Civilian Art Projects is a vital, energetic arts organization based in Washington, D.C. that exists to support the voice and vision of the artist. Since opening in December 2006 as a roving gallery project, Civilian has grown into an important organization for artists and individuals excited to support a place for art in the community.

Artists connected with Civilian work in a broad range of media including photography, video, painting, sculpture, cutting edge new media, performance art, and site-specific installation. Audience members routinely interact with artists in an open, accessible environment designed to build connections and break down the silos that sometimes exist between the art world and the community-at-large. Civilian believes art is intrinsic to whole and healthy communities and that change is most possible through the transformative power of art, particularly through the unique personal experience that happens between viewer and art work in an open environment. To this end, Civilian works tirelessly to connect the general public to the artist and vice versa.

Civilian was founded by arts leader Jayme McLellan to represent and support emerging artists and their projects as well as to build awareness for issues of pressing social importance. For nearly 15 years, she has organized and curated hundreds of exhibitions and events in support of artists. Prior to Civilian, McLellan co-founded and served as co-Director of Transformer (2002 to 2006) while also serving as Director of Development of Women & Philanthropy. She had her start in the arts at the District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC) where she served as Director of Development from 1998 to 2001. While at DCAC she helped to stimulate global exchange programs such as The Tandem Project, an international exchange program for artists from the countries of the former Yugoslavia shortly after the end of the Balkan War.

For two years, Civilian’s exhibition space has been located in downtown Washington near many major museums, galleries, and national treasures. But the organization is not limited to its current exhibition space and routinely partners with others on exhibitions and events. In fact, the gallery launched as a roving art project working with galleries and other organizations from across the city.

Since 2006, Civilian has partnered and collaborated with:

In addition to its exhibition program, Civilian presents exhibitions of pressing social importance; hosts a panel series for artists called “Artist Forum;” and administers the “Civilian Production Fund.”

Exhibition Program

Civilian promotes the artists' work and the artists' career through its public exhibition program, participation in other events in Washington, DC and beyond through projects and collaborations with artists, curators, activists, writers, and other change makers. Civilian hosts a new exhibition every six weeks and often organizes temporal exhibitions to benefit a specific need, idea, or artist. Since its founding in December 2006, Civilian has presented the work of over three hundred artists including visual artists, writers, and musicians. Every exhibition and most events are designed by an artist and include comprehensive ephemera, an artist talk, and other related programming.

Socially conscious programming

Civilian promotes and hosts exhibitions and events addressing issues of pressing social importance. Civilian is one of the few galleries in Washington with social change as a mandate in its mission. To this end, we present projects that build broader awareness where civilians (the every person) have the most at stake. Programming has included exhibitions on the genocide in Darfur, health care in Rwanda, and the disharmony existing on Guantanamo Bay. Its recent exhibition on Guantanamo Bay by Christopher Sims was well received by the community and the media and was reviewed in The Washington Post, the BBC, Roll Call, FlavorWire, Mother Jones and Good Magazine. Recognized for its timeliness and artistic prowess, the exhibition was commissioned by National Geographic for the launch of EXPLORER: INSIDE GUANTANAMO in March 2009.

Civilian Production Fund (CPF)

The Civilian Production Fund is a new non-profit initiative of the gallery to support art projects and exhibitions that would not otherwise have funding. The fund will support innovative projects such as socially aware video installations, pubic art projects, publications, exhibitions, and other innovative ideas. The CPF will be governed by a Board of Directors and supported by its Council of Donors.

Throughout the summer, Civilian staff will fine tune the structure of the fund and invite people to join its Council of Donors with a donation of $100 and above. Council members will vote on projects twice per year in consideration for support from the Fund. Projects nominated for support by the fund will be done so anonymously. Artists cannot apply for support, they must be nominated by Council members who are citizens living and working in the community. Support will be given in modest amounts to support artist projects that would not otherwise be realized.

The Fund will begin supporting projects in fall 2009.

Artist Forum Panel Series

People recognize Civilian as an organization that unites community in forums and events designed to discuss artists and art making, current world events, and ideas toward channeling art as a tool for activism. In the fall of 2008, Civilian launched “Artist Forum” a panel series by and for artists. Coming together four times a year, the panels are designed around a certain theme or media and exist to engage artists in a dialogue about challenges to making work and surviving as an artist. Successes are also shared and connections are made that expand artist careers, opportunities, and access to their supporters and champions.

More programs including an online store of affordable artist-made works are also in the works.



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