Tony Gittens to Leave Arts Commission, Stay With Filmfest DC

Tony Gittens has been with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities for as long as I can remember. As executive director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, he has helped the city bring the artscene to life over the past eleven+ years. Before his watch, I don't recall the amount of public art, funding opportunities and programs that are now available to local DC artists and art organizations. It's been a pleasure to witness the changing face of public art under Tony Gitten's watch. From my view, he's put together a great team of players who are working diligently to keep the arts centerstage in Washington, DC. As well as thanking him for his commitment and dedication, I wish him many more successes in his next endeavors!

Read today's WaPO article about Tony Gittens career with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

In the past decade, the arts commission has raised its visibility through a number of programs. The agency initiated the Party Animals project, a public display of donkeys and elephants designed by artists, which it followed with a similar public art exhibition of painted pandas.The commission revived the honorary Mayor's Arts Awards and managed the art program for the Washington Convention Center and the John A. Wilson Building. "The commission felt the public doesn't have to go to museums to see art," said Gittens.

The commission provides funding for Artomatic, a volunteer organization that hosts an annual multimedia art festival, and also has purchased work from Artomatic participants. By Jacqueline Trescott

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Filmfest DC Director Tony Gittens Responds

There's been some criticism of Tony Gittens for being a part-time film festival director. "On Filmfest DC's opening night, I was knighted by the government of France for my work in the cultural community, especially for my success with the Washington, D.C., International Film Festival.... tens of thousands of people of all backgrounds from across the metropolitan area attended festival screenings and events." Read Tony Gittens Letter to The Editor in Sunday's Washington Post here.