A Note From the Partnership

Dear Friends,

“Autumn is the year’s last, loveliest smile,” wrote William Cullen Bryant, an American poet and journalist. While we understand his nuanced point, we are looking forward to smiles lasting throughout the coming fall and winter as we present more arts classes, programs, and events. We continue to see visitation at the Park increase – almost to pre-pandemic levels –so we know that the work we do to make the arts accessible and engaging is touching the lives of so many!

Our resident arts groups continue to present new and innovative classes to meet the creative needs of our diverse community. These include:

• Three exciting painting offerings by Yellow Barn Studio: Introduction to Portrait Painting from Life, Intermediate Watercolor Still Life & Portrait Painting, and Creating with Light: Drawing on Our Virtues Mini-Session.

• It’s not often that two of our resident groups partner for a class, but Art Glass Center and Glassworks are doing just that for January’s Roll-Ups: Fused Glass and Blown Glass Collaboration. Plus, share the beauty of glass with your children ages 7+ during Family Day at the Art Glass Center.

• From Photoworks, Foundation: Scanner Art, Focus: Photography Beyond Your Lens, and – this one is especially suited for darker days – Glen Echo Night Visions Workshop.

• Silverworks’ offerings sound especially decadent this season, with The Romantics: Perfect Pearl Pendant and Silver Passport Workshops: Flush Faceted Stones.

Our younger Park-goers will be excited to hear about new offerings from our independent instructors and children’s theater presenters tailor-made just for them:

• Comic Book Creation for ages 8-12.

• Sumi Ink Painting for ages 7-11 – this one is a Parent/Child workshop!

• Creating Winter Scenes workshop for ages 6-8.

• During the Fall and Winter months, Adventure Theatre will be presenting You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Junie B. Jones, The Musical.

• The Puppet Co. will carry on a beloved tradition with their 35th annual The Nutcracker.

Have you ever wanted to attend one of our social dances but don’t feel comfortable enough with the style? Or are you looking to hone your skills and show off to the crowd? While our dances are beginner-friendly, we are proud to offer dance classes in Blues, Swing, and Waltz at various levels.

Press pause on the day’s hustle and bustle and browse this digital catalog for a class that’s right for you, your family, or even your friends. When you find one (or more!) that you’d like to try out, signing up is easy with the interactive links that go directly to our registration system. Also, if you know what you are looking for, the links in the Table of Contents will get you there quickly!

Remember, classes and workshops are just a portion of the Park’s abundant Fall and Winter programming. We hope to see you at our free special events, including the 52nd annual Labor Day Art Show and Social Dance Showcase over Labor Day weekend, Echo Arts Festival, our Light Up the Holidays event series, and more. See page 93 for event information and dates.

As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the financial support of the community to present high-quality, affordable programs. We accept one-time or monthly donations, and appreciate your support through attending Park events and interacting with our Resident organizations.

With your help, we look forward to filling the chilly months with warmth and light.

Stay well and creative,

Katey Boerner, Chief Executive Officer

Glen Echo Park is one of the finest cultural resources in Montgomery County. It is home to 14 resident artists and organizations, a thriving social dance program, a restored 1921 Dentzel Carousel, numerous art studios and galleries, and hundreds of classes in visual and performing arts, including ceramics, painting, photography, glass, music, dance, and more. These activities, as well as free summer concerts, festivals, and special events, bring thousands of visitors to the Park each year.

The site was first developed in the 1890s as a Chautauqua retreat but soon became the premier Washington area amusement park, serving the community until 1968. In 1971, after the amusement park closed, the federal government acquired the land in order to preserve the Potomac Palisades and prevent development along the river. The management of the Park was assigned to the National Park Service, which established the core of the current arts program. In 2002, the National Park Service transferred management of the Park’s arts and cultural programs, as well as its historic buildings, to Montgomery County, which in turn created the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, a nonprofit organization, to oversee the Park.

From 2003 to 2010, extensive renovations of the Park’s facilities took place under the direction of Montgomery County and the National Park Service with input from the Partnership and resident organizations. These renovations were funded with major federal, state, and county resources as well as private donations. Renovations included the Spanish Ballroom, the Dentzel Carousel, the Puppet Co. Playhouse, the Arcade building, the Yellow Barn, Adventure Theatre, the Candy Corner, the Chautauqua Tower, the Ballroom Back Room, and the Caretaker’s Cottage. The Hall of Mirrors Dance Studio was renovated in 2014.