Programs
with María Fernanda
María Fernanda’s care and stewardship of this production was truly masterful.
— Executive Client at the Park Avenue Armory
Specializing as a independent producer for the performing arts with prize-winning collaborations, María Fernanda partners with museums, public libraries, national literary initiatives, bookstores, and more to support their cultural landscapes through dynamic programming.
In contribution to various artistic scenes across the District of Columbia, she serves concurrently (October 2026) as,
a program partner at the National Gallery of Art — Gallery Place/Chinatown
a series creator and instructor at Politics & Prose — Union Market/NY Ave.
a program partner at the Folger Shakespeare Library — Capitol Hill
a program partner at the American Poetry Museum — Brookland
a program partner at Creative Grounds DC — North Capitol/B./E.
a civic impact partner at Arena Stage — Southwest Waterfront
the lead poetry specialist at DC Scores — by ward, all eight (8)
a literary arts instructor at The Writer’s Center — Bethesda, MD
Note: This is only a select list of María Fernanda’s partners.
Her annual slate below is a series of independent programs developed outside of the aforementioned partnerships to support the literary arts. See Youth Programs here.
Separately, María Fernanda’s most well known producer credits include: Assistant Producer, Soundtrack of America (Quincy Jones, Maureen Mahon, Jon Batiste, Steve McQueen); Production Asst., Misc (André 3000; Patti LuPone; Common; Lalah Hathaway; Black Thought; & more); Producer, Jacqueline and Jason’s Block Party! (Jacqueline Woodson); Producer, Salon: Captcha: Dancing, Data, Liberation (Rashaad Newsome, Saidiya V. Hartman, Tavia Nyong’o, Kiyan Williams, Aimee Meredith Cox, Ruha Benjamin); & more.
Left to Right: María Fernanda, Nina Angela Mercer, Tricia Elam Walker, Holly Bass at María Fernanda This is Your Poem: A Nikki Giovanni Tribute at Politics & Prose.
Slate
Ongoing programming by María Fernanda for artists
a poetry garden series
Join Black poets and gardeners as they discuss their creative and historic connections to the gardens in our communities.
In 2024, featured discussions centered on the Trinidad, Anacostia, and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods. In 2025, the series launched in Georgetown Heights in collaboration with the DC Preservation League and, in 2026, honored Deanwood in collaboration with Eaton Wellness.
Poetry & Presence series
Join The American Poetry Museum for María Fernanda’s three-part lecture series celebrating poetic thought and our communities that shape it. Q&A to follow each.
The Hour series
Sign up on-site to share your work aloud at Politics and Prose’s newest free open mic series, created and hosted by María Fernanda! She believes that Poetry, like us, exists in many forms—spoken word, blues, performance/theatre, hip-hop, and more. Bring poems, songs, raps, monologues, positive affirmations and more!
These one-hour collective experiences explore various poetic forms and supports writers with their revision practice beyond the wide-recognized workshop style.
Let’s Write Poetry Saturdays
Previous programming by María Fernanda for artists
Where We At! series
A series of in-gallery experiences, crafted by María Fernanda, debuted at The National Gallery of Art. Located in Gallery 77 as part of the Gallery’s exhibition Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985, participants were invited to write poems and learn about the Black Arts Movement. The title of this program is directly inspired by Black Women Artists Inc.’s name and call, “Where We At!” (circa 1971).
honoring nikki series
This initiative finds its shape in the form of workshops, lectures, and readings honoring Nikki Giovanni’s presence in DC. Readings include curated artist and open mic readers/performers to widen the lens in which we remember.
