Howard Theatre Restoration

Yes, We entertain America but our mission is to educate the next generation of Americans on where we have been and prepare them for where they must go…

Together Howard Theatre Restoration, parents, and the business community are demonstrating that the Arts, is the much needed catalyst for accelerated growth in STEM achievement. HTR is dedicated to revealing all the sciences embedded into The Arts. and are the foundation of every performance on its stage.


Our mission is to educate our community that Arts education is a key to creativity, and
creativity is an essential component of innovation, and innovation is necessary to create the competitive industries needed in the future.


The future of the US economy rests on its ability to be a leader in innovation. HTR recognizes competence in STEAM is essential in creating new industries and jobs that will be the heart of the US new economy. Where the US has historically ranked 1st in innovation it now ranks between 3rd and 8th depending on the survey. The ARTS is the key ingredient for restoration to our rightful place as the leader in innovation.


HTR is taking steps to reverse this slide in the Washington Area by embracing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, The ARTS, and Math) education.

STEM is based on skills generally using the left half of the brain and thus is logic driven. Much research and data shows that activities like Arts, which uses the right side of the brain supports and fosters creativity, which is essential to innovation. Clearly the combination of superior STEM education combined with Arts education (STEAM) should provide us with the education system that offers us the best chance for regaining the innovation leadership essential to the new economy.


Our Mission is to Preserve, Protect, and Proclaim the legacy and genius of the world's most influential form of cultural expression…the African American Entertainment Experience in the form of Gospel, Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop, and Classical music. Further, it is to ensure the impact on current and future generations by serving the community through integration of arts into Science Technology Engineering and Math at the Howard Theatre.

Our vision is that Howard Theatre will be the premier arts and education venue that leverages art for the empowerment of all people.



The situation of black people from the early 1900s created the need for the first theatre in America built and operated exclusively for black entertainers and their fans.

During Segregation and the Jim Crow laws The USA constitution and federal law declared that everyone was equal. But southern states passed the Jim Crow Laws, which reinforced segregation. The ignorance of these laws meant that white people and black people had to live separately. The areas of society affected by segregation included churches, hospitals, theaters and schools. Therefore, black audiences and their performers had their separate shows. Thus The Howard Theatre became a necessity. Many of the brightest stars in entertainment called The Howard their home. It was where the performing genius of a people clashed with the ignorant of a culture and its laws.

Most of The Howard’s first 104 years dubbed this history house as an icon for both the stage for artistic liberation while doubling as the ultimate boundary for creative expression. Fortunately for the world this constriction had phenomenal but , for some, unintended consequences. The crucible of artistic talent transformed a culture that once attempted to contain it. The country, and the world’s performing arts would never be the same.

Therefore, just as the ignorance of a failed mindset and its laws sought to limit the genius of a people during The Howard’s first 104 years, The Howard Theatre today is now ideally suited to become the catalyst for educational enlightenment for all people for the next 104 years. The Howard’s legacy makes it uniquely qualified to showcase how the benefits of education become transformative when the ARTS take center stage in education.
It is settled science that when the ARTS and the-all important-STEM disciplines are combined, This STEAM Education approach brings functional literacy to all people in today’s economy. This is the restorative mission of The Howard Theatre Restoration, Inc. (don't understand this first sentence)



The need for STEM education is clear. What will it be if implemented without the arts? We are living that answer now.

Howard Theatre Restoration is committed to three audiences, each holding a key to our country’s future.

1. Our Children Ages K through 12.

They are the primary benefactors HTR’s STEAM Initiative. The entertainment Industry has already captured the hearts and imagination of our countries youth. HTR believes there is no better tool to help redirect their passion and open their eyes to seeing their world through the prism of STEAM possibilities. Showing them that there is science, technology, engineering and mathematics in every song that sing, performer they love, and toy they crave. HTR is committed to helping every child develop an attraction for STEM through the ARTS. HTR and its partners are dedicated to helping students retain students value STEM disciplines though the use the performers and performances they already value.

• Students will have opportunities for real-life, hands-on, inquiry-based
educational experiences.
• Students will engage in enrichment activities.
• Students will take responsibility for their continued learning.

2. Our Parents of Children K through 12

• Giving parents the tools to take control of their kids educational
destiny at home as well as school
• Empower parents to turn play into STEAM learning and STEAM
learning into play
• To help ensure their children’s financial future by igniting their love o STEM disciplines through their primal passion the entertainment arts


3. Our Business Community that Values k through 12

Our mission is to have business leaders, arts professionals, educators
and others work together to educate governments, the public and the
media to the need for returning Arts to the national curricula. China
and others have determined, as we must, that STEAM education is a national priority issue.

• Students will be exposed to career opportunities in STEM fields.
• The business community is partnering with HTR to bring STEAM
programming to the Theatre and the community
• Strengthen the STEM workforce pipeline beginning at is earliest stage.
• Attract women and minorities into STEAM programs by leveraging
the power of The ARTS.



Whether your company, organization, or school is just beginning your STEM or STEAM program or looking to improve the effectiveness of STEM Education in your community, STEAM-HTR has a solution for your program.

Contact us today to prepare a successful STEAM Education Partnership Program and help provide today's youth with project-based tools to spark interest and passion in STEM throughout the power of entertainment and The ARTS!