The Friends of Carter Barron Featured in The Washington Post

I was disappointed that the Aug. 16 Metro article “D.C. venue is hoping for its encore,” about the future of the Carter Barron Amphitheater, did not include perspectives from the oldest continuously operating organization dedicated to its preservation.

I am the founding president of the Friends of Carter Barron Foundation for the Performing Arts. Since 1988, our group has raised about $1.7 million toward upkeep and repairs and worked tirelessly to reopen and protect this historic venue. That long record of commitment stands in stark contrast to the newer organizations now being highlighted. I was surprised that a crucial conversation about the amphitheater’s future excluded the voices of those who first organized to save it and who have sustained that mission for nearly four decades.

The Carter Barron is more than a stage in Rock Creek Park; it is a cultural landmark where Washingtonians gathered for the arts, community and connection.

Preserving the Carter Barron is about more than bricks and mortar; it is about honoring history while ensuring the amphitheater serves future generations. That story cannot be told fully without including the Friends group and the money, thousands of hours and advocacy work that have already been invested in its survival.

Gloria J. Hightower, Washington