Hollywood is in the middle of a love affair with D.C. Shows like House of Cards, Homeland, and Scandal glamorize the bureaucratic suit-and-tie District lifestyle, transforming mundane Metro rides and mind-numbing cubicle mazes into riveting adventures impacting the state of the union. But Hollywood misses one key aspect of the nation’s capital in its dramatized depiction: the burgeoning D.C. arts scene.
Grounded in a rich tradition, the D.C. arts scene colors every corner of the city with fresh, innovative aestheticism. This multifaceted cultural community, which has fostered musical movements and fueled social change, outshines its contemporaries, even though it can be slightly underground. No matter what you’re looking for— world-renowned artwork, the latest stage productions, local artists and creative atmospheres, or exercise of your creative side— you’ll find it in D.C.
Museums and Galleries
National Gallery of Art
With 16 Smithsonian Museums and countless other museums and local galleries at your fingertips, D.C. is the mecca for free public art. Exhibiting everything from Renaissance masters to major pieces of modern and graphic art, the National Gallery of Art holds more than 1,000 works—including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Western Hemisphere—and is right on the National Mall. Open from 10 am – 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am-6 pm on Sundays, NGA is the perfect place to start your artistic exploration of D.C. It’s free to the public!
The National Gallery of Art’s outdoor sculpture garden, directly across from the Gallery, is the perfect place to explore larger-than-life sculptures by the likes of Roy Lichtenstein. You can go ice-skating on the gallery’s rink in the winter for just $7 with your school I.D. or chill for by the fountain in the summer.
Smithsonians
Hirshorn Museum
source
Many of the other Smithsonian art museums, including the Hirshorn Museum, Freer Gallery of Art, and Portrait Gallery, are also located right in downtown D.C. Smithsonian museums are a great gateway into the city’s art world because they are free, convenient, and welcoming. Catering to everyone from the biggest art buffs to the biggest newbies, the Smithsonian promotes artistic exploration and discussion.
Private Galleries
The Phillips Collection, America’s First Museum of Private Art, is great for a more intimate gallery experience and an immediate feeling of being super cultured. Like many other private art galleries in D.C., the Phillips provides a peek into the dynamic contemporary arts world with hot exhibitions such as “Made in the USA” on American art running until August 31.
Performing Arts
D.C.’s red-hot performing arts scene has put the District on the map for all things theatrical. Anchored by famous institutions including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, D.C. theater has over 65 professional area playhouses performing everything from Shakespeare to experimental avant-garde.
The Woolly Mammoth Theater Company
The WMTC is widely considered the city’s most daring company because of its boundary-breaking, community-oriented work and national influence. Check out the explosive intersection of sexuality and the Supreme Court in “Arguendo,” opening March 31 and running until April 20! Show your GOCard and snag tickets for just $20!
Arena Stage and Shakespeare Theater Company
A leading force in the regional stage movement and in theatrical innovation and scholarship, Arena Stage spotlights American voices and creativity. Be sure to catch the world premiere historical drama “Camp David,” by Pulitizer Prize winner Lawrence Wright, about the quest for peace in the Middle East during the Carter Era from March 21 to May 4. The Shakespeare Theater Company, located right in Gallery Place-Chinatown, also experiments with style and form while doing the Bard justice. These theaters, and countless others, literally bring the arts to center stage and are thus the perfect place to start in exploring D.C. theater. Plus they simultaneously advocate for greater arts education.
Nightlife and Music Venues
9:30 club
source
As one of the largest cities in the Mid-Atlantic, D.C. is also a major stop for musicians and bands on tour, and has awesome music and nightlife. Smaller concert venues like the 9:30 Club and Black Cat attract the hottest alternative and up-and-coming artists, and, if you buy them early enough, tickets can be ridiculously cheap. Bigger name artists (Beyonce anyone?) play at supersized venues like the Verizon Center, Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, or Jiffy Lube Live out in Virginia. Ex-Disney princess and current pop provocateur Miley Cyrus hits the Verizon Center on April 10, tickets $65 on Ticketmaster.
Literary Coffee Houses
Busboys and Poets
source
The city’s plethora of cozy coffee shops is also a great, relaxed way to discover art with espresso in hand. Both “Politics and Prose” and “Busboys and Poets” host authors and book readings, drawing literary heavyweights and newcomers alike. Their walls are decked with local artists’ works and they aim to create a space for progressive dialogue and cultural exploration.
The Arts: Do-It-Yourself Style
Being immersed in aestheticism is awesome, but nothing compares to doing it yourself. Georgetown has a ton of opportunities for creative expression right here on campus. Its countless theater troupes and a Cappella clubs, as well as other artistic organizations and clubs like GU Jam Sesh, celebrate individualism, provide fresh perspectives, and prove just why the arts are so important. Courses and electives also let you try your hand at all different artistic media under the direction of esteemed professors and experts. Open mic nights, such as Uncommon Grounds Coffee Houses every Tuesday, bring the greater D.C. arts scene right to the Hilltop.
(Featured image source)
Margie Fuchs is Senior Managing Editor of BTC
