Q&A with WPA Board Co-Chairs

ASHLEY GIVENS + JOCELYN SIGUE

What distinguishes WPA from other arts organizations?

Ashley Givens: Our long history certainly sets us apart in DC, but our artist-organized program model sets us apart nationally. Very few long-standing arts organizations invite artists to conceive of and curate everything! We adopted the model in 2018 and have watched artists thrive in this new system, with the support and collaboration of our Curatorial Production Manager and the rest of the staff.

Jocelyn Sigue: WPA has always been supportive of Washington, DC artists at all stages of their careers. At our core, we are about the cultivation of artistic talent and creativity and we hope our model continues to inspire artists to bring their ideas to the organization and the larger community. What gets you most excited for the future of WPA?

AG: We get to be part of artistic collaboration and experimentation, and that never gets old! We are increasingly recognized on national and international levels for the work we’re doing, and I am so grateful that we have such a dedicated community of supporters who, for example, participate in the auction year in and year out. What gets me most excited, though, is the way in which WPA makes space for artists to create and commingle.

JS: WPA has worked with many innovative and thought-provoking artists as our mission has evolved and become more focused on collaboration. I’m always surprised by what’s coming next. The last few years have been so challenging politically and socially. WPA, true to its roots, embraced the challenges of these times. I look forward to our

continued work in support of artists as the community rises from the ashes.

What do you find most rewarding about your leadership role with WPA?

AG: We are privileged to work with a dynamic and engaged group of board members who serve this organization with their hearts and minds. We reach so many artists in the DC community and support their projects and their practices in ways that we would never be able to do as individuals.

JS: By taking on this leadership role we become more deeply involved in all aspects of WPA’s work, which enables us to better understand the needs of artists. It’s gratifying to work with our WPA team—the staff and fellow board members—a diverse and thoughtful group who share the same commitment to helping artists create.

How would you describe WPA’s role in the DC arts community?

AG: As the longest-standing visual arts organization in the city, we have historically been a leading force in the arts community. Our role has consistently been one of taking action on behalf of artists. For example, we exhibited Robert Mapplethorpe’s photographs in 1989 when no other local organization would.

JS: And we confronted local government in 2018 to protect artists when they were at risk of being silenced. At the start of the pandemic, WPA was front and center in the effort to provide artists with emergency relief. In each case, the staff and board quickly recognized the urgency of the moment and acted with determination. We hope that the community continues to look to WPA for this type of leadership.

Can you share a little bit about your personal experience with “patronage.” In what ways do you support individual artists, as well as the artist community?

AG: As a former museum curator, I have supported artists in a professional capacity, but serving on the board of directors at WPA has provided me a different way to engage with artists and their work and a lens for viewing that work. I am learning so much about the values that artists hold dear and the type of engagement they hope to secure from patrons. I apply this to my own collecting in the hope of establishing long-term relationships with artists, and I try to inspire friends and family to see the importance in enjoying art every day. It is fundamental to me that everyone should have access to art and all its benefits.

JS: I believe the work of artists is essential to the wellness of our larger community. Artists did their part to help all of us survive the pandemic, keeping us engaged through their creativity, commentary, and varied perspectives. My support for artists starts with that message. But artists need more than words to continue their work. I encourage friends to start or continue their own collections by joining us at the annual auction gala. Collectors’ Night was one of the first events that I attended after joining the board in 2011 and it continues to be one that I look forward to each year.