Free, public event July 30 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
WASHINGTON, DC (July 25, 2022) – Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, is the presenting sponsor of the ninth annual SAAM Arcade. This free, public event that highlights the connections between art and video games is Saturday, July 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (8th and G Street NW).
“We are delighted to support the Smithsonian American Art Museum in the return of exciting and unique live, in-person event experiences,” said Samuel Thomas, interim president and chief executive officer at Events DC. “The annual SAAM Arcade presents a distinct opportunity to celebrate the creativity and innovation found in games and to experience a dynamic event unlike any other in our nation’s capital. Together, we are excited to spotlight Washington, DC as a forward-thinking capital city and global destination for gaming, esports, innovation and the arts.”
The theme this year is “Color, Line and Form.” The centerpiece of the program is the Indie Developer Showcase, which features eight games that embody the theme
Attendees will also be able to play classic arcade and console games from MAGFest and complete a special Art Quest that connects video games to artworks on display in the museum’s galleries. Detailed event information and a full list of the featured games are available on the . Additional commentary about this year’s theme is published on the museum’s blog, Eye Level, by Lauren Kolodkin, the program coordinator for SAAM Arcade.
Events DC’s sponsorship also extends to the SAAM’s second annual Game Jam, an open online event where anyone of any skill set can submit their own game. Participants may work alone or in groups; there are no size restrictions for Arcade 2022 Game Jam. Participants do not need to pre-register and are able to join the jam by simply creating an itch.io account and uploading their game to the SAAM Arcade 2022 Game Jam page.
In addition to this year’s SAAM Arcade theme, the museum also encourages participants to draw inspiration from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and to look to the extraordinary creativity and diversity of American voices as they create games for this jam. Rules, guidelines and FAQs about the jam are available on the museum’s itch.io page and website.
Events DC’s sponsorship also extends to the SAAM’s second annual Game Jam, an open online event where anyone of any skill set can submit their own game. Participants may work alone or in groups; there are no size restrictions for Arcade 2022 Game Jam. Participants do not need to pre-register and are able to join the jam by simply creating an itch.io account and uploading their game to the SAAM Arcade 2022 Game Jam page. Rules, guidelines and FAQs about the jam are available on the museum’s itch.io page and website.
With its growing popularity, Events DC has made strategic long-term investments in the esports and gaming industries over the past several years to position Washington, DC as a global esports hub. Events DC partners with local esports teams and initiatives to further develop the regional gaming ecosystem. These strategic relationships include a founding partnership with the
Washington Justice, DC’s first professional Overwatch team as well as Wizards District Gaming, the collegiate Mid-Atlantic Esports Conference and NRG.
Media sponsorship is provided by Washington City Paper.
ABOUT EVENTS DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that hosts more than 1.7 million visitors and generates more than $400 million annually in direct economic impact and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the RFK Stadium-Armory Campus (RFK Campus), including Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and the Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Stay current on the 190-acre RFK Campus Redevelopment Project at www.RFKFields.com. Events DC also built and serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. Events DC manages Gateway DC, R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center and Entertainment & Sports Arena all conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Events DC), and Twitter (@TheEventsDC) — and on our new hub for live and on-demand event programming on GATHER by Events DC at www.gatherbyeventsdc.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Craig Chester, cchester@eventsdc.com
