Any arts critic who maintains otherwise is bullshitting you: At the end of the day, we’re all fans.

No, you won’t see us at comics conventions dressed up as Thor. And we didn’t find Fanboys—that slight 2008 comedy in which a quintet of Star Wars geeks breaks into George Lucas’ ranch—the slightest bit adorable.

When we call ourselves fans, it’s because we love this stuff. Reviewing the District’s theater, music, art, dance, and film offerings is how we channel it. Otherwise, we wouldn’t take it so seriously.

For this issue, our inaugural Spring Arts Guide, we decided to tear up the usual script and devote some serious words not to artists but to some of our fellow fans. Inside, you’ll find four looks at individuals who’ve become deeply involved in local arts scenes, even though they’re not in the business of making art: a punk booker, Pat Walsh; a blogger, Metal Chris; an art collector, Veronica Jackson; and Cheles Rhyes, the dance scene’s a jack-of-all-trades.

Fear not: We’ve also assembled some recommendations for your springtime cultural consumption—via insanely thorough listings and our recommendations of the best rock, classical and opera, books, film, hip-hop, jazz, dance, and theater. We hope you’re a fan.

Bonus! There’s a proper arts section, too. Rebecca J. Ritzel reviews Necessary Sacrifices at Ford’s Theatre and Josephine Tonight at MetroStage. Bob Mondello reviews  The Kinsey Sicks’ Electile Dysfunction at Theater J. Chris Klimek reviews Blood Wedding at Constellation Theatre. Tricia Olszewski reviews Oscar-nominated short films. Marcus J. Moore reviews P.U.S.S.Y., the newest album of instrumental hip-hop from Judah. And in One Track Mind, Joe Warminsky chats with sunshiny genre-bending duo ACME.