Arts & Appetite

Description

**DATE CHANGED: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2025**

The purpose of Arts & Appetite is to catalyze growth and visibility for Washington, DC’s local creative entrepreneurs by providing a dynamic platform for exposure, education, and community building. It seeks to connect aspiring and established business owners with critical information, networking opportunities, and the inspiration necessary to build sustainable, innovative ventures in the District. 

EVENT BACKGROUND:

Arts & Appetite is strategically scheduled to align with 202Creates, Washington, DC’s citywide celebration of creative entrepreneurship. Building on the momentum of this established initiative, the event will showcase the city’s commitment to its creative economy. With leadership from DLCP and support from OCTFME and DSLBD, Arts & Appetite leverages a multi-agency collaborative model to highlight how government can work alongside local talent to drive economic and cultural vitality. It also complements Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Downtown Action Plan and inclusive growth agenda. 

About Arts & Appetite: Arts & Appetite is a hands-on, solutions-driven event designed to help aspiring chefs, artists, and creative entrepreneurs in Washington, DC take real, actionable steps toward launching and growing their businesses. Whether attendees are just beginning to explore an idea or already navigating the startup phase, this event offers direct access to the resources, guidance, and networks needed to move forward. The purpose of Arts & Appetite is to demystify the process of starting a creative business in the District. It connects entrepreneurs with agencies and experts who can help them understand licensing requirements, access funding opportunities, build community partnerships, and market their businesses effectively in a competitive environment. By doing so, the event fills a critical gap between inspiration and execution—providing attendees with a clear path from idea to action. At the same time, Arts & Appetite supports the District’s broader economic development goals by strengthening the pipeline of small and local businesses, revitalizing key areas like downtown DC, and investing in the long-term success of the city’s creative economy. It's not just an event—it’s a launch point for building a more inclusive and vibrant business landscape in the District.

Event Agenda