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Get To Know The ARCH Development Corporation

Blogger Disclosure: I've been lucky enough to work with the ARCH Development Corporation (ADC) and the ARCH Training Center on several projects but I was a huge fan way before I had a professional relationship with them.  ADC is probably most well known for Honfleur Gallery and The Gallery at Vivid Solutions in Anacostia but what you may not know is that they do a lot to encourage and support Ward 8 small businesses and entrepreneurs. When I was first getting my business off the ground they really guided me through the process and really believed in my vision. I have been lucky enough to see first hand (and almost on a daily basis) the results of their free small business technical assistance to Ward 8 residents and small businesses.  It's a great organization.  If you are not yet familiar with their mission please take a moment to review their current projects listed below. -- The Advoc8te

FYI: You can follow ARCH on Twitter and Facebook!

From the ADC website:


Members of the ARCH team during the launch
of Eat Shop Live Anacostia, an ADC project
ARCH Development Corporation (ADC) is a nineteen year old 501[c] [3] not-for-profit community based organization that believes arts and the creative economy can be employed as part of a comprehensive, synergistic approach to community revitalization in the Anacostia community of Washington, DC. Founded in 1991, the organization began providing small scale neighborhood and business development. In 2004, the Board developed a strategic plan that lead to a change in focus. ADC believes that, in collaboration with other community groups, arts and cultural activities will not only support the individual artist, but it will fuel economic growth while providing programming for residents that is currently unavailable

ADC feels that properly organized facilities and development programs designed to attract artists, performing arts groups, theater companies and other creative community-based organizations can serve as the engine for neighborhood economic development. This approach will yield other benefits. It will nourish the spiritual and creative energies to allow the community to reinvigorate itself. The creative economy also can bridge the many differences that seemingly divide the residents of Anacostia such as age, gender, income, race and ethnicity.

Overview of Anacostia - A holistic approach
Duane Gautier, CEO 2010

ARTS & CULTURE


Honfleur Gallery
River East Emerging Leaders event at Honfleur Gallery

Honfleur Gallery   is a contemporary art space located in the Historic Anacostia neighborhood of Washington DC. Honfleur, opened in 2007, maintains a rigorous schedule of exhibitions and programming that focuses on cutting edge contemporary exhibitions by living artists from the USA and abroad. Experimental media and installation works are welcome at Honfleur alongside more traditional art media.

Honfleur is dedicated and pursuant of art exhibitions that, at times have a socially charged thematic basis often which is used as a platform for dialogue. A main focus for Honfleur is its Annual Social Arts Initiative, which concurrently approaches supporting outstanding working artists, bringing cultural opportunities to the local community and presenting projects which may not find a home in a more commercial fine arts venue. Social Arts Initiative projects may cross-pollinate between multiple artistic genres, yet Honfleur remains at heart a visual arts venue. For more information please visit:   http://www.honfleurgallery.com/

Primary Contact:   Briony Evans Hysnon, Creative Director – Honfleur
Location : 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE Washington, D.C. 20020

The Gallery at Vivid Solutions
Veronica Davis of Ward 7 checks out the 'Documents' exhibit

With an intimate exhibition space attached to a high end digital print lab,   The Gallery at Vivid Solutions   is moving towards the goal of becoming a photographic center in Anacostia, Washington D.C. This photography and digital arts exhibition space is dedicated to showcasing and supporting established contemporary artists as well as aspiring local Washington, D.C. talents. Photographers associated with Vivid Solutions ranges in focus from documentary photography to fine art and portraiture photography.

The Gallery at Vivid Solutions aims to provide better access & knowledge about the skill of photography. Not only is it a fine arts venue, it is space dedicated to promoting and encouraging all photographers by providing artist talks, public events and collaborating with its sister gallery, Honfleur.

The Gallery at Vivid Solutions prides itself on being accessible, available and rooted in the community. It believes in the advancement of both the digital and traditional worlds of photography by always delivering the highest quality images. The Gallery at Vivid Solutions opened in April 2009 and holds regular exhibits which will continue to change four to six times annually. For more information and current exhibition please visit: http://www.vividsolutionsdc.com/

Primary Contact : Beth Ferraro, Creative Director – The Gallery at Vivid Solutions
Location : 2208 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE Washington, D.C. 20020

Blank Space SE
ARCH student and Ward 8 resident Marquise Shields
checks 'Arts on the Avenue' at Blank Space SE

Blank Space SE   is a permanent, creative rental space established to address the need for visual/performing arts organizations and individuals to affordably secure a physical space to exhibit or showcase their creativity. Blank Space SE welcomes all professional, experimental, visionary, original artists and organizations to use the space as their own temporary home. It is an ideal venue for all forms of creative projects and outlets. Blank Space SE is available for these and more such as producing; your own art exhibit, small scale dance or theater event, installation piece or performance art, short term studio, think tank, pop up boutique, classrooms/workshops and more. For more information and current exhibition please visit:   http://www.blankspacese.com/

Primary Contact:  Beth Ferraro, Exhibitions Coordinator – Blank Space SE
Location:   1922 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE Washington, D.C. 20020

Artist Representation
ARCH Development Corporation, through the Honfleur Gallery, represents an array of talented visual artists in varying stages of their careers with works ranging from painting & mixed media works to photography. Currently, with a roster of 13 long term clients and a hand full of rotating short term artists, the heart of its representation is based on the three following goals; Sales, Exposure and Alternative Placement.

