The Arts Club of Washington

About

The Arts Club of Washington is a private nonprofit arts club founded in May 1916 that promotes visual, performing, and literary arts. It brings together individuals devoted to various forms of art, including architecture, cinematography, dance, drama, literature, music, painting, photography, and sculpture. The Club also preserves and interprets its historic Monroe House, also known as the Cleveland Abbe/James Monroe House. More information can be found on their about page.

History

Founded in May 1916 by Bertha Noyes, the Arts Club of Washington was created by prominent local artists to promote the arts in Washington, D.C. It occupies the historic Monroe/Cleveland Abbe House and has administered the Marfield Prize for arts writing since 2006. For further details, visit the Wikipedia page.

Facilities

The Club's headquarters include the historic Monroe House and adjacent MacFeely House, along with a walled garden and multiple gallery spaces such as the Monroe Gallery and Spilsbury Gallery. Additional facilities include an auditorium with a 120-seat theatre, a painting studio, rehearsal spaces, and member amenities like free Wi-Fi and garage parking for evening events. More about the facilities can be found on their visiting page.

Events and Programs

The Arts Club offers a year-round program that includes the longstanding Friday Noon Concert series, Visionary Evenings, public concerts, literature, dance, theatre events, exhibition openings, and docent tours. Scholarship competitions and the administration of the Marfield Prize for arts writing are also part of the programming. For a detailed schedule, visit their events page.

Art Classes

The Club runs studio classes and Art Workshops that are open to the public, including multi-week drawing and watercolor courses. Schedules and fees for both members and non-members are available on their Art Workshops page.

Exhibitions

The Club manages exhibitions in various gallery spaces, scheduled for eight months each year from September to November and January to May. Exhibitions are selected via a curator/exhibition panel through an annual Call for Entries. More information can be found on their exhibitions page.

Membership

The Arts Club offers multiple membership categories, with the Resident membership providing full access and voting rights. Membership benefits include monthly member dinners, access to reciprocal clubs, use of facilities, and opportunities to exhibit in members' shows. Details are available on their membership page.

Visiting Policy

The Club is open to visitors and operates as an active museum/gallery. Galleries are typically open to the public from Tuesday to Friday and on Saturday, with many concerts and talks available to the public. Private guided tours can be arranged by appointment. For more details, visit their visiting policy page.

Rentals and Catering

The Arts Club offers venue rental for events and weddings, with capacities for up to 400 for cocktails and up to 120 for seated dinners. Full-service, customizable catering is provided, with details on menus and service options available on their rentals and catering page.

Member Events

Member-only programming includes monthly dinners, intimate concert-dinner series, and members' gallery exhibitions. Members also have access to studios, rehearsal time, and guest-room reservations. More information can be found on their member events page.

Artist Portfolios

The Club supports artists through an annual Call for Entries and a curated exhibition program. Artists are required to submit bios, statements, and images for exhibition handouts. Details on submission guidelines are available in the artist portfolios page.

Seasonal Operations

Exhibitions follow a seasonal schedule, with shows scheduled for eight months each year. The Club observes standard weekly closures and publishes holiday closures and event schedules. For more information, visit their seasonal operations page.