Artomatic 2009 Takes it to the River

Artomatic 2009 will be held in DC's Capitol Riverfront BID

ARTOMATIC NEWS RELEASE: In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Artomatic will be bringing its trademark one-of-a-kind multimedia arts event to Half Street’s 55 M Street, S.E., in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Riverfront neighborhood in summer 2009, the arts organization announced today.

In conjunction with the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District (BID) and Monument Realty, Artomatic will be presenting more than five weeks of art, music, theater, workshops and more — all of it free for visitors. Located between the U.S. Capitol Building and the Anacostia River and between Barracks Row Main Street and South Capitol Street, the Capitol Riverfront is a vibrant new business center, urban neighborhood, entertainment district and waterfront destination.

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“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Artomatic on this unique arts event. With both Artomatic and Major League Baseball within blocks of one another, the Capitol Riverfront will be the go-to location for summertime entertainment in 2009,” said Michael Stevens, executive director of the Capitol Riverfront BID. “Artomatic sets the stage for the type of future festivals and entertainment that you will see in the Capitol Riverfront at the three new parks — Diamond Teague, The Yards Park and Canal Park — which begin opening spring 2009 through 2011.”

Artomatic 2009 will be held at 55 M Street, S.E., a new 275,000 square feet LEED Silver Class A office building developed by Monument Realty. The building, currently under construction, is located atop the Navy Yard Metro stop and within a block of Nationals Park, home to the Nationals baseball team.

“We are pleased to be hosting Artomatic at 55 M Street for its 10th anniversary,” said Michael Darby, principal of Monument Realty. “It is not only a great opportunity to promote the neighborhood and attract new visitors but also to bring some very talented artists to the Capitol Riverfront.

Held regularly since 1999, Artomatic transforms an unfinished indoor space into an exciting and diverse arts event that is free and open to the public. In addition to displays by hundreds of artists, the event features free films, educational presentations and children’s activities, as well as musical, dance, poetry, theater and other performances. Artomatic 2008, held in D.C.’s NoMa neighborhood, attracted a record-breaking 52,500 visitors and 1,540 participating artists.

The 2009 Artomatic event promises to be an equally appealing destination for D.C. area arts fans as well as those looking for summer entertainment, said Artomatic President Veronica Szalus.

“The D.C. area has a vibrant, energetic arts scene and we are excited to be able to showcase that talent and share it with the community,” Szalus said.

Artomatic 2009 will be held May 29 to July 5. The event will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 1 a.m., and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. Artomatic will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission to Artomatic is always free for visitors.

Registration for participation in Artomatic will open in March and will be open to all artists — including painters, photographers, sculptors, graphic designers, musicians, poets, actors and dancers. Artomatic is an unjuried event, so all artists are welcome, from professionals to beginners. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis and will end once space is filled. To be notified of the date when registration will open or to stay up on other Artomatic news, sign up to receive ArtoNews, the Artomatic newsletter, on the Artomatic Web site.

Artomatic is run entirely by participating volunteers, and new participants are sought year-round. To volunteer and help make plans for Artomatic 2009, e-mail volunteer@artomatic.org.

“Artomatic 2009 will fulfill 10 years of commitment to the growth of our cultural community and help fuel our creative economy,” said Artomatic Chair George C. Koch.

More details on the event will be available on the Artomatic Web site, www.artomatic.org, in coming weeks.

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About Artomatic: Artomatic is a creative community that collaborates to produce and present a free arts spectacular. Participation is open to all, from recognized artists to undiscovered talents, who work in a variety of arts forms. In partnership with the development community, Artomatic transforms unused building space into a playground for expression, serves as a catalyst for community growth in up-and-coming neighborhoods, and helps to grow the creative economy. The nonprofit Artomatic organization is headed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is funded in part by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.artomatic.org

About the Capitol Riverfront BID: The Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District (BID) is dedicated to making the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood clean, safe, friendly and vibrant; to creating the best quality of life in the neighborhood; and to attracting office tenants, residents, retailers and visitors. For more information, visit www.capitolriverfront.org.

About Monument Realty: Monument Realty is an award-winning full service real estate firm. The firm's diverse portfolio includes mixed use, office, residential and hotel properties. Monument Realty has developed more than 5 million square feet of office space, nearly 5,000 residential units and three hotels valued at more than $5 billion. For more information, visit www.monumentrealty.com.