, we are shining a spotlight on the vital intersection of Arts and Economic Impact. Creativity is not just a form of expression - it is a driver of economic growth, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and community revitalization. In recognition of those who fuel our local creative economy, we are thrilled to host our inaugural Arts & Economic Impact Awards Ceremony on May 14th. This special event will honor individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding contributions and leadership in galvanizing the artistic landscape of Anacostia. Their dedication ensures that our artists are continually
supported, empowered and inspired with new opportunities and we extend our deepest gratitude to them.
We hope you enjoy this issue, that highlights the vibrancy and significance of Anacostia’s arts scene. But more importantly, we encourage you to come experience Art to Go-Go firsthand. Stroll through our corridors, visit our thriving local businesses, take a guided mural tour and - of course - immerse yourself in the joy of creating art. The arts are more than just a cultural cornerstone; they are a catalyst for economic sustainability and community pride.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. We look forward to celebrating the power of the arts with you.
Warmly,
Take a tour of the Anacostia Arts and Culture District’s murals
Meet new people and visit new places in Art to Go-Go
Eat, shop, play, pray, learn and see in and around Anacostia
Art to Go-Go is 2 years old! See how we celebrated
Calling all artists! Visit our new website
Diarize these important dates and events in 2025
Arts and culture play an important role in Anacostia’s economy 04 CONTENTS 08 06 12 14 15 16
MARKETING AND PROGRAM MANAGER
Ashley Templeton
DESIGN
Richard Soben
COVER
PRODUCTION EDITING FEATURES
Matthew McClure
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jeremy Reaves
Unique, The Light Within
Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE El Mac, Aise Born and Aniekan Udofia IMAGE COURTESY EL MAC
ARTS AND CULTURE ARE THE BEDROCK OF ANACOSTIA’S THRIVING ECONOMY.
Matthew McClure
When Kristina Noell stepped in as Executive Director of the Anacostia BID in 2018, she knew she was about to be immersed in local art and creativity. “What we did was look at what was already here that we could amplify, and that’s how the arts and culture angle came about. We knew that whatever we did, art had to be at its core.”
When Noell speaks at the many events that draw crowds to the streets of the city’s official arts and culture district (called Art to Go-Go), she frequently mentions what she calls ‘smart growth’, or “finding out what the community embraces and leveraging it.” Noell’s attuned to the fact that in Anacostia, as in many towns and cities across America, bold and creative pioneers have always laid the foundations of sustainable growth. Creativity and culture have always been pivotal in promoting economic growth and development in America, perhaps especially during the tough times. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal employed thousands of artists and creative practitioners to re-inspire America after the crushing losses of the Great Depression in 1929. The 1930s were a time of unparalleled ingenuity. Think Art Deco skyscrapers, Dorothea Lange’s haunting images of middle America and soaring, stylized murals depicting workers collectively rebuilding the country. It even resulted in the formation of an entirely new artform- Social Realism - that mirrored the challenges and concerns of citizens struggling to make ends meet. In 2021, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Bureau of Economic Analysis revealed some jaw dropping stats: Arts and culture accounted for 4.4 percent of America’s gross domestic product, a figure of over $1 trillion. In fact, the value of the arts in-
dustry grew by an astounding 13.7% despite Covid-19 lockdowns.
