WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center, Roll Call, the Library of Congress, the Recording Academy—the organization behind the GRAMMY Awards—and Americans for the Arts, in collaboration with the Congressional Musicians Caucus and Congressional Arts Caucus, are proud to announce Congressional Record 2024, a special event highlighting the unifying power of the arts and the positive impact that access to arts education has on communities across the nation while showcasing the musical talents of bipartisan Members of Congress.
The first annual Congressional Record will take place on September 17, 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The event promises to be a memorable, bipartisan evening with speakers and musical performers highlighting the importance of the arts and arts education.
“Working on this event is an immense privilege,” said organizers Kevin Canafax and Geoff Browning. “Music is a perfect platform to support creativity not only in Congress but across the nation.”
Bipartisan Members of Congress, including leaders from the Congressional Musicians Caucus and the Congressional Arts Caucus, have voiced their enthusiasm for the event, noting the importance of arts education in bridging divides and fostering collaboration:
“Music is a universal language that unites, comforts, and inspires us,” said Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Co-Chair of the Congressional Musicians’ Caucus and representative for the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ in Austin, Texas. “I’m pleased to work alongside passionate advocates to ensure communities nationwide can access robust arts education programs that foster creativity and inclusion.”
“As the representative of Music City USA and co-chair of the Musicians’ Caucus, I am proud to co-host Congressional Record with Rep. Lloyd Doggett,” said Representative Mark Green, Co-Chair of the Congressional Musicians’ Caucus. “This is a night for lawmakers and the music industry to come together to celebrate the incredible impact of the arts and art education. At a time when tensions are running high throughout the country, I am grateful that we have something to bring us together—music.”
“The arts are incredibly important to our communities—driving economic development, creating quality jobs, and fostering creative expression,” said Representatives Chellie Pingree and Mike Turner, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Arts Caucus. “As Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus, we look forward to celebrating the power of the arts to bring us together.”
“Art brings Americans together across partisan, racial, ethnic, and religious identities, and it forms a key part of our American story and culture,” said Senator Mark Warner. “It’s great to spend an evening in celebration of that unifying power and the tremendous importance of arts education. I’m glad to be a part of the Congressional Record Celebration, and I only wish I had Sen. Kaine’s harmonica talents so I could contribute in a more melodic way!”
The event is made possible through the collaboration of esteemed artistic and Capitol Hill institutions:
“The Kennedy Center, which has a Congressional mandate as the National Cultural Center to be a leader in arts education across the country, is honored to support this bipartisan program,” said Deborah F. Rutter, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “We look forward to a powerful and unifying event focused on the uplifting power of the arts.”
“The Recording Academy is thrilled to support this bipartisan initiative, as access to the arts and music education is central to our mission,” said Todd Dupler, Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer of the Recording Academy, the organization behind the GRAMMY Awards. “Music has the power to bring communities together, and we look forward to seeing what memorable musical moments the night has in store.”
“Roll Call has always strived to report not just the politics of Capitol Hill, but also the breadth of its diverse community,” said Jason Dick, Editor in Chief of Roll Call. “Members of Congress bring themselves and the people and places they represent together when they perform music, and we’re thrilled to be a part of putting on this event.”
“IPSOS Public Affairs reports near universal support for arts education, with 92% of Americans across all political parties believing that arts education is an important part of any K-12 education,” said Jamie Bennett and Suzy Delvalle, interim co-CEOs of Americans for the Arts. “What other issue can unite members of Congress in this way? We look forward to celebrating that fact at this exciting, bipartisan event on Capitol Hill.”
Due to limited space, the event is by invite only. To express interest in attending and get more information, please visit www.congressionalrecord.net.
Additional details, including a list of performing Members of Congress, will be made available closer to the date of the event.
About the Congressional Musicians Caucus and the Congressional Arts Caucus
The Congressional Musicians Caucus supports music in the lives of its members and serves as a forum for Members of Congress to focus on the positive impact of music on the daily lives of Americans and on music’s place in social policy. The caucus is led by Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Representative Mark Green (R-TN).
The Congressional Arts Caucus is a bipartisan organization for Members of Congress who support the arts through federal initiatives. For more than 30 years, the Congressional Arts Caucus has organized Members of the House of Representatives in support of federal arts initiatives. The caucus has more than 110 bipartisan members and is led by Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Representative Mike Turner (R-OH).
Media Contact
Media interested in covering the event should request credentials by emailing [email protected].
