Mars Arts D.C.
Washington Performing Arts’s signature community engagement initiative
Mars Arts D.C. is Washington Performing Arts’s signature community engagement initiative. The product of a partnership between Washington Performing Arts, Jacqueline Badger Mars, and Mars, Incorporated, Mars Arts D.C. carries out its mission of presenting and elevating the dynamic vibrancy found in the local arts community and business economy through ever-growing artist engagement and long-term communal partnerships. With programmatic elements highlighting the uniqueness and beauty across all eight wards of the District, Mars Arts D.C. offers distinct performance opportunities, artist residencies, signature education programs, and robust integration with the Washington Performing Arts main stage series, all for the benefit, enjoyment, and growth of both the artist community itself and the D.C. community as a whole.
DowntownDC Holiday Market
Mars Arts D.C. Lunchtime Concerts
The holiday season is on our doorstep! The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) presents the beloved DowntownDC Holiday Market in the Penn Quarter-Chinatown neighborhood in Downtown Washington, D.C. This year’s holiday market has everything from one-of-a-kind gifts to food, drinks, and live music – featuring Mars Arts D.C. artists.
We’re ecstatic to host performances for the market’s Lunchtime Concerts on the stage located on F Street NW between Seventh and Ninth Streets. See performance lineup below.
December 5
12:30 p.m. – Tre’ Thomas
1:30 p.m. – Roz White
December 12
12:30 p.m. – Brian
Johnson
1:30 p.m. – JChris
December 19
12:30 p.m. – Brent
Peterson
1:30 p.m. – YahZarah
In-Home Experience
Virtual Mars Arts D.C. Concert Series
An online extension of our Mars Arts D.C. community engagement program, Mars Arts D.C.: Virtual showcases the meeting of arts and business in DC, in original, high-quality video productions.
Past Performances
2022/23 Season
Tregaron Unplugged: Sat, Oct 15, 3pm • Tregaron Conservancy
Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting: Mon, Nov 28, 6pm • Union Station
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Nova Y. Payton: Wed, Mar 1, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Justin Trawick: Sun, Apr 2, doors at 6pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: The Inner Temples ft. DJ Adrian Loving: Wed, May 3, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: The JoGo Project: Wed, Jun 7, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Downtown DC Live at Franklin Park:
Elyscia: Thu, Jun 1, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Jonathan Acosta: Thu, Jun 15, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Little Red & The Renegades: Thu, Jun 22, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Yusha Assad: Thu, Jun 29, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Courtney King: Thu, Jul 6, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Blacc Print Experience: Thu, Jul 13, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Earth Wind and Fire Tribute Band: Tue, Jul 18, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Chopteenth Afrofunk Big Band: Thu, Jul 20, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
2021/22 Season
Tregaron Unplugged: Sat, Oct 9, 4pm • Tregaron Conservancy
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Justin Trawick: Wed, Mar 2, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Jonathan Acosta: Wed, Apr 13, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: DuPont Brass: Wed, May 18, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Frenchie Davis: Wed, Jun 22, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
2020/21 Season (Mars Arts DC: Virtual)
Rhythm & Motion: Kara Jenelle: Premiered Mon, Oct 19, 7pm • Recorded in Los Angeles
Rhythm & Motion: Jonathan Acosta: Premiered Mon, Oct 26, 7pm • Recorded at GALA Hispanic Theatre
Rhythm & Motion: Ronald Ríos: Premiered Mon, Nov 9, 7pm • Recorded at Dance Exchange
Rhythm & Motion: Yusha Assad: Premiered Mon, Nov 23, 7pm • Recorded at The LINE DC
Dance in DC: Crazy Legz & Ben’s Chili Bowl: Premiered Mon, Nov 30, 7pm
Dance in DC: Ashanté Green at Chaia Tacos: Premiered Fri, Dec 4, 7pm
Dance in DC: Edwin Aparicio at Republic Restoratives: Premiered Mon, Dec 7, 7pm
Dance in DC: Matthew Crittenden at ARTECHOUSE: Premiered Thu, Dec 10, 7pm
Dance in DC: Anuradha Nehru at The LINE DC: Premiered Mon, Dec 14, 7pm
Dance in DC: Akosua Amoakua at Nubian Hueman: Premiered Fri, Dec 18, 7pm
Iza Flo’s “Dance Anthem” featuring Crazy Legz: Premiered on The Wammies, Sun, Mar 28, 6pm
Creator’s Notebook: Justin Trawick: Premiered Tue, Jul 27, 8pm • Recorded St. Vincent Wine
Creator’s Notebook: Khalid Thompson: Premiered Wed, Jul 28, 8pm • Recorded at Art of Noize
Creator’s Notebook: Be Steadwell: Premiered Thu, Jul 29, 8pm • Recorded at Lee’s Flower Shop
Creator’s Notebook: Violetta Markelou: Premiered Fri, Jul 30, 8pm • Recorded at Common Thread + Union Market
2019/20 Season
Exhibit Opening: Countlesshapes of Black feat. guitarist Cristian Perez: Sat, Sep 7, 5-8pm • The Frame Factory
Jonny Grave Quartet: Sat, Oct 19, 5pm • The LINE DC
CAMP at The LINE DC x Washington Performing Arts: Sun, Oct 20, 11am-8pm • The LINE DC
The Music of Agustín Barrios Mangoré: Sat, Oct 26, 2-4pm • West End Library
Music Distilled: The String Queens: Sat, Nov 2, 2-5pm • Republic Restoratives
Taipei Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble: Thu, Nov 14, 7:30pm • Meyer Auditorium, Freer Gallery of Art
Mars Arts D.C. Showcase: YÀNJÚ & Sheila: Thu, Nov 21, 5-9pm • Madam’s Organ
Uptown Boyz: Live at The LINE: Sun, Nov 23, 3pm • The LINE DC
Union Station Tree Lighting: Tue, Dec 3, 6pm • Union Station Main Hall
The Capital Hearings: Live at The LINE: Sat, Dec 7, 2pm • The LINE DC
Holidays with The String Queens: Thu, Dec 12, 6-8pm • Heurich House Museum
Chamber Music at Noon: The Music of Eya: Sat, Mar 7, 12pm • West End Library (Free and open to the public)
The String Queens: Sat, Apr 25, 8pm • Sixth & I (Canceled)
WPA Live: Brent Peterson: Thu, May 14, 6pm • Washington Performing Arts Home Delivery
The Black Love Experience 2020 (Virtual): Sat, Aug 29, 5pm • Livestream
2018/19 Season
Elena & Los Fulanos: Fri, Sep 28, 8pm • Dupont Underground
MUAI at “The Ask Rayceen Show”: Wed, Oct 3, 7pm • HRC Equality Center
DuPont Brass: Fri, Oct 5, 9pm • Pearl Street Warehouse
VeVe & tha Rebels: Sat, Oct 6, 3pm • The Farm at Kelly Miller
Yaya Bey: Fri, Oct 12, 8pm • Dupont Underground
Portales/Gateways Exhibition Open House: Fri, Oct 19, 5:30pm • Carlos Rosario School
Brad Linde, saxophone: Sat, Oct 20, 6pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
Josanne Francis, steelpan: Fri, Nov 9, 8pm • Dupont Underground
With a Grateful Heart: A Gospel Thanksgiving: Sun, Nov 18, 4:30pm • Duke Ellington School of the Arts
VeVe & tha Rebels: Mon, Nov 26, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Holiday Celebration: Tree Lighting & Yo-Yo Ma Simulcast: Thu, Nov 29, 6pm • Union Station
VeVe & tha Rebels: Live at The LINE: Sat, Dec 1, 5pm • The LINE DC
Children of the Gospel Choir: Wed, Dec 5, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Cantaré: Sun, Dec 9, 2pm & 3pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
Reverb: Sat, Dec 15, 2pm & 3pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
Elsbeth Fager, flute: Sat, Dec 22, 11am & 12pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
Komitas Trio: Sun, Dec 23, 2pm & 3pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
DuPont Brass: Sun, Jan 20, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Latinx in DC Showcase Concert: Mon, Jan 28, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Voices of Change: Tue, Jan 29, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Music Distilled: Classically Dope: Sat, Feb 2, 2pm • Republic Restoratives
Promised Lands? Of Leaving and Longing (Vocal Recital): Sun, Feb 10, 2pm • All Soul’s Church, Unitarian
Latinx Immigrant Stories & The Arts (Panel Discussion): Wed, Feb 27, 6pm • Embassy of Peru
Master Class: Kronos Quartet: Sat, Mar 2, 11am • Freer Gallery
Immigration Book Discussion Series (Part 1): Tue, Mar 5, 7pm • Politics & Prose Union Market
Latinx in DC Showcase: Jonathan Acosta Band: Sun, Mar 10, 3pm • GALA Hispanic Theatre
The State of U.S. Immigration Policy (panel discussion): Tue, Mar 12, 7pm • NYU DC
Cissa Paz Band: Live at The LINE: Sat, Mar 16, 5pm • The LINE DC
Southeast DC Night at Dupont Underground: Fri, Mar 22, 7pm • Dupont Underground
Veronica Swift & The U.S. Air Force Band: Live at The LINE: Sun, Mar 31, 5pm • The LINE DC
Wavelength Winds with Rita Sloan, piano: Thu, Apr 4, 12pm • Goethe Institut
Anacostia River Festival: Sat, Apr 20, 1-5pm • Anacostia Park
Immigration Book Discussion Series (Part 2): Tue, Apr 30, 7pm • Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library
Immigration Book Discussion Series (Part 3): Tue, May 7, 7pm • Solid State Books
Art on 8th feat. Elena & Los Fulanos: Thu, May 16, 5-8pm • Monroe Street Market
DuPont Brass: Fri, May 31, 8pm • THEARC (Free registration)
DowntownDC Live feat. Cissa Paz with JP Silva: Thu, Jun 6, 12-2pm • Franklin Square Park
Politics & Art: District Vox: Thu, Jun 13, 5:30pm • The John A. Wilson Building
Go-Go Book Club: Tue, Jun 18; Thu, Jul 18; Thu, Aug 15 • Solid State Books
Summer Concerts on the Lawn: Thursdays at 7pm, Jul 11–Aug 15 • Library of Congress
Music Business Workshop: Mon, Aug 26, 6:30-8pm • Petworth Library
DuPont Brass: Fri, Aug 30, 7pm • U Street Music Hall
Tregaron Unplugged: Sat, Oct 15, 3pm • Tregaron Conservancy
Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting: Mon, Nov 28, 6pm • Union Station
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Nova Y. Payton: Wed, Mar 1, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Justin Trawick: Sun, Apr 2, doors at 6pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: The Inner Temples ft. DJ Adrian Loving: Wed, May 3, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: The JoGo Project: Wed, Jun 7, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Downtown DC Live at Franklin Park:
Elyscia: Thu, Jun 1, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Jonathan Acosta: Thu, Jun 15, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Little Red & The Renegades: Thu, Jun 22, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Yusha Assad: Thu, Jun 29, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Courtney King: Thu, Jul 6, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Blacc Print Experience: Thu, Jul 13, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Earth Wind and Fire Tribute Band: Tue, Jul 18, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Chopteenth Afrofunk Big Band: Thu, Jul 20, 12:30pm • Franklin Park
Tregaron Unplugged: Sat, Oct 9, 4pm • Tregaron Conservancy
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Justin Trawick: Wed, Mar 2, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Jonathan Acosta: Wed, Apr 13, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: DuPont Brass: Wed, May 18, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Concert Series at Songbyrd: Frenchie Davis: Wed, Jun 22, doors at 7pm • Songbyrd Music House
Rhythm & Motion: Kara Jenelle: Premiered Mon, Oct 19, 7pm • Recorded in Los Angeles
Rhythm & Motion: Jonathan Acosta: Premiered Mon, Oct 26, 7pm • Recorded at GALA Hispanic Theatre
Rhythm & Motion: Ronald Ríos: Premiered Mon, Nov 9, 7pm • Recorded at Dance Exchange
Rhythm & Motion: Yusha Assad: Premiered Mon, Nov 23, 7pm • Recorded at The LINE DC
Dance in DC: Crazy Legz & Ben’s Chili Bowl: Premiered Mon, Nov 30, 7pm
Dance in DC: Ashanté Green at Chaia Tacos: Premiered Fri, Dec 4, 7pm
Dance in DC: Edwin Aparicio at Republic Restoratives: Premiered Mon, Dec 7, 7pm
Dance in DC: Matthew Crittenden at ARTECHOUSE: Premiered Thu, Dec 10, 7pm
Dance in DC: Anuradha Nehru at The LINE DC: Premiered Mon, Dec 14, 7pm
Dance in DC: Akosua Amoakua at Nubian Hueman: Premiered Fri, Dec 18, 7pm
Iza Flo’s “Dance Anthem” featuring Crazy Legz: Premiered on The Wammies, Sun, Mar 28, 6pm
Creator’s Notebook: Justin Trawick: Premiered Tue, Jul 27, 8pm • Recorded St. Vincent Wine
Creator’s Notebook: Khalid Thompson: Premiered Wed, Jul 28, 8pm • Recorded at Art of Noize
Creator’s Notebook: Be Steadwell: Premiered Thu, Jul 29, 8pm • Recorded at Lee’s Flower Shop
Creator’s Notebook: Violetta Markelou: Premiered Fri, Jul 30, 8pm • Recorded at Common Thread + Union Market
Exhibit Opening: Countlesshapes of Black feat. guitarist Cristian Perez: Sat, Sep 7, 5-8pm • The Frame Factory
Jonny Grave Quartet: Sat, Oct 19, 5pm • The LINE DC
CAMP at The LINE DC x Washington Performing Arts: Sun, Oct 20, 11am-8pm • The LINE DC
The Music of Agustín Barrios Mangoré: Sat, Oct 26, 2-4pm • West End Library
Music Distilled: The String Queens: Sat, Nov 2, 2-5pm • Republic Restoratives
Taipei Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble: Thu, Nov 14, 7:30pm • Meyer Auditorium, Freer Gallery of Art
Mars Arts D.C. Showcase: YÀNJÚ & Sheila: Thu, Nov 21, 5-9pm • Madam’s Organ
Uptown Boyz: Live at The LINE: Sun, Nov 23, 3pm • The LINE DC
Union Station Tree Lighting: Tue, Dec 3, 6pm • Union Station Main Hall
The Capital Hearings: Live at The LINE: Sat, Dec 7, 2pm • The LINE DC
Holidays with The String Queens: Thu, Dec 12, 6-8pm • Heurich House Museum
Chamber Music at Noon: The Music of Eya: Sat, Mar 7, 12pm • West End Library (Free and open to the public)
The String Queens: Sat, Apr 25, 8pm • Sixth & I (Canceled)
WPA Live: Brent Peterson: Thu, May 14, 6pm • Washington Performing Arts Home Delivery
The Black Love Experience 2020 (Virtual): Sat, Aug 29, 5pm • Livestream
Elena & Los Fulanos: Fri, Sep 28, 8pm • Dupont Underground
MUAI at “The Ask Rayceen Show”: Wed, Oct 3, 7pm • HRC Equality Center
DuPont Brass: Fri, Oct 5, 9pm • Pearl Street Warehouse
VeVe & tha Rebels: Sat, Oct 6, 3pm • The Farm at Kelly Miller
Yaya Bey: Fri, Oct 12, 8pm • Dupont Underground
Portales/Gateways Exhibition Open House: Fri, Oct 19, 5:30pm • Carlos Rosario School
Brad Linde, saxophone: Sat, Oct 20, 6pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
Josanne Francis, steelpan: Fri, Nov 9, 8pm • Dupont Underground
With a Grateful Heart: A Gospel Thanksgiving: Sun, Nov 18, 4:30pm • Duke Ellington School of the Arts
VeVe & tha Rebels: Mon, Nov 26, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Holiday Celebration: Tree Lighting & Yo-Yo Ma Simulcast: Thu, Nov 29, 6pm • Union Station
VeVe & tha Rebels: Live at The LINE: Sat, Dec 1, 5pm • The LINE DC
Children of the Gospel Choir: Wed, Dec 5, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Cantaré: Sun, Dec 9, 2pm & 3pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
Reverb: Sat, Dec 15, 2pm & 3pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
Elsbeth Fager, flute: Sat, Dec 22, 11am & 12pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
Komitas Trio: Sun, Dec 23, 2pm & 3pm • Politics & Prose (Connecticut Ave)
DuPont Brass: Sun, Jan 20, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Latinx in DC Showcase Concert: Mon, Jan 28, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Voices of Change: Tue, Jan 29, 6pm • Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Music Distilled: Classically Dope: Sat, Feb 2, 2pm • Republic Restoratives
Promised Lands? Of Leaving and Longing (Vocal Recital): Sun, Feb 10, 2pm • All Soul’s Church, Unitarian
Latinx Immigrant Stories & The Arts (Panel Discussion): Wed, Feb 27, 6pm • Embassy of Peru
Master Class: Kronos Quartet: Sat, Mar 2, 11am • Freer Gallery
Immigration Book Discussion Series (Part 1): Tue, Mar 5, 7pm • Politics & Prose Union Market
Latinx in DC Showcase: Jonathan Acosta Band: Sun, Mar 10, 3pm • GALA Hispanic Theatre
The State of U.S. Immigration Policy (panel discussion): Tue, Mar 12, 7pm • NYU DC
Cissa Paz Band: Live at The LINE: Sat, Mar 16, 5pm • The LINE DC
Southeast DC Night at Dupont Underground: Fri, Mar 22, 7pm • Dupont Underground
Veronica Swift & The U.S. Air Force Band: Live at The LINE: Sun, Mar 31, 5pm • The LINE DC
Wavelength Winds with Rita Sloan, piano: Thu, Apr 4, 12pm • Goethe Institut
Anacostia River Festival: Sat, Apr 20, 1-5pm • Anacostia Park
Immigration Book Discussion Series (Part 2): Tue, Apr 30, 7pm • Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library
Immigration Book Discussion Series (Part 3): Tue, May 7, 7pm • Solid State Books
Art on 8th feat. Elena & Los Fulanos: Thu, May 16, 5-8pm • Monroe Street Market
DuPont Brass: Fri, May 31, 8pm • THEARC (Free registration)
DowntownDC Live feat. Cissa Paz with JP Silva: Thu, Jun 6, 12-2pm • Franklin Square Park
Politics & Art: District Vox: Thu, Jun 13, 5:30pm • The John A. Wilson Building
Go-Go Book Club: Tue, Jun 18; Thu, Jul 18; Thu, Aug 15 • Solid State Books
Summer Concerts on the Lawn: Thursdays at 7pm, Jul 11–Aug 15 • Library of Congress
Music Business Workshop: Mon, Aug 26, 6:30-8pm • Petworth Library
DuPont Brass: Fri, Aug 30, 7pm • U Street Music Hall
Mars Arts D.C.
Mars Arts D.C. is a partnership of Mars, Incorporated and Washington Performing Arts, with support from Jacqueline Badger Mars.
Mars Arts D.C. events in 2023-2024 are made possible through the generous support of Events DC; Pepco, An Exelon Company; and Elaine Rose.
The engagement of DuPont Brass is made possible in part through the Mid Atlantic Tours program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Special thanks to the following lead supporters of Washington Performing Arts’s mission-driven work: Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated; D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities; the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs Program and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts; and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.