PUBLIC WORKS
+70
400
PAID ARTIST JOBS IN 2024
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SHUTTLE RIDERSHIP PER DAY
Creativity is, in a literal sense, the public face of Anacostia. Bassett Furniture’s Big Chair, a 19-foot sculptural copy of an iconic Duncan Phyfe design, stands proudly at the intersection of V St SE and Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE as a beacon of homegrown economic development. Its seat became a temporary home to Rebecca Kirby in 1960, whose daily activities – visible through glass walls – attracted hundreds of visitors to the neighborhood daily, all of them bringing cash to spend in nearby stores. In more recent history, Art to Go-Go commissioned 12 new murals in partnership with Murals DC that embellish the urban landscape. You can visit all of them through a self-guided tour offered online at arttogogo.org and learn about local history and icons through works by eminent creatives like Jay Coleman, Aniekan Udofia, Luis Del Valle and El Mac while stopping to shop, eat and drink at
local cafes, studios and restaurants. Noell explains that it’s all part of the BID’s daily work to involve Anacostians in forging places and spaces with a spirit of intentionality while also inviting new visitors and maintaining sidewalks, streetlamps, signage and a myriad of other mundane yet crucial tasks that are the firing pistons in the engines of investment. “You have to be attractive in many different ways. We leverage the arts and culture district to do that and challenge a preconceived identity that nobody in this community wanted or deserved.” There are plenty of tasks remaining. On her many walks through the neighborhoods of Anacostia, Noell sees daily the evidence of a history of contestation in Anacostia: Legacy residents opposed to developments that haven’t always worked in their favor or parachute activists deploying templated solutions that don’t authentically speak to the uniqueness of the people they’re meant to elevate. “There’s still a lot of that that we’re working on now, but this community has been very resilient. I always want to look within first and I’m solution-oriented. When you talk about economic development, we have to reconnect the disconnects and we’re using art to do that.” The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s designation of Anacostia as the city’s official Arts and Culture District in early 2023 - the result of heavy lobbying
by Noell herself - released a much-needed funding stream that the Anacostia BID has used to enhance and improve Anacostia’s existing jewels through a lens of environmental design focused on cleanliness and public safety. “We’ve got it all!” Noell says. “Waterfront, national parks, amazing businesses, little pockets of historic relevance to the shaping of DC and the country. Frederick Douglass used to walk these streets every day!”
+75% EVENT ATTENDANCE PER YEAR
+70% RESTAURANT REVENUE PER EVENT
In historically underserved communities across the country and the world, questions about marginalizing existing communities or pushing people out always pepper discussions related to revitalization and improvement. Forming Art to GoGo was an ingenious solution to inviting local ownership and engagement in a process that can sometimes be a little sticky. Change, after all, is never easy. “You can be your own gentry and have cool things and have a beautifully developed environment that you’ve invited.” Noell explains. “I think we’re moving in the right direction with regards to integration. We’ve been able to integrate art in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the neighborhood. We’re super proud of that.”
Transformational placemaking in action
The Anacostia BID, DDOT, the DC Office of Planning, the 11th Street Bridge Park, the American Society of Landscape Architects and local artists meet regularly to discuss beautification plans for the underpass connecting Marion Barry Ave SE with Anacostia Park. As the gateway point between historic Anacostia’s business corridor and Anacostia Park, this underpass is a crucial connection between the neighborhood and the rest of the city. It has to invite and entice. The Anacostia BID welcomes feedback on strategies to highlight this important connection between historic Anacostia and the park and river through creative solutions to the built environment that solicit further investment and engagement. Learn more about this project at arttogogo.org/295-underpass/
University of Maryland Landscape Architecture graduate students proposing some creative solutions for the new 295 underpass design
Miles MacGregor - or El Mac- is an LA-based artist who collaborated with Aise Born and Aniekan Udofia on the large scale acrylic and spray painted mural adorning the new Department of Housing headquarters facing Shannon Pl SE. “The collaboration process is like making music, like Jazz. You take turns letting each other do your thing.” El Mac’s work “is influenced by religious and devotional art. I enjoy painting regular people in a way that adds majesty. My work is stylized in a way that’s hopefully a bit vague so that it can be interpreted as looking like a lot of people.”
Three revolutionary African American men stare down at you from the double-volume street-facing wall of Murphy’s Auto Body Shop. Martin Luther King Jr, a young Marion Barry and a stern-looking Malcolm X look like they have a lot to say. And that’s the point, says artist Jay Coleman. “Martin Luther King is pointing at the community saying ‘Be accountable. Stop shooting each other. I’m gone. My name is on the street and my picture is here. Be accountable.” Coleman has depicted Marion Barry before. “I decided to do a young version of Marion Barry. I put him in between the two men because he came to DC because of Martin Luther King. Some of his ideologies were influenced by Malcolm X. The swirls of paint represent the ideologies being shared between the three men with Barry as a conduit.” Coleman’s mural is a recording of important chapters of American history. “I want people to stop and ask questions and induce community inquiry.”
ROSE JAFFE
INTO THE LIGHT
DC born and based Rose Jaffe’s murals explode with brightly-hued forms imbued with abundant energy. “I’ve found DC to be a wonderful place to build an art business and pursue public art.” Jaffe explains. For her mural on the side of Truist Bank’s Anacostia branch, you might notice a few references to Henri Matisse and Keith Haring in the color palette and treatment of figures. Stylized lotus flowers hint at a connection to the nearby Anacostia River. “One of the beautiful things about public art is that people can interpret it in a way that speaks to them. My work right now is very focused on these large figures that can be representational of anyone. I’ve been using them a lot in my public art to signify ideas of community and connectedness. These figures are floating and dancing, light and playful. They’re reaching towards each other because I’m a believer in the strength of community connections.”
Luis Del Valle’s Echoes of Anacostia is a tribute to the citizens that have called this neighborhood East of the Anacostia River home and those that still do. “I really wanted to capture the history of Anacostia, starting with the Nacotchtank Native Americans.” For Del Valle, historical accuracy was important in depicting a member of the tribe so he consulted an historian and curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. “That was instrumental in getting the correct dress and accessories. That’s all very important.” Del Valle’s work educates through beauty. “I try to bring information so that people can appreciate it. I like to paint friends, family and community members.”
Together with Murals DC and the DC Department of Public Works, the Anacostia BID partnered with 12 mural artists to paint 12 murals across Art to Go-Go, DC’s official Arts and Culture District. Now with more than 40 murals brightening the urban landscape and reconnecting DC residents to their past, present and future, Anacostia is right behind Berlin, Philadelphia or Detroit as one of the world’s top street art destinations.
Wings and Seafood
1916 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE.
Make a stop for lunch, dinner or a snack and pick up delicious gyros, cheesesteaks, burgers, quesadillas, salads or something sweet. Comfort food guaranteed.
Bridge District
600 Howard Road SE.
Redbrick LMD’s Zero Carbon rated retail/residential/recreation development is open for prospective tenants. The Alula, Stratos and Poplar House apartments offer panoramic views of the Anacostia River, with plenty to keep you occupied in and around Anacostia and the Navy Yard. Drop in at Chef Elias Taddesse’s Mélange for top-class fusion soul food, grab a beer at Atlas Brew Works or a pie at Andy’s Pizza. www.bridgedistrictdc.com
Grounded
1913 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
Looking to feel Grounded? Then stop in at Mignon Hemsley and Danuelle Doswell’s Plant Shop, Café and Wellness Studio in the heart of historic Anacostia. Whether you’re looking for plants to enliven your work or home, a meditation class, an iced matcha latte or simply somewhere to escape the stress of the day, Grounded offers it all. Sign up for an Infinite Wellness Membership, or attend one of the many activities, group hang-outs or chess clubs hosted in their soothing space. www.feelgrounded.com
Caribbean
Citations
1412 Marion Barry Ave SE
Hankering after a taste of the islands in ward 8? Michael Sterling’s Caribbean cuisine is an authentic and tasty tribute to the kaleidoscope of flavors and cultural influences that have shaped the Caribbean for hundreds of years. Traditional Jerk Chicken is a menu staple, plus curried goat, flavorful oxtails and a spicy chicken curry you’ll want more of. www.caribbean-citations.com
Go-Go Museum
1920 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
Go-Go music, born in 1976 and iconically high-tempo with liberal splashes of Funk, Hip-Hop and Soul, is undoubtedly the sound of DC. After all, this city is where it started and its name inspired the branding of DC’s official Arts and Culture District. The country’s first museum dedicated solely to the history of Go-Go music - founded by Ronald Moten and co-curated by Natalie Hopkinson - takes a deep dive into the storied past, vibrant present and promising future of Go-Go: Experience holograms of Go-Go celebrities like Anwan ‘Big G’ Glover and Gregory ‘Sugar Bear’ Elliot and learn about the history of a musical style that city authorities once tried to snuff out. Are you a budding musician? Make use of the fully equipped professional recording studio in the Museum basement or host your next event at the outdoor pavilion. The Museum is open from 10am to 4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. DC residents get in free and guided tours at $20 per person are available upon request. Got a large group? Pre-order meals from the Go-Go Museum Cafe in advance. www.gogomuseumcafe.com
Capital Hill Boys Club (CHBC) Anacostia Murals Festival
Various locations | April 21 – May 18
Everyone already knows Dietrich Williams and Mark Garrett’s invaluable contributions to teaching their community the importance of creativity in their space at 1603 Marion Barry Ave SE, which is also an incubator for their residency program and after school art clubs. This month sees them launch the first Anacostia Murals Festival, which “will feature live mural painting, interactive workshops, art exhibitions and community activities”. Expect exciting vendors, great food, panel discussions, and the transformation of urban spaces through public art. @chbcartgallery
MLK King Gyro Kabob
2122 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE.
What’s more delicious than authentic Greek gyro, cooked on an upright spit, juicy and succulent? Stop here on your lunch break for lamb or chicken gyro over rice or in a pita bread, with a side of salad and tzatziki. Don’t forget the tiramisu for dessert! www.kinggyrokabob.com
TRACK SHUTTLE
ART TO GO-GO SHUTTLE SCHEDULE
MON–FRI 7AM–11AM | 4PM–8PM SAT 11AM–5PM SUN
SKYLAND TOWN CENTER
ANACOSTIA RESERVE PARKING
CONGRESS HEIGHTS STATIONS ST. ELIZABETHS E PARKING GARAGE
ANACOSTIA METRO STATION W & MLK PARKING LOT 13TH & S ST SE
Sweet Tooth Cafe and Cakes
2323 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE.
The Thomas family’s mission to provide high quality, mouthwatering Halal meals, desserts and cakes to their community started almost 30 years ago. Chef Stephen Thomas was born and raised not far from their newly opened location on Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, so opening a branch in the heart of historic Anacostia - while still keeping the original location in PG County - is a homecoming of sorts. A Food Access Fund Grant from the Mayor’s office has enabled the Thomases (and their daughter Amina) to bring fresh, nutritious delicacies to customers in Anacostia, including signature dishes like their curry chicken salad, grilled salmon and white chocolate mousse cake. Amina Thomas’s food allergies have been an inspiration instead of an obstacle. She’s curated a 100% vegan, plantbased range of meals that she’s excited for you to sample. Try their brunch menu, available on Saturdays and Sundays. www.sweettoothcafeandcakes.com
Dreaming Out Loud
1231-B Marion Barry Ave SE.
In partnership with DMPED, Freshfarm, Martha’s Table, City Blossoms, Nourish DC and DC Central Kitchen (amongst others), this Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative brings nutritious, locally-grown food straight to your door or business. When it opens this year, DOL’s Marion Barry Ave Food Market at 1303 Marion Barry Ave SE will provide fresh, healthy food to residents East of the river. Check out their instagram @doldc to find out how to donate to this worthy cause. www.dreamingoutloud.org
Cedar Hill Regional Medical
Center GW Health
1200 Pecan St SE.
Since the controversial shuttering of the DC General Hospital in 2001, city residents in far NE and SE have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of convenient, comprehensive and quality medical care in their neighborhoods. The Cedar Hill Medical Center will have capacity for over 150 beds when it opens this month, in addition to adult and pediatric care and - maybe most importantlymaternal health and delivery services for expectant mothers. www.cedarhillregional.com
NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENTS
Project Create DC
2208 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. In 1994
Reverend John Wimberly Jr started the first after-school art classes for local kids at Thaddeus Stevens Elementary. Last year, Project Create DC marked 30 years of a tradition of growing and supporting kids and families through creative expression. From small beginnings, Project Create has grown to become a familiar face in Anacostia. Beginning in 2015 when they first started offering art classes to children in Ward 8, to putting down permanent roots 4 years later at their current location, Project Create DC still offers kids and parents a daily lineup of free programs focused on art therapy and education (like Family Art Day, professional development through the arts and HeArt Space Therapy). www.projectcreatedc.org
Sycamore and Oak
1110 Oak Dr SE.
This temporary timber retail village is located on the historic St Elizabeths East campus alongside the Carefirst Arena. Designed by Adjaye Associates (architect for the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the Mall), it houses retail and food spaces and venues for events. Shop at The Museum, Chris Pyrate and Soufside Creative, then grab a bite to eat at The Fresh Food Factory or Dionne’s. www.sycamoreandoak.com
Paola’s Breakfast &
Fry Chicken
1918 14th St SE.
Coming soon: 11th Street Bridge Park
11th Street SE.
The 11th Street Bridge Park will include a community porch, cafe, urban gardens, a kayaking pier and an environmental education center.
www.bbardc.org/project/11th-streetbridge-park
Anacostia Park
Art To Go-Go Mural Tour
Various locations
GOOD EATS PLAY TIME #HAUL
Generous portions of collard greens, cornbread and sweet hibiscus tea at good prices.
Turning Natural
THEARC Farm
1901 Mississippi Ave SE.
THEARC Farm is the anchor site for the BBAR (Building Bridges Across the River) network.
www.bbardc.org/farm-garden
Kitchen Savages
1211 Marion Barry Ave SE.
Executive Chef, owner and founder of Kitchen Savages, Darrell Gaston, dishes up tasty food and community support at his vibey restaurant on Marion Barry Ave. SE.
