About Community Empowerment Events and Art.is
About Me
Artis Jones (ART.is) is a DC-born, Suitland-raised author, public speaker, poet, DJ, and event curator whose work focuses on creativity, culture, and community empowerment. Since 2018, he has established a vibrant presence in the DC arts scene—founding Art is Positive Empowerment (AiPE) in 2020 and producing over 100 events that uplift emerging artists and unite communities.
Artis is the visionary behind the SECAB Festival, the long-running Release Open Mic (celebrating 4 years), and various community programs aimed at enhancing local engagement. His leadership and influence led to his nomination as a 2025 Mayor’s Arts Awards Emerging Creative, a prestigious recognition for rising arts innovators in DC.
As a performer, he has graced stages at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Art All Night Congress Heights, Atlas Intersections Festival, Takoma Park Festival, Melanin Hues, the Poet Life Festival, and the Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival. Additionally, he serves as a Busboys and Poets Open Mic Host and is a two-time DMV Renaissance Haikuist of the Year nominee, known for his ability to blend storytelling and sound.
Through poetry, music, and event curation, Artis advances a mission rooted in intention and impact, reminding us that 'Doors open when you walk in your intention.'
DJ ARTis the Experience
Known for his unmatched ear for melodies, transitions, and crowd energy, DJ ART.is turns every set into a full-body experience. His blend of R&B, hip-hop, 90s nostalgia, Go-Go, Afro-soul, house, and global rhythms transforms listeners into fans of both the artist and the DJ, embodying the essence of Art is Positive Empowerment.
Since stepping onto the scene in 2018, Art.is has grown into one of DC’s most versatile creatives — a 2025 Mayor’s Arts Awards Emerging Creative nominee, poet, curator, and host. What began behind the turntables expanded when he was invited to share his poetry, revealing a second voice and a deeper connection with audiences, enhancing his role in community programs within the DC arts scene.
Today, DJ ART.is delivers intentional, high-impact vibes across corporate events, festivals, open mics, nightlife, and community stages. From Smithsonian performances to DC Art All Night, SECAB, Busboys and Poets, and 100+ events across the DMV, his sets guarantee atmosphere, emotion, and unforgettable moments — no matter the occasion.
Art.is Poet
ART.is is a DC-born poet whose work centers on intentional release—helping audiences confront the emotions, truths, and memories that shape their fullest potential. Known for his sharp, city-rooted haiku style, he delivers moments that shock, heal, or spark reflection in just a few words. His approach embodies Art is Positive Empowerment, aiming to uplift individuals through the power of poetry.
A standout voice in the DMV, ART.is has shared his work on major stages, including the Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival, Poet Life Fest, Art All Night, and multiple features at Busboys and Poets, where he now serves as an Open Mic Host. He is a two-time DMV Renaissance Award nominee for Haikuist of the Year (2022 & 2023) and a graduate of the 202Creates Creative Residency Cohort (Spring 2023).
Today, ART.is continues to build platforms for emerging voices across the region through various community programs, curating experiences that uplift community and celebrate the power of storytelling within the vibrant DC arts scene.
ART.is Mantra
What comes next is exposure for the lit and gifted within our community programs, where talent is exposed to talent, evolving, creating, and inspiring. New ideas and creations emerge, fostering necessary connections in the vibrant DC arts scene. This environment pours healing rivers, showcasing a perspective of life never witnessed before, motivating action against procrastination and encouraging a deeper dive into creation itself. Manifesting only what you can from within, I am a guide in this journey to energize the spirit of the artist. As artists often face criticism, I SHALL NOT succumb to it! With CAN'T removed from our vocabulary, I will allow my work and experiences to flourish in the uncharted arts – ART is Positive Empowerment.