The White House

the white house holiday guide

illustration

The Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design held a partnership with the White House for the 2011 White House holiday guide book distributed to each guest touring the White House during the holiday season. Eight artists from the Corcoran College of Art + Design were selected by the White House to illustrate the guide book. This was the second year student artists from the Corcoran were tapped for the project; in 2010, Corcoran student artists illustrated the first guide book issued by the Obamas. A PDF of the guidebook is available online. The artists — students in the College’s Exhibition Design, Interior Design, and Fine Art degree programs — worked closely with the White House staff to produce original artworks inspired by the theme of “Shine, Give, Share.” The illustrations will become part of the White House collection. “The Corcoran College of Art + Design is honored to once again collaborate with the White House for this year’s holiday guide book,” said Corcoran College of Art + Design Provost and Chief Academic Officer Catherine Armour. “It is an honor for the Corcoran’s students to be recognized by the First Lady, and the project has been a very exciting opportunity for our students to create work for this special client,” said Armour. 

18 students representing Fine Art, Exhibition Design and Interior Design were invited to meet with planners from the Social Secretary’s Office and the design firm hired to help conceptualize the event; 8 artists were ultimately selected.

The White House hosted 85,000 holiday visitors on December tours and entertained about 12,000 volunteers, members of Congress, White House staff, Secret Service personnel and others at parties. Eight artists from the Corcoran College of Art and Design were chosen to illustrate the official 2011 White House holiday guide book that is handed out to visitors.