D.E.I. in Color: LIVE | Film + Art + Creative Experience

Film. Art. Poetry. Fire. Music. Creative wellness. DC culture. An immersive FREE night celebrating artists, stories & voices growing in DC! D.E.I. IN COLOR: LIVE Document. Express. Ignite. An immersive celebration of DC’s creative ecosystem. DC’s creative culture lives at the intersection of art, identity, story, and community. On September 24, those intersections meet at metrobar. On Thursday, September 24th, from 7–10pm, join Artbae at metrobar for D.E.I. in Color: LIVE, an immersive evening where film, visual art, live expression, creative wellness, music and community storytelling collide. This is not your typical film screening. Not a conference. Not another art show. It’s an experience. At the center of the evening is the premiere of an original short art film exploring the artists, stories, identities and relationships that help make DC’s creative culture what it is. The film looks at our city as an ecosystem, one where different voices, mediums and ways of creating can exist together, grow together and make one another stronger. And once the film ends, the experience is only beginning. _________________________________________________ DOCUMENT WHO WE ARE. See DC through a different lens. Experience the premiere of D.E.I. in Color, alongside moving portraits, visual storytelling and a curated collection of work from DMV artists. Throughout the space, discover the people and perspectives shaping our creative community, and consider one deceptively simple question: What does being seen mean to you? Then step in front of the lens yourself at our “I AM…” Community Portrait Experience, choose the word that describes who you are, and become part of the story. _________________________________________________ EXPRESS WHAT WE CARRY. When the lights come down, experience the film together. Then, instead of simply applauding and moving on, watch the story transform into live artistic expression, including a special spoken-word response inspired by the film. The evening continues with an intimate conversation featuring creatives connected to the project, exploring identity, artistic voice, collaboration, mental wellness, DC culture and one central idea: There is more than one way to be an artist. Through Created2Create LIVE, guests can also paint, write, collage and create in response to: WHAT DESERVES TO BE SEEN, HEARD, REMEMBERED OR PROTECTED? No artistic experience required. Just bring your perspective. _________________________________________________ IGNITE WHAT COMES NEXT. Then, we turn the experience over to you. Enter THE SWAMP, an organic interactive installation inspired by DC itself. The film reimagines the swamp as a metaphor for fertile ground, regeneration and life emerging from places others may overlook. Throughout the night, guests will respond to one question: WHAT ARE YOU GROWING? Your art? Your confidence? Your business? Your family? Your peace? Your voice? Your community? Write it down. Add it to the installation. And watch The Swamp grow. By the end of the night, what began as an installation becomes a living collection of what DC is building next. _________________________________________________ ALSO EXPERIENCE Curated visual art from DMV creatives Music by DJ Yo Will The Swamp interactive installation Live poetry and creative expression Live fire performance Created2Create interactive art + creative wellness “I AM…” community portrait experience Curated creative marketplace Complimentary cocktails for the first 50 guests Artists, culture-makers, creatives and community connecting all evening And because this is Artbae, expect a few surprises along the way. _________________________________________________ EVENT DETAILS Thursday, September 24th, 2026 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM metrobar | Washington, DC Admission: FREE with RSVP Come early. The immersive experience begins when the doors open, with the featured film presentation and LIVE program beginning around 7:45 PM. WHY D.E.I. IN COLOR? D.E.I. stands for: DOCUMENT who we are. EXPRESS what we carry. IGNITE what comes next. This isn't about reducing DC creativity to one aesthetic, one neighborhood, one generation or one definition of what an artist should look like. It’s about recognizing the cultural biodiversity already growing here. It’s about being seen. It’s about finding your voice. It’s about creative wellness, cultural preservation and collaboration. And it’s about remembering that the places people overlook can still be fertile ground. _________________________________________________ RSVP NOW Admission is FREE, but RSVP is strongly encouraged. Bring a friend. Bring your curiosity. Bring whatever you're growing. Come for the film. Stay for the art. Add your voice to the experience. DOCUMENT. EXPRESS. IGNITE. What are YOU growing? Follow @artbaeonline for artist announcements, previews and event updates. D.E.I. in Color: LIVE is presented by Artbae as part of our continued commitment to creating accessible experiences that support artists, preserve culture, encourage creative wellness and build stronger connections across DC’s creative community. Art Before Anything Else. -------- For more info and/or to become a vendor or sponsor for this special event, please e-mail Cary Michael at [email protected]. All monetary proceeds will help bring our vision for this event into fruition and support the careers of artists who are part of the Artbae Society. --------- Thank you, and we can't wait to share this unforgettable experience with you! Peace, Love and Blessings, #CaryMichael