@kitchensavagesdc
Busboys and Poets
2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. Opened in 2018, this is the first Busboys and Poets location in Southeast DC. Don’t miss second Thursdays open mic night. www.busboysandpoets.com
DCity Smokehouse
1301 Marion Barry Ave SE.
This is Melvin Hines and Charese John’s second DCity Smokehouse location but the quality meat and tasty sides - with a winning combination of spices- has stayed the same.
www.dcitysmokehouse.com
Mama’s Pizza Kitchen
2028 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. Southern-inspired BBQ and delicious Italian pizza and pasta served since 1986. www.mamaspizzatogo.com
2025 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. Try Jerri Evans’ acai and pitaya bowls, black bean burgers, veggie and spinach patties and zero-additive juices and juice cleanses. www.turningnatural.com
Star Vending
1107 Marion Barry Ave SE. Beverages, food items and ice cream available for licensed vendors.
Fresh Food Factory
1110 Oak Dr SE.
Amanda Stephenson’s Fresh Food Factory is a retail incubator market designed to serve Ward 8 as a catalyst for food equity and economic development. www.thefreshfoodfactory.com
Capital One Café
1203 Marion Barry Ave SE.
Capital One Cafés serve as neighborhood hubs. Make use of free meeting spaces and consult with friendly Capital One ambassadors to open or service an account. www.capitalone.com
At over 100 acres, Anacostia Park is the perfect place to enjoy a weekend family barbeque, a softball match between friends or a leisurely picnic under a tree on the edge of the river.
www.nps.gov/anac
Fort Stanton Park
1820 Erie St SE.
Fort Stanton and Fort Ricketts were constructed by the Union Army in 1861 to protect the Eastern border of DC during the American Civil War.
www.historicsites.dcpreservation.org
Anacostia Roller Skating Pavilion
1500 Anacostia Dr SE.
The only roller rink in the NPS system. Open dawn to dusk every day. Skates are leased for free.
www.nps.gov/anac/planyourvisit/roller-skating
Barry Farm Recreation Center
1230 Sumner Road SE.
The Center offers a pool, fitness facilities, a computer lab and field and track resources.
www.dpr.dc.gov/BarryFarm
Sandlot Anacostia
633 Howard Rd SE. Cocktails, DJs and food trucks keep this vibey spot adjacent to Suitland Parkway pumping into the early hours.
www.sandlotanacostia.com
Anacostia Recreation Center
1800 Anacostia Dr SE.
This historic leisure facility is home to one of the first public pools in DC to be desegregated in 1949. www.dpr.dc.gov
A self-guided tour of murals throughout Historic Anacostia. www.arttogogo.org
Verbal Gymnastics
Locations based on performance. Community based storytelling and improv performances that always draw crowds. www.verbalgymnastics.com
Anacostia Organics
2022 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. Anacostia Organics is a black woman-owned business and the only legally licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Wards 6, 7 and 8.
www.anacostiaorganics.com
Busboys and Poets Books
2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. A space devoted to strengthening communities through access to socially-conscious literature, healing conversations and exchanges of ideas.
www. busboysandpoets.com/books
Good Hope Hydroponics
1113 Marion Barry Ave SE. Offering advice and equipment for cultivating a green haven in any small space.
@goodhopehydro.dc
The Kitchen Physician
1421 Marion Barry Ave SE. Shawnette Monroe specializes in natural and herbal supplements for immune system support. www.thekitchenphysician.net
La Threadz Couture
1348 Marion Barry Ave SE. Offering custom graphic design services and the best fits in shoes, coats and other wardrobe essentials. www. lathreadz.com
Vintage and Charmed
1231 Marion Barry Ave SE. Located in the Anacostia Arts Center, this boutique is stocked solely with products from female-owned and operated businesses.
@vintagencharmed
Niche by Nubian Hueman
1241 Marion Barry Ave SE. Curator Anika Hobbs celebrates and supports local and international art and creativity. www.nubianhueman.com
Martha’s Outfitters
2204 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. Rejuvenate your entire family’s wardrobe at this community store that offers monthly credit programs.
@marthasoutfitters
CREATE
Valley Place Arts Collaborative
1241 Marion Barry Ave SE. Promoting, supporting and nurturing the arts, culture, and the creative economies in wards 7 and 8. www.valleyplacearts.org
Gallery 2442
2442 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. Pop-up art gallery featuring works by Creative Collective artists. All works are for sale directly through the artist.
