ARCH DEVELOPMENT
1227 Good Hope Road SE

Committed to Anacostia since 1986

ARCH is a small, nonprofit neighborhood-based organization with its entire focus on the economic regeneration of Washington DC’s Historic Community of Anacostia, using arts, culture, and the creative economy.

Mission: To create, in partnership with the residents and stakeholders of the neighborhood, a home for arts, culture, and small businesses fulfilling our commitment to the revitalization of Historic Anacostia.

Vision: Anacostia should be a vibrant residential and commercial neighborhood that retains its historic charm and is filled with small businesses and cultural organizations that serve Anacostia residents and create a destination for visitors.

Projects Include: Anacostia Arts Center, Honfleur Gallery, The HIVE 2.0, Vivid Gallery, DC Artists East, East of the River Distinguished Artist Award, Artist Housing and the Storefront Improvement Program

ANACOSTIA PLAYHOUSE
2020 Shannon Place SE

In late summer 2013 Playhouse reopened as The Anacostia Playhouse. The theater at 2020 Shannon Place, SE, is located in a place of both rich history and great promise, much as H Street was when we opened there over a decade ago. As a full time facility we see ourselves as uniquely positioned to serve our local community east of the river, while we work to introduce the neighborhood to members of other communities, thereby helping spur local economic development. Our exciting programming and diverse audience base is part of the movement to restore nighttime vigor to Historic Anacostia. With ample parking and multiple transportation options, Anacostia is uniquely poised to house a thriving arts and entertainment community.

The Anacostia Playhouse is both a rental facility as well as a producing organization. Our mainstage has 100-120 seats with flexible, reconfigurable seating. We have already hosted such respected companies as Theater Alliance (our resident company), Verbal Gymnastics, Pinky Swear, Scena Theater, Restoration Stage and Southeast Trinity on our stage and look forward to housing many other producing entities. Ongoing outreach efforts have resulted in partnerships with Ballou High School, Thurgood Marshall Public Charter School and Young Playwrights Theatre, all of whom had productions in our space. Between mainstage productions we host readings of new plays, jazz concerts, fundraisers and more. With an additional multi-function space, we can host rehearsals and community meetings, and long range plans include a roster of after school and summer activities and a technical apprenticeship program.

CONGRESS HEIGHTS ARTS + CULTURE CENTER
3200 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE

CHACC is a family. CHACC is a tribe.

Congress Heights Arts + Culture Center is a 501 (c)(3) organization with a mission to expose, inspire + educate both youth + adults to the rich arts  + cultural opportunities, specifically in Wards 7 + 8, from a historical + modern day prospective.

CHACC was established to the explore arts + culture of people of the African Diaspora, specifically, communities of African Americans, residing East of the Anacostia River.​

CHACC’s purpose is to develop + expand cultural + artistic opