Mission
Large gatherings were among the first activities closed during the Public Health Emergency. From church gatherings, to weddings and birthday parties, to the Opening Day of the World Series Champions, the Washington Nationals, these activities have all been cancelled or delayed in the District's response to COVID-19. These activities make up the social, cultural, and civic fabric of life in Washington, DC. These events and activities help us attract more than 20 million people to visit and stay in our hotels and frequent our restaurant and bars. Visitor spending in 2015 totaled $7.1 billion – the fifth consecutive year that it surpassed $6 billion. This represents more than $757 million in new tax dollars for the District.[1]
The Committee will examine how physical spaces can be adjusted to accommodate social distancing and identify alternate formats for presenting and keeping the sectors alive during necessary periods for social distancing, as well as tools and resources needed to reopen all aspects of large gathering activities and venues.
Focus
A large part of properly reopening DC relies on supporting our unique, vibrant, and diverse culture. The Committee will explore and identify best practices for ensuring that DC’s community-oriented cultural anchors, like places of worship, arts and cultural centers, and our award-winning sports teams, are back in action, with necessary and appropriate safety guidelines.
Including, but not limited to:
- Places of Worship
- Community Centers
- Art & Cultural Centers
- Theaters
- Sports Stadiums & Arenas
- Inns & Hotels
- Festivals
- Concerts
- Parades
- Rallies
- Weddings
- Funerals
- Parties
Community Members
-
Robin (Diggs) Perdue
- Vinoda Basnayake
- John Boardman
- Marvin Bowser
- Lonnie Bunch
- Monica Dixon
- Jay Haddock
- Perry Pigeon Hooks
- Natalie Hopkinson
- Ayanna Hudson
- Michael Kahn
- Abbe Lowell
- Dexter U. Nutall
- Peter Rosenstein
- Molly Smith
- Paul Strauss
- C. Brian Williams
- Thomas Bowen
- Elliott Ferguson