Story Tapestries removes barriers to arts experiences so that all communities across Greater Washington can engage with the transformative power of the arts. Professional artists work with educators, students, and families in artistled, community-designed residencies, workshops, performances, and exhibits. Preschoolers of all abilities build language skills and confidence through movement and storytelling. Latino youth find their voices in slam poetry workshops. Teachers and librarians learn to integrate the arts into their instructional practice. Older adults engage in arts and storytelling that reduce isolation and support healthy aging in place. These programs often culminate in free public performances, bringing communities together across generations and cultures. Reaching more than one million people annually (including tens of thousands of students in high-poverty schools), Story Tapestries elevates local stories, strengthens learning, and builds a thriving and sustainable creative workforce.

Headquarters: MD-Montgomery County

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; MD-Statewide; VA-Statewide

Age Groups Served: All

Population(s) Served: Individuals with Disabilities; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Students


  • Number of people (clients, patrons, students, etc) we serve annually:   184,000+
  • Students whose test scores increased following a 5-session or longer artist-in-residency:   25%
  • Students who increased attendance and positive engagement:   25%
  • Students whose understanding of academic material increased as a result of our arts-based educational programs:   80%

Awards & Recognition

n/a

Press

  • No stories found

Budget (FY2026)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • The current budget for Story Tapestries is: $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Every year, 190+ local nonprofits (with budgets under $4M) apply to join the Spur Local network. 170+ community volunteers assess these applications for impact. 100% of organizations are site visited and financially reviewed. Finally, 76+ critical, local nonprofits are selected for inclusion in Spur Local's annual print and digital catalog, and enter a four-year partnership with us. Since 2003, we have raised over $65 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region. We charge no fees and raise funds separately to support our work.

Spur Local looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to Spur Local to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

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