By Kate Goodall

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What’s the best way to disrupt divisiveness?

As co-founder of Halcyon — an incubator that frequently supports “disruptors” — it’s a question I think about a lot. (Some might say obsessively.) It’s the very question that led Halcyon to collaborate with dozens of businesses, government agencies, cultural organizations and artists on Washington, DC’s first arts and dialogue festival.

Unlike the current prevailing narrative that focuses on our differences, the inaugural By the People Festival was created to connect people from diverse backgrounds by building bridges across the cultural divide. We are doing this by providing opportunities for people to talk to each other against a backdrop of visual art installations, performances and discussions.

“We’re excited to have such an imaginative only-in-DC event that allows both visitors and locals to experience the arts in a new way, both on the National Mall and throughout our neighborhoods.” Destination DC president and CEO Elliott L. Ferguson II told me.

The festival’s official venues — the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building, THEARC West, Union Market, The Parks at Walter Reed and the Washington National Cathedral — intentionally represent every quadrant of the city, while satellite locations reflect our city’s diverse neighborhoods. Events will take place from June 21 through 24.

“By the People will connect the District’s rapidly growing arts scene to the long history of civic dialogue and debate in the nation’s capital,” EDENS CEO and Halcyon board member Jodie McLean pointed out.

Imagine respectful face-to-face, moderator-less conversations held, appropriately, at the United States Institute of Peace, featuring experts with opposing views on such topics as how to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, whether true human connection can be found online, the importance of exploring our universe versus protecting our home planet, and whether capitalism is the solution to or cause of the rising wealth gap in this country. By combining such dialogue with art installations and performances, By the People invites visitors to open their minds and engage with one another in ways that may be unfamiliar yet rewarding.

“The marriage of arts and dialogue reminds us that there is much more that unites us than divides us,” said Kiddar Capital CEO Todd Hitt, one of the featured dialogue speakers.

Like Todd, I believe we are more alike than different, stronger together than apart, and more connected than it may seem. I believe in the power of human creativity and compassion. And I believe the nation’s capital needs its own destination festival — one that is free, open and inclusive, and that reinforces the country’s founding principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and its long-standing commitment to civil discourse.

In addition to witnessing conversations by leading voices, festival participants who visit the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building will be invited to find common ground through less formal discussions led by the A&I building team in which participants will be randomly paired with a fellow festivalgoer for a 10-minute unscripted conversation around a shared question. When was the last time you talked to someone with different political views or a different life experience?

I can’t think of a better city than Washington, DC, to bring people together across the cultural divide. It’s the perfect setting — rich with cultural offerings for both residents and visitors from around the globe and a place with a long tradition of art-making where people come to say something important and be heard.

By the People begins as a festival. My hope is it will grow into a movement.