I co-founded and produced Field Day, a multidisciplinary arts festival in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center, as part of our Culture Caucus residency. Originally conceived to help the Kennedy Center’s newly launched REACH space authentically connect with DC’s vibrant creative communities, Field Day evolved from a single-day event into a three-day summer festival featuring live performances, a short-film competition, art exhibitions, a streetwear marketplace, and interactive activations.

My strategy was driven by three clear goals: visibly shifting the Kennedy Center’s optics by welcoming diverse new audiences; directly investing in artists, creators, and entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities; and offering a joyful, accessible experience that felt genuine and playful.

As lead curator and producer, I managed every aspect of the event, including selecting musicians, filmmakers, artists, designers, and vendors; handling artist contracts, budgets, and logistical execution; and coordinating closely with Kennedy Center stakeholders. In our first year, we introduced an open call and awarded a $2,000 filmmaking grant to an emerging creator under 30, giving several young filmmakers their first opportunity to screen work at a major cultural institution. We also programmed a Questlove documentary screening, curated a photography exhibition and artist panel, and developed a fashion-forward marketplace spotlighting regional streetwear brands.

Creatively, Field Day embraced its namesake, evoking nostalgia, freedom, and outdoor playfulness. Attendees, locals, tourists, diverse communities, and institutional regulars, connected over interactive activities like hopscotch, potato-sack races, and chalk art installations. To amplify Field Day’s reach beyond the physical space, I designed digital extensions including livestreamed screenings, pop-up social activations, and a three-day takeover of the Kennedy Center’s social platforms, culminating in a documentary recap produced alongside their Social Impact team.

Field Day demonstrates my strength in balancing institutional needs with authentic cultural engagement, translating big-picture objectives into events that resonate, scale, and remain rooted in community.