Art Night 2019

Hickok Cole Raises Nearly $150,000 at Annual Art Night Celebration

Art Night is sponsored in partnership with Washington Project for the Arts

WASHINGTON, DC – October 18, 2019 – Hickok Cole, the forward-focused design practice based in Georgetown, raised $147,485.20 in partnership with Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) at the firm’s annual Art Night event. Now in its 19th year, Art Night has raised over $1 million in support of WPA’s mission and the local arts community.

Every fall, Art Night brings over 800 members of the DC design and real estate community, as well as collectors and Hickok Cole staff, together in a unique celebration of local artists and their work. Patrons show their support by purchasing artwork and making donations. Each sale benefits both WPA and the artists directly, with all proceeds shared equally between the two. 

“I began hosting this event in the 80’s to unite the DC design community and since partnering with the WPA, it has become so much more,” said Michael Hickok, Co-Owner of Hickok Cole and member of the WPA Board of Directors. “Art Night and the mission it supports is deeply rooted in our firm’s culture and we’re thrilled to be able to extend this cause to our partners and friends. A special thanks to our Art Devils, Angels, and Cherubs for your continued support and generosity throughout the years. ”

The annual exhibit and fundraiser transforms Hickok Cole’s Georgetown headquarters into a four-floor art gallery. This year, Art Night is curated by Caitlin Berry, a fine art dealer in the Washington, DC area who specializes in Post-War American, Washington Color School and Contemporary Art. The 2019 collection featured 270 hand-picked pieces at a variety of price points – bringing artwork that is both compelling and affordable for experienced and aspiring collectors alike. 

Art Night had previously established two tiers of sponsorships, Art Angels, those committing to purchase at least $2,500 worth of art and Art Cherubs, who pre-commit to spending $500. The Art Cherub program was developed in 2017 to attract the next generation of art lovers and supporters. This year, an additional sponsorship category was added, Art Devils, inspired by longtime Art Night supporters and avid art collectors, Ray and Anne Ritchey. Joined by Arup and Douglas Development, the inaugural group of Art Devils worked directly with Berry to select a work of art for purchase and display as a part of the 2019 collection. In total, our host of Devils, Angels and Cherubs collectively pre-committed $86,000 to the purchase of art at Art Night.

“This cause is very close to our hearts. As members of DC’s creative community, we believe in the power of local arts to inspire and shape our surroundings,” said Yolanda Cole, Co-Owner of Hickok Cole. “We are especially proud to share this celebration with our friends at WPA, whose continuous work ensures a thriving future for our city’s local artists. We look forward to celebrating 20 years in 2020.”

Each year, Hickok Cole commits to purchasing a work of art for the firm’s collection. Employees vote for their favorite, and the piece with the most votes at 8:30PM wins. This year’s selection is Salmagundi, acrylic and screen print on canvas by Washington, DC artist David Barr.

The 2019 Art Night campaign and signage was designed by Hickok Cole Creative, including a VIP invitation package that was distributed to all sponsors.

About Hickok Cole
Hickok Cole is a forward-focused design practice connecting bold ideas, diverse expertise, and partners with vision to do work that matters. Informed by research and fueled by creative rigor, we look beyond today’s trends to help our clients embrace tomorrow’s opportunities. We’ve called DC home for more than 30 years, and are proud leaders of some of the area’s most exciting new projects, including National Geographic, 800 K at Anthem Row, the International Spy Museum, and American Geophysical Union’s net zero headquarters renovation.

About Washington Project for the Arts
Founded in 1975, Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) is a collaborative and experimental platform for artist-driven projects, advocacy, and dialogue. Its exhibitions, performances, workshops, and other projects are supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, Hickok Cole, William S. Paley Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, White & Case, and many others. 

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