Current Long Term Artists include:   Jared Ragland (DC,) Darren Smith (DC,) Gustavo Sosa Diaz (Spain,) Arie Mandlebaum (Belgium,) Delphine Perlstein (France,) Renee Woodward (Virginia,) John K. Lawson (Massachusetts,) Cyril Anguelidis (France,) Jean Noel L’Harmeroult (France,) Jonathan Royce (Baltimore,) Charlotte L’Harmeroult (France,) Owen Franken (France,) and Stephan LaPlanche (France.)

Primary Contact : Amy Cavanaugh Royce, Vice President ADC/Director of Representation

ARCH Artist in Residency Program

The ARCH Artist in Residency Program   is an opportunity for artist to pursue thoroughly their creative project amid DC’s vibrant and diverse urban environment. Three residencies (for up to 3 artists each session) are offered per year; spring, summer and fall. The residencies are approximately 8 weeks long. Each artist will work closely the creative staff at the Honfleur Gallery and the Gallery at Vivid Solutions to determine the parameters of the residency and needs of the artist in advance of their arrival. These parameters will focus primarily on the details of the artists’ project, but are also about how to best connect to the local community, foster dynamic interaction and develop exposure to the resources of the greater DC cultural community. The program will offer free housing and free shared workspace to participating artists.

Primary Contact : Amy Cavanaugh Royce, Vice President ADC
Location : 1706 16th Street SE Washington D.C. 20020

Cultural Programming
ADC has the great advantage of having multiple facilities and strong partnerships laying the perfect foundation for cultural programming. Dedicated to the highest of standards within its programming, ADC offers a variation of activities for its visitors including; arts workshops, artist talks, digital and traditional photography classes, poetry readings, concerts and artist residencies. Past musical performers include; The Analog Arts Ensemble, Christylez Bacon, The Cornell West Theory, Butch Warren, Cephas and Wiggins to name a few. Please refer to the ADC calendar for listings of upcoming concerts, workshops and other events.

ADC also offers free After School Photography classes for youth and young adults. There are currently no open sessions, please stay posted for announcements on this program.

Primary Contact : Amy Cavanaugh Royce, Vice President ADC

Cultural Programming and Artist Residencies funded, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts

BUSINESS & DEVELOPMENT

Vivid Solutions DC
Andrea Hope, Director of Digital Productions
(Photo courtesy of East City Art)
Vivid Solutions DC   is co-located with the Gallery at Vivid Solutions in Historic Anacostia. Through the use of high-end, professional Epson printers and a new printing technique developed by Epson France called “Digigraphie,” Vivid Solutions offers fine art replications and high-end printing. Digigraphie is a unique, authentic printing technique which sets a standard for precise color management of prints and reproductive works. ADC has signed an agreement with Epson France to become one of the first American Digigraphie Labs that allow photographic artists and painters to create extremely high-quality limited editions of their original works of art, while completely respecting their creations. For more detailed information visit: http://www.vividsolutionsdc.com/

Primary Contact : Andrea Hope, Director of Digital Productions
Location : 2208 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE Washington, D.C. 20020

The Hive
Estimé Enterprises, Inc. now with an office at The HIVE

The Hive is a brand new business incubator which was designed to help replace the more traditional office space model with a new “money-saving” alternative. The Hive offers commercial office space, conference rooms by the hours, remote and on site receptionist services, capable and professional administrative support as well as access to a list of consulting services and resources such as event planning or help with creating your own business plan. The Hive will feature a range of office space options on a “pay for only what office space and office services you use.”

The Hive facility is located in a federally and District of Columbua government enterprise community and a Federal Small Business Administration HUB Zone. These designations allow as company to receive preferential considerations when applying for Federal or District of Columbia contracts. The facility is located within a short walk of the Anacostia Metro, has a bus stop at the door and easy access to the Navy Yard and Capitol Hill. For more information please visit:   http://www.thedchive.com/

The Hive was funded in part by the Dept. of Housing and Community Development

Primary Contact : Tyrice McKelvy – p) 202–507–8072
Location : 2027 Martin Luther king Jr. Ave. SE Washington, D.C. 20020