Beyond Granite Key Findings Report

In the summer of 2023 the Beyond Granite pilot exhibition Pulling Together presented a dynamic series of art installations on the National Mall designed to create a more inclusive, equitable, and representative commemorative landscape in Washington, DC. Met with widespread critical acclaim, this inaugural exhibition helped bring new stories and perspectives to the nation’s most iconic commemorative space.

The Trust for the National Mall, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the National Park Service partnered to lead the Beyond Granite initiative, supported by the Mellon Foundation. A just-released Key Findings report by Dr. Elizabeth Morton, the project’s evaluation consultant, explores the lessons learned from the exhibition that can inform future iterations of the Beyond Granite initiative. Through in-person surveys, the public responded positively and thoughtfully to the use of temporary artworks to tell more of America’s stories in the nation’s capital.

Of Thee We Sing, vanessa german, 2023
Photo courtesy of Steve Weinik Photography