The 39th annual Mayor’s Arts Awards, presented by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Sept. 30 at the historic Lincoln Theater highlighted and celebrated the District’s creative community.The District’s highest recognition of excellence in the arts, the Mayor’s Arts Awards celebrated artists, arts educators, nonprofit organizations, creative industries and patrons of the arts are honored across all eight wards. The 2024 theme, “Homecoming: Celebrating DC’s Creative Spirit,” reflected the resilience, innovation and fearless creativity that defines the District’s rich artistic heritage.Mayor Bowser highlighted the importance of showing appreciation for the work the District’s artistic community in D.C. are doing.
“Our creative community brings us so much joy and helps us tell the story of the real D.C., and the Mayor’s Arts Awards are an opportunity for us to show our appreciation as a community,” Bowser said.
Sunni and the City and Raheem DeVaughn host the Mayor’s Arts Awards on Sept. 30. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)The event was hosted by Sunni and the City and Raheem DeVaughn, and Director of Content for WHUT TV Angie Ang announced speakers and performers as they took the stage. The event was livestreamed by the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment.Grammy-nominated artist DeVaughn expressed his gratitude for the nominees,“Our gathering here is a real homecoming. The [nominees] make our city a better place to live.” Khalil “Wavy” White, whose GoGo Band, Sounds of the Youth (S.O.Y), received a nomination in the Go-Go category, was honored to simply receive recognition.
“I was stunned for words, you don’t think you’re ever going to make it to something like this… I’m just grateful,” said White.Happenings Throughout the Festive EveningThe night kicked off with Eastern High School’s Marching Band delivering a strong, energetic performance. Then, the crowd stood on their feet as the go-go band Crank Caviar, set the tone for a night dedicated to excellence in the arts.The atmosphere was electric, with everyone in attendance packing seats, donned in their chic attire and sending good vibrations and high energy throughout the building.Guest Ariel Casey was impressed by the fashionable ensembles fellow attendees sported for the festive night.“I’m loving the attire people decided to wear, they are all dressed to impress,” said Casey, a first-time Mayor’s Arts Awards attendee.
Salih Williams, program director of the Deanwood Radio Broadcast Youth Journalism Program, was surprised when he was nominated for an award.“I’m glad that I looked at my [email] because I don’t always check my emails and I was just completely thrown by surprise,” said Williams, who ultimately won an award.“I’m still surprised,” Williams said, before also acknowledging the other honorees and creatives present. “I think this is a great thing of knowing what everyone else is doing that you don’t know about.”Williams said he was happy that his work wasn’t going unnoticed.“It’s good to know that people understand that you can come back to the community and pour in [to it] and develop and create a route. I’ve sent 49 kids to college, 32 of them on full rides,” he said.
Ronald Moten, who presented the award for Go-Go, emphasized the importance of the night’s festivities.“We are thriving, we are preserving our history, preserving our culture and it’s great to come here and recognize people doing that,” said Moten.
Source: Washington Informer
