For the second year, Tenleytown Main Street joined neighborhoods across the city in hosting Art All Night: Made in DC on Saturday, September 23. The annual festival celebrates the visual and performing arts, highlighting the creative talents of District residents. Local businesses, community institutions, and public spaces transform into pop-up galleries and stages for an evening of art unlike any other.
Nearly 11,000 attendees took part in events in Tenleytown – more than double the number who attended in 2016. Wisconsin Avenue was filled with music, dance performances, and art lovers of all ages moving among Tenleytown’s 14 art venues.
“Art All Night was incredible — congratulations on putting together an amazing experience! I have never seen so much activity and excitement in the neighborhood,” said local resident Laura Ressler.
The nighttime celebration not only showcased local artists, but also highlighted area businesses. Festival-goers explored exhibits at Tenleytown shops, and filled restaurants as they enjoyed dining and drinking between Art All Night performances. Business owners told Tenleytown Main Street that the crowds led to increased sales and business leads, as well as strong brand exposure.
Tenleytown Main Street featured more than 70 artists and performance groups during the festival, drawing predominantly from the greater Tenleytown community, though artists from across the city were represented at the event. Art installations included photography, paintings, drawings, sculpture, mixed media, textiles, jewelry, and more.
In addition to exhibits and performances, Art All Night in Tenleytown offered ample opportunities for attendees to interact with and create art of their own. Festival-goers took part in a dance flash mob and mini-classes, workshops on silk painting and Japanese paper lanterns, henna art, and craft projects for kids.
“Congratulations to you all on the lovely event last night! It was beautifully organized and great fun. It really was something for all ages to enjoy together,” wrote Mary Kavanagh after the event.
Tenleytown Main Street thanks our generous local sponsors – American University, Byrdsmiles Orthodontics, Circle Management Company, Douglas Development Corporation, Keller Williams Capital Properties, Roadside Development, State Farm Insurance agent Sonia Ntuk, Tenley Bar & Grill, and Urban Investment Partners – as well as the scores of artists and volunteers who made this event possible.
Art All Night: Made in DC is presented by the Department of Small and Local Business Development in partnership with Destination Congress Heights, Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets, H Street Main Street, North Capitol Street Main Street, Shaw Main Streets, and Tenleytown Main Street, with financial support from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
More details about Art All Night, including a gallery of photos from this year’s event, are available online at https://tenleytownmainstreet.org/event/art-all-night/
Photo credits: Judy Licht Photography