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Art All Night Highlights Local Business, Brings D.C. Community Together

September 15, 2025

Art All Night, a citywide celebration of arts and local creatives, was held across all eight wards of Washington, D.C. on September 12-13, presented by Mayor Muriel Bowser. The event, which began in 2011 as Art All Night: Nuit Blanche D.C., has expanded to feature more than 150 artists across 28 neighborhoods, showcasing music, visual arts, literary works, and performing arts. This year's festival introduced a new mobile app to help attendees navigate the extensive programming while supporting small businesses and local artists.

Who is affected

  • Washington D.C. residents across all eight wards
  • Over 150 local artists and performers
  • Small and local business owners, particularly Black-owned businesses
  • Visitors to the city attending the festival
  • Performers like Danjalé Williams, Eddie Lee, and bands such as Black Alley and Backyard Band

What action is being taken

  • The city is hosting Art All Night and Dine All Night celebrations across Washington D.C.
  • A new mobile app is being provided to help attendees navigate the festival
  • Public spaces are being activated with arts programming to increase foot traffic to small businesses
  • Local artists are performing and showcasing their work throughout the 28 participating neighborhoods
  • Black-owned businesses are being highlighted and given opportunities to showcase their products

Why it matters

  • The event celebrates D.C.'s identity as "the capital of creativity" as stated by Mayor Bowser
  • It brings unity to the community as the city recovers from the recent surge of federal officers
  • It provides economic support to small businesses, especially Black-owned businesses which have a higher concentration in D.C. (35%) compared to the national average (3%)
  • Art All Night creates opportunities for expression and community building through the arts
  • The festival showcases the cultural diversity and artistic talent present throughout Washington D.C.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer