Lead Sponsors

Peter and Beverly Lipman, Mike and Yvonne Nevens, Wanda Kownacki

Letter Sponsors

Lydia Cheney, Amy Haines, Michael Mann, Richard Marks, Janet Moehl-Boetani, Jim Sokol, Sarah and Steve Sorkin, Micaela van Zwoll, Deborah Wexler

Additional Donations

Jim Kempner and others

Partnering Organization

BUSBOYS AND POETS is a cultural hub featuring a full-service restaurant, bar, bookstore and performance space in Washington, DC, Arlington, VA and Hyattsville, MD. Busboys and Poets aims to be a space where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted and where art, politics and culture intentionally collide. 

THE CORCORAN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS AND DESIGN is committed to educating the next generation of cultural leaders. Through the Corcoran's shared values of creativity, innovation and empathy our community is committed to lifelong learning and addressing some of the most pressing issues of our times.

DEFENDING RIGHTS AND DISSENT combines grassroots organizing and national advocacy to protect the right to political expression and strengthen our participatory democracy.

FOR FREEDOMS is a platform for civic engagement, discourse, and direct action for artists.
Founded in January 2016, For Freedoms strives to model how art and discourse can urge communities into greater civic action and participation. Our mission is to blur the line between artistic and political discourse, to increase civic engagement,nand to encourage open, nuanced dialogue in a partisan climate.

MUSAGETES FOUNDATION is an international organization that makes the arts more central and meaningful in people’s lives, in our communities, and in our societies. Cities for People understands each city to be a unique ecosystem, and like any ecosystem, a city’s strength and resilience depends on its ability to nurture the full diversity of its inhabitants and give them what they need not just to survive, but thrive.

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world.  Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.

Special Thanks

Dru Arstark – Jim Kempner Fine Art, Diane Bertolo, Charles Bernstein, Catharine Clark – Catharine Clark Gallery, Eric Gottesman – For Freedoms, Lisa Guido, Jim Kempner – Jim Kempner Fine Art, Wanda Kownacki, Wes MacLeod, Chris Mason, Tom Melia – PEN America, Svetlana Mintcheva, Mike and Yvonne Nevens,  Don Russell – Provisions Library, Sanjit Sethi – The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design - GW, Andy Shallal – Busboys and Poets, Shawn van Sluys – Musagetes Foundation, Casey Smith, Anton Steubner – Catharine Clark Gallery, Sue Udry – Defending Rights and Dissent, Maria Venuto – The Standby Program