Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 14, 2006

Metro makes commuting more enjoyable

Musicians, dancers, thespians and other artists will perform at Metrorail station entrances next spring as part of MetroPerforms!, a one-year pilot program designed to showcase the talents of area performers. The program, developed in partnership with arts councils served by Metro, will enhance the experience of transit users and pedestrians.

Today, the Metro Board’s Budget Committee, approved launching the pilot program in 2007. If approved by the full Board of Directors next week, the pilot program would bring performances to Metro station entrances from April to October and during the end-of-year holiday season.

“MetroPerforms! is a great way to showcase and support the work of area performers while enlivening the daily, often uneventful, commute of our riders,” said Michael McBride, Metro’s Art in Transit program manager. “Working with the area arts councils to select artists, the program will celebrate the cultural interests of the many diverse communities served by Metro.”

Performances will take place at station entrances at a distance far enough away from station stairs and escalators to ensure clear access for people heading into or out of Metrorail stations.

In addition, participants in the MetroPerforms! program would not be permitted to sell CDs, DVDs, books or other materials, nor ask for money from the public. Participating arts councils, however, will pay stipends to the performers selected to play at stations in their respective jurisdicitions. The arts councils will decide on the amount of the stipend based on the funds they have available. Metro will not incur any additional costs for the MetroPerforms! program.

Metro’s Art in Transit program is working with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Alexandria Commission for the Arts, Arts Council of Fairfax County, Arlington County Cultural Affairs Division, Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Prince George’s County Arts Council to administer MetroPerforms! In addition, Metro’s operations, safety, police, and customer and media communications departments will assist to ensure that all program activities comply with operating, safety and security standards.

The arts councils, with representation from Metro, will audition and select entertainers for MetroPerforms! Auditions will take place in March for the April through October performances, and in October for the November and December performances. The arts councils also would schedule performances. Metro and the arts councils will announce the auditions and schedule performances.

Metro staff is currently working to identify suitable stations that meet necessary space requirements for performances. They will likely be stations with high ridership such as transfer and end-of-line stations. Performances will not take place inside rail stations, but in designated performance areas 15 feet from station entrances.

News release issued on December 14, 2006.