Our Mission
The only institution in the greater Washington, DC area solely dedicated to fostering underrepresented artists in every discipline.
Become an Artist Member
Free access to space, no fees, higher commission, free workshops, and more. Become a member today and support your visual and performing arts practice like none other.
Pictured Above
The DC Arts Center following a historic renovation
Our Mission
The only institution in the greater Washington, DC area solely dedicated to fostering underrepresented artists in every discipline.
Become an Artist Member
Free access to space, no fees, higher commission, free workshops, and more. Become a member today and support your visual and performing arts practice like none other.
Pictured Above
The DC Arts Center following a historic renovation
Our Mission
The only institution in the greater Washington, DC area solely dedicated to fostering underrepresented artists in every discipline.
Become an Artist Member
Free access to space, no fees, higher commission, free workshops, and more. Become a member today and support your visual and performing arts practice like none other.
Pictured Above
The DC Arts Center following a historic renovation
Our Mission
The only institution in the greater Washington, DC area solely dedicated to fostering underrepresented artists in
every discipline.
Become an Artist Member
Free access to space, no fees, higher commission, free workshops, and more. Become a member today and support your visual and performing arts practice like none other.
Featured Above
The DC Arts Center following historic renovation
Call for Artists
Applications for the 2025 ADMO Art Walk Now Open!
Applications are now open for the 2025 ADMO Art Walk, an annual celebration of creativity that transforms Adams Morgan into an open-air gallery. This vibrant showcase invites artists of all disciplines to display their work in storefronts, businesses, and public spaces, engaging thousands of visitors in a dynamic intersection of art and community. Selected artists will receive promotional support, networking opportunities, and the chance to connect with new audiences in one of D.C.’s most eclectic neighborhoods. Since its inception, the ADMO Art Walk has provided a platform for emerging and established artists alike, reinforcing Adams Morgan’s reputation as a hub for artistic expression
Education
Apply for the 2025 Curatorial Initiative
The Curatorial Initiative reflects The DC Arts Center's commitment to fostering underrepresented artists by offering a rare, year-long opportunity to develop the fundamental skills of artistic curation. Each year, one to two Apprentice Curators are selected to work alongside a professional Mentor Curator in planning and mounting two to three full-scale exhibitions at The DC Arts Center.
First, with the assistance of the Apprentice Curator, the Mentor Curator leads the curatorial process—honing vision, selecting artists, crafting a catalog, and bringing an exhibition from concept to installation. Then, the roles are reversed, and the Apprentice Curator leads the curatorial process with the assistance and advice of the Mentor Curator.
Annual Report
Explore our FY24 Annual Report
We’re thrilled to invite you to explore The DC Arts Center’s first-ever public annual report. This vibrant look back at the past year highlights the creativity, determination, and community that fuel our mission. Inside, you'll find stories of groundbreaking performances, riveting exhibitions, profound educational initiatives, and the invaluable support of our community that made it all possible.
Join us as we share the milestones that have shaped our journey and the impact The DC Arts Center has on the community here in Adams Morgan and the city at large. Dive into the report and see how your support continues to inspire and empower local artistry.
Remembering Joette
Main & Nano Gallery
Honoring the legacy of Dr. Joette James
April 4 - 19, 2025
Pictured Above
Wm. C. Richardson
Daylight City, 2018
Oil & alkyd on canvas
31" x 31"
Curated by
Philip Barlow
Lisa Gilotty
Featuring
The collection of Dr. Joette James
This exhibition features various works from the collection of the late Dr. Joette James and highlights her ardent support for and commitment to the local art community. Joette James began collecting art in the early 2000s and continued through last year. The exhibit showcases some of the work Joette collected to exemplify one aspect of her commitment to supporting the art community. The show features approximately 50 pieces, including some of Washington’s most important and well-known artists – Sam Gilliam, Manon Cleary, and EJ Montgomery, to name a few. This show also demonstrates her support for emerging artists, and many of the works in the exhibit were acquired at DCAC, including early works by Sarah J. Hull, Chris Combs, and Khanh Le. Many different types of media are included, reflecting Joette’s diverse interests. We hope her experience as a collector can serve as a model for those who are interested in how to go about building an art collection.
Four Color
Theorem
Nano Gallery
October 18 - December 15, 2024
By Jiazi Yin
Curated by Liz Ashe
Jiazi Yin’s exhibition invites viewers into a world where individual pieces resonate as powerfully as the collection as a whole. Her square, abstract works challenge conventional orientations, reflecting the profound influence of memory in her artistic practice. Each brush stroke and the interplay of cyanotype and paint demonstrate a distinctive sensitivity, creating an evolving landscape of color, texture, and mixed media. These elements collectively serve as maps, tracing the artist’s journey and sense of self. Four Color Theorem captures poetic fragments of memory and layers them into a rich tapestry, mapping her experiences over recent years in DC and Georgia, and celebrating her expanding community and temporal story.
Pictured Above
Jiazi Yin, Untitled, 2024
Oil on wood panel, 6” x 6”
Four Color
Theorem
Nano Gallery
October 18 - December 15, 2024
By Jiazi Yin
Curated by Liz Ashe
Jiazi Yin’s exhibition invites viewers into a world where individual pieces resonate as powerfully as the collection as a whole. Her square, abstract works challenge conventional orientations, reflecting the profound influence of memory in her artistic practice. Each brush stroke and the interplay of cyanotype and paint demonstrate a distinctive sensitivity, creating an evolving landscape of color, texture, and mixed media. These elements collectively serve as maps, tracing the artist’s journey and sense of self. Four Color Theorem captures poetic fragments of memory and layers them into a rich tapestry, mapping her experiences over recent years in DC and Georgia, and celebrating her expanding community and temporal story.
Pictured Above
Jiazi Yin, Untitled, 2024
Oil on wood panel, 6” x 6”