Open hours: Thurs-Friday 4:30-8pm. Sat 12:00-4pm.
Anacostia Arts Center
1231 Marion Barry Ave SE. Powered by the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif), the Center is ‘Anacostia’s living room’.
www.anacostiaartscenter.com
Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center
3200 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. Growing the next generation of changemakers in wards 7 and 8. Kids and adults can participate in classes, workshops, exhibitions and enjoy safe spaces for open discussions on topics that affect them. www.chacc.org
Honfleur Gallery
1241 Marion Barry Ave SE.
Hosting a regular schedule of exhibitions and offering residencies to artists from Wards 7 and 8.
www.honfleurgallerydc.com
The Nicholson Project
2310 Nicholson St SE
An artist incubator that also features an exhibition space and a food garden. Regular exhibitions, in-person and virtual artist talks and exhibition programming. www.thenicholsonproject.org
Black Box Theatre
1231 Marion Barry Ave SE.
A versatile and economical space in the Anacostia Arts Center that seats 85 people.
www.anacostiaartscenter.com/rental/ black-box-theatre
Children’s Legacy Theatre (CLT)
2300 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. Creating theater experiences that educate, challenge, and inspire teens to connect to different cultures and ideas. www.childrenslegacytheatre8.org
THEARC Theater
1901 Mississippi Ave SE.
THEARC Theater provides a range of arts and culture programming to uplift and engage Ward 8 residents www.bbardc.org/project/thearc-theater
The Big Chair
1001-1199 V St SE.
A much-loved icon of Anacostia. www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chair_(sculpture)
The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
1901 Fort Pl S.
Offering a schedule of community-focused exhibitions, activities and workshops. www.anacostia.si.edu
Frederick Douglass
National Historic Site 1411 W St SE
Former home of Frederick Douglass, celebrated abolitionist, author, orator and DC’s first Black Marshal. www.nps.gov/frdo
STUDY UP
Anacostia High School
601 16th St SE www.anacostiahs.org
Excel Academy Public School for Girls
2501 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. www.excelps.org5
Ketcham Elementary School
1919 15th St SE. www.profiles.dcps.dc.gov6
Kramer Junior High School
1700 Q St SE. www.myschooldc.org7
Savoy Elementary School
2400 Shannon Pl SE. www.savoyes.org
Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School
2427 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. www.thurgoodmarshallacademy.org
Anacostia Neighborhood Library
1800 Marion Barry Ave SE. www.dclibrary.org/plan-visit/anacostia-library
Eleventh Precinct Building
2301 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
THEARC Campus
1901 Mississippi Ave SE.
A cultural, economic and lifestyle hub for neighborhoods in and around ward 8. www.bbardc.org/project/thearc
WeActRadio
1918 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE. Amplifying the voices of DC residents and the issues close to their hearts since 2011. www.weactradio.com
BLESS!
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church
1244 V St SE. www.stachurchdc.org2
Bethlehem Baptist Church
2458 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE www.bethlehembaptistdc.org3
Delaware Ave Baptist Church
1301 V St SE @Whereyourhealingbegin
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church
2616 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE www.mmbcdc.org
Union Temple Baptist Church
1225 W St SE www.uniontempledc.com
Looking for things to do? Check out our interactive map of all our attractions including restaurants, stores and cultural places of interest.
It’s not an Arts District without public artwork! Curate your own murals tour with over 40 public works in and around Anacostia. Learn about the artist and the story behind the art.
Are you an artist or creative? We invite you to use our website as a platform to share who you are, what you do and how patrons can connect with you. Register to create your own webpage profile and portfolio! Also, use this to find opportunities and resources.
Don’t miss out on what’s coming up! We have programs and events all year long, free and open to the public, whether it’s music festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings and more!
Do you want to learn more about Art to Go-Go? Want to get involved? We’d love to connect with you whether you’re an artist or interested partner!
Earth Week 2025 Hosted by Grounded
Sake & Haiku hosted by the Anacostia BID
Capital Hill Boys Club
Big Chair Discussion: Earth Day Anacostia Arts Center Earth Day Olympics
Road and Valley Place
ART TO GO-GO EVENT CALENDAR 2025
Annual Spoken Word to Go-Go Championship Busboy and Poets Anacostia
