Meeting on possible GLBT Arts Festival

On December 13, 2003, a group of us (Carlos Arias, Scott Brooks, TC Duong, Larry Guillemette, Carol Wheeler and I) met with Nick Curto of All Out Arts in New York City. Nick was kind enough to travel to DC to talk about organizing a regional (as in mid-Atlantic) conference on glbt arts here in DC.

All Out Arts is a 501(c)(3) organization of glbt performance artists. The all volunteer organization has produced a series of festivals (focusing on theatre) since 1995 and has had great success.

Our discussion was rather brain-stormy and freewheeling, but in essence, there was a growing consensus to look at Pride 2004 as a good time to offer several seminars/workshops for glbt artists and some performance opportunities. Larry Guillemette offered to float the idea to the Pride Committee for its endorsement while Nick was going to discuss the idea with the All Out Arts Board in mid-January.

The barest outline would be:

Friday, June 11, opening of Triangle Artists' Group (TAG) show at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 7th and G Streets, SE (show to run 1-2 weeks) -- details to be further negotiated with Capitol Hill Art League Saturday, June 12, late morning to 3 PM -- workshops/seminars, adjourn to attend Parade Saturday, June 12, evening concert Sunday, June 13, performances at Arts Corner Stage

We also discussed ways to incorporate film into the weekend.

Further discussion of these ideas will be on the agenda of the next Consortium meeting, which is coming up relatively soon, I believe.

Jill Strachan