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The Cultural Development Corporation (CuDC) is a private, nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. The purpose of the organization is to engage artists and arts organizations in community development and neighborhood revitalization efforts to stimulate economic growth, expand the city's cultural horizons, and improve quality of life in the nation's capital.

History

In December 1996, as the downtown DC sports and entertainment industry began to pick up steam, the Downtown Arts Committee (an outgrowth of the Mayor Marion Barry's Interactive Downtown Task Force) reinvigorated efforts to advance the role of arts and culture in the revitalization of Downtown DC. In January 1998, the Downtown Arts Committee, sponsored by the Federal City Council and funded with a grant from the Cafritz Foundation, engaged over 150 local leaders in a participatory process to develop a common vision and achievable goals.

The vision that ensued highlighted Washington as the cultural heart of the region — a vibrant and creative center that blends culture, arts, technology, commerce, retail, entertainment, education and entrepreneurship in a world-class environment. With the support of the White House, the federal and District governments, the international community, and local business interests, this process culminated in an agenda presented May 5, 1998 at an arts summit hosted by the First Lady, Laura Bush. The recommendations were designed to increase and sustain the presence and appreciation of arts and culture in downtown Washington, and to provide places and spaces for artists and arts organizations to live, create, exhibit, sell, rehearse, perform, convene, and animate.

CuDC is a private-sector, nonprofit, autonomous entity empowered to:
facilitate arts and cultural real estate development in conjunction with the network of neighborhood-based community development corporations; and advocate for arts and cultural investment to benefit Washington-based artists and arts organizations and the neighborhoods where they reside. CuDC offers: Advocacy, Consulting, Facilities Planning and Management Services.

Artist Housing

CuDC creates artist housing that provides the basic living necessities while leaving as much space as possible for the owners/renters to customize to their own needs. Amenities incorporated into artist housing include: high ceilings and natural light, exposed floors and ceilings, high-speed data ports, cable connections, 220-volt electrical power, soundproofing, slop sinks and hazmat disposal, commercially-rated ventilation and exhaust systems, plus commercial loading access. CuDC’s projects include shared elements - shaped by the artists’ professional needs – that encourage community-building and enhance the professional pursuits of many of the artist-residents. Retail/exhibit space, dance studio and/or a shared workshop are examples of spaces that might be included.

An example of a completed artist housing space is Mather Studios, located at 916 G ST, NW. The DC Department of Housing and Community Development selected CuDC, in partnership with PN Hoffman, Inc. & Gilford Construction to develop Mather Studios as a center for creative living and industry in the District of Columbia.

Flashpoint

In December 2003, CuDC opened The Gallery at Flashpoint, an arts incubator that offers strategic business services and affordable arts and office space in a downtown studio setting. At The Gallery at Flashpoint, CuDC offers a contemporary art gallery, 75-seat theatre lab, and dance studio to DC-area artists and cultural organizations as well as supplying management consulting services.

Source

Source, at 1835 14th Street NW, has been one of DC’s landmark performing arts spaces for nearly three decades. It’s been a springboard for many of the city’s emerging talents and a home to the arts crusaders who helped revitalize 14th Street in Northwest DC as an arts corridor. Source Theatre Company, along with Studio Theatre and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, pioneered the revitalization of this neighborhood at a time when other investors deemed it unappealing — leading the area’s economic and social resurgence.

The DC arts community was therefore outraged early in 2006 upon hearing that the Source property, which closed its doors due to ongoing financial strains on the theatre company, was slated for sale to a local restaurateur. Fearing the irrevocable loss of a precious artistic resource, area artists, patrons and activists rallied together, enlisting CuDC’s help to save Source. Gathering input from performing arts companies, individual artists and theatre patrons, CuDC officially purchased the property in October 2006 and is currently working on the renovations.

In the coming year, CuDC plans to transform Source into a performing arts space serving independent theatre professionals and theatre patrons alike. The plans include updating and renovating the space to provide administrative, rehearsal and performance space for resident companies and other small- and medium-sized performing arts groups. With the acquisition of Source — a major expansion of CuDC’s activities — CuDC has launched a major capital campaign that will rally a $2.5 million investment in this historic property.

Accomplishments and Future Projects

Awarded the Washington Post Award for Innovative Leadership in the Theatre Community at the 2007 Helen Hayes Awards for CuDC’s commitment to saving and reinvigorating the Source theatre (April 2007);

Awarded Catalyst Award from American Institute of Architects for CuDC’s role in the redevelopment of Mather Studios (October 2006);

Began planning and design, with Manna, Inc., for 41 affordable artist work/live condominiums at 24th & Douglas Street NE in Washington’s Langdon neighborhood (Ward 5);

Began assisting Artspace Projects with the development of affordable live/work apartments in conjunction with a new facility for Dance Place in Brookland (Ward 5);

Created a business plan for development of a cultural arts center as part of the Eastgate Gardens HOPE VI project in Ward 7 of Washington, DC

External Links

Cultural Development Corporation [1741]<br />

Flashpoint [1742]<br />

Source [1743]<br />

Inside Source Blog [1744]<br />

References

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