Public Cultural Work in the DMV: Youth Voice and Public History
- Tour de Force Foundation
- Jun 12
- 4 min read
The Spark June 2026: Public Cultural Work in the DMV
This month’s Spark looks at two recent public-facing cultural projects in the Tour de Force orbit: Words Beats & Life’s Slamtastic, led by Mazi Mutafa, and a hands-on public archaeology project led by Beth Pruitt of Archaeology in the Community, with artist Justine Swindell, as part of DC Archaeology Day.
The settings were very different.
At Slamtastic, young performers stepped onto a stage with microphones, hosts, audience members, and video documentation. At DC Archaeology Day, visitors gathered around tables to handle tools, try a making-based activity, and encounter public history through participation.
Together, these projects show two forms of community-based cultural work: one built around voice and performance, the other around touch, learning, and material history.
In Focus
Slamtastic
Led by Mazi Mutafa of Words Beats & Life Inc., Slamtastic is a youth open mic and poetry slam series in Washington, DC. The platform brings together young poets, emcees, singers, rappers, and storytellers in a live public performance setting.
Tour de Force Foundation’s June grant supported Slamtastic’s 2026 season, including the April quarter-finals, May semi-finals, and June grand finals. The grant helped cover practical event infrastructure, including host support, featured artists, audio engineering, videography, graphics, listings, social scheduling, and recap documentation.
Words Beats & Life describes Slamtastic as an open mic series that “enables youth poets, emcees, and spoken word artists to share original work in front of a live, supportive audience.”
For the 2026 season, Slamtastic ran from January through June. The series also connects to the DMV Youth Slam Team and Brave New Voices, a national youth poetry slam festival.
Public performance depends not only on the person at the microphone, but also on the room, the sound, the host, the audience, the documentation, and the people making sure the event can happen.
In Focus
DC Archaeology Day
Led by Beth Pruitt of Archaeology in the Community, with artist Justine Swindell, this project formed part of DC Archaeology Month and the DC Day of Archaeology Festival.
Tour de Force Foundation’s May grant supported poster, postcard, and festival materials connected to the DC Day of Archaeology Festival, held on June 6 at Catholic University. The grant helped support custom artwork by Justine Swindell, poster and postcard printing, and volunteer T-shirts for the festival.
Archaeology in the Community describes its work as helping local communities “discover history through hands-on learning.”
For DC Archaeology Month, the organization also creates educational materials connected to archaeological sites in the District.
The 2026 poster focused on the history of the Middleton Estate in Brookland. Poster artwork was also turned into postcards that students could use after hands-on programs to continue asking questions and connecting with what they had learned.
The documentation from the day shows outdoor tables, public signage, visitors, tools, and a making-based activity. Participants gathered around the activity table, handled materials, and took part in a process connected to archaeology and public history.
Tour de Force Foundation board member Meg Clerc attended the festival, documenting the activity and speaking with organizers on site.
This project invited people to learn by doing. Instead of watching from the edges, visitors were able to take part in a hands-on encounter with public history.
What’s On
Capital Pride Weekend
June 20–21, 2026
Washington, DC
Capital Pride Weekend brings together a major public celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility, gathering, and community in Washington, DC. This year’s events include the parade, block party, festival, and concert.
What’s On
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art
National Museum of African Art
Washington, DC
The National Museum of African Art’s exhibition Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art continues through the summer. On June 18, the museum hosts a celebration of the exhibition, including a panel discussion and the official launch of The Here Project: Pride and Belonging in African Art, the exhibition’s companion publication.
What’s On
Words Beats & Life Summer Academy
Summer 2026
Washington, DC
Words Beats & Life’s Summer Academy offers creative arts programming for young people ages 8 to 18, with classes connected to hip-hop, poetry, music, production, broadcasting, visual art, and performance.
For makers, educators, and supporters
Tour de Force Foundation supports public cultural work in the DMV through grants for artists, arts educators, and community educators building public-facing arts, humanities, and education projects.
This month’s Spark shows two different forms of public work: youth performance and hands-on public history. Both depend on practical support, documentation, and people willing to gather around an idea.
If you're developing a community-based project in DC, Maryland, Virginia, or Baltimore, we invite you to learn more about our grant program.
The grant portal is closing on June 15.
Give
A donation to Tour de Force Foundation helps support the practical work behind community-based cultural projects: materials, artist and educator fees, documentation, promotion, accessibility, and public programming.
Small grants can help make public participation possible.
Join the conversation
Where have you seen culture become stronger because people were invited to take part?
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Comment in the comments section at the bottom of this post.
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