The National Council on Public History has recognized Tudor Place Historic House & Garden in Georgetown for its innovative public history project.
The award, given for its 2024 installation and tour titled “Ancestral Spaces: People of African Descent at Tudor Place,” highlights a new approach to traditional house tours.
This initiative was made possible through collaboration with Curator Rob DeHart and the descendant community, alongside a dedicated program-specific advisory committee.
In other notable news, Maria Manuela Goyanes has stepped down as the artistic director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company after a productive seven-year tenure.
She is moving on to become a producer at Lincoln Center Theater in New York, as well as the artistic director of LCT3, a programming initiative at the esteemed institution.
Kimberly Douglas, the managing director at Woolly Mammoth, praised Goyanes, describing her as “an incredible visionary” and commending her commitment to bringing innovative and thought-provoking performances to Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, Maria Mathieson has assumed the role of executive director at the Choral Arts Society of Washington as of May 27.
With a strong background that includes her previous position as executive director of the Peabody Preparatory and experience in music education with Levine Music in D.C., Mathieson is set to bring her expertise to Choral Arts.
She holds MBA degrees from both the Global Leaders Institute and the University of Maryland Global Campus, positioning her well for her new leadership role.
Kara Blond has also taken up the position of director at the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and Smithsonian Affiliations.
In her capacity, Blond will oversee initiatives that involve sharing Smithsonian content through traveling exhibitions and fostering collaborations among partner museums and cultural organizations.
Previously, she worked as an executive for presidential libraries at the National Archives and Records Administration, where she managed a network of 16 presidential libraries and museums.
The Phillips Collection has announced two noteworthy appointments within its team: Tiffany McGettigan as chief of education and responsive learning and Dr. Clarisse Fava-Piz as curator of modern art.
Starting on May 5, McGettigan transitioned from her role as head of education at the Hirshhorn Museum, while Fava-Piz, set to begin on July 28, will join from her previous position as associate curator of European and American art before 1900 at the Denver Art Museum.
The Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum has also made significant changes to its board leadership.
Chris Wolf has been elected as the new president, with additional new members including Tracy Reichman Kalik, Dr. Diane Webber, and Jeff Yablon.
Wolf, who has a long history in law as a partner at Hogan Lovells US, has been involved with various boards, including those of the Anti-Defamation League at both national and local levels.
In the performing arts, the Choral Arts Society of Washington is gearing up for its diamond jubilee concert on June 15.
This celebratory event will feature beloved choral works including excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah,” Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms.”
The concert will also debut a commissioned world premiere titled “To Imagine Creation” by Filipino Chinese composer Saunder Choi.
Artistic Director Marie Bucoy-Calavan described her vision for the piece as akin to a Disney fireworks show, underscoring her commitment to showcasing new and exciting works in the choral repertoire throughout the concert.
image source from：https://georgetowner.com/articles/2025/06/10/d-c-artswatch-3/
