Umbrella Art Fair, the massive free event where Washington, DC’s arts scene converges with creative entrepreneurs, global artists and makers in a declaration of artistic independence, returns for its fourth edition Nov. 15-17 in the Union Market District.
The result of a pioneering coalition forged between arts organizations USAN USAN and community and economic development organization EventsDC, as well as developer EDENS, the Union Market District, and others, the Umbrella Art Fair has quickly become a force in Washington’s arts scene and a formidable economic driver for artists and the community.
At the center of this multi-day event is a free, public art fair that has attracted more than 60,000 visitors since Umbrella’s highly successful 2019 launch. This year, the fair will spotlight approximately 100 local, national and global artists and curators over three Union Market venues: Dock 5, the Plaza at the Dock and two retail spaces in the Gables building.
The Umbrella Art Fair’s key curatorial partner for 2024 will be CulturalDC’s Torrents: New Links to Black Futures, an artist-led program exploring new territories in Black future-building through visual arts, technology, music, film, and performance. Through bringing together the leading arts organizations of Washington, DC and beyond, Umbrella is the premier coalition-led destination art event in the Mid-Atlantic. Torrents will feature 11 artists at the art fair’s Dock 5 exhibition space, as well as present From Atlanta to Venus, an exhibit curated by Lisa Osborne of Flying Horse Studio. Other curators, from renowned graffiti artist Kelly Towles to Gregory Cummins of The Collaboratory to Hamiltonian Artists to Fabiola R. Delgado will also present tightly focused exhibitions within the Umbrella Art Fair. And many art fans’ favorite Washington artists will also return this year, including Nia Keturah, Rose Jaffe, Juan Pineda, Maggie O’Neill and more.
Besides visual arts components, the Umbrella Art Fair offers distinct, enriching programming, including free workshops and panel discussions, with specifics announced in the coming weeks. Gina Chersevani (Buffalo & Bergen, Suburbia, Last Call) will serve up specialty cocktails, beer and wine for purchase at satellite bars throughout the fair.
The Umbrella Art Fair has set itself apart within the art world through a groundbreaking coalition model that re-envisions vacant commercial space as the new nerve centers for creative community and artistic independence. That model allows Umbrella Art Fair to remain commission-free, and to direct 100 percent of all sales to exhibiting artists and curators, most of them women and artists of color. In just three years (2019, 2021, and 2023), the fair has generated an estimated $2.5 million in economic impact for artists as well as the community.
The 2024 Umbrella Art Fair will take place Nov. 15-17 in three Union Market venues, including Dock 5, the Plaza at the Dock and two retail spaces in the Gables building. Out of town guests will receive special rates at nearby hotels The Morrow and Hotel Nell.
The public art fair hours are Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday Nov. 16 from 12pm-10pm, and Sunday, Nov. 17 12pm-8pm. An opening night celebration is Nov. 15 from 6pm-10pm. Admission is free, however a ticket is required for entry. For free tickets, visit Umbrellaartfair.com.
ABOUT UMBRELLA ART FAIR: The Umbrella Art Fair empowers artists through a groundbreaking, commission-free model achieved through collaborative partnership with economic development organizations and developers to activate vacant commercial space to attract tens of thousands of visitors and showcase Washington’s creative community on a national stage. Since its creation by No Kings Collective in 2019, through its stewardship today by USAN USAN, it has proven a true driver of economic opportunities for artists, funneling $700,000 dollars in sales to artists and independent curators.
ABOUT USAN USAN: USAN USAN provides an economic growth engine for artists, creative entrepreneurs, culinary visionaries and vendors by nurturing a vibrant ecosystem of events, experiences and placemaking. Co-founded by muralist and designer and No Kings Collective co-founder Peter Chang and Ally Mumm, co-founder of brand strategy consultancy The Good Neighbor, USAN USAN is the force behind Umbrella Art Fair, REDEYE Night Market, and Studio USAN. For more information, please visit www.usanusan.org or follow @usanusan_ on Instagram.
ABOUT EVENTS DC: Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for Washington, DC, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the LEED Platinum-certified Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the RFK Stadium-Armory Campus (RFK Campus), including Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, The Fields at RFK, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and the Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Events DC also built and serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. Events DC manages Gateway DC, R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center and Entertainment & Sports Arena all conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Events DC), and Twitter (@TheEventsDC) — and on our hub for on-demand event programming on GATHER by Events DC at www.gatherbyeventsdc.com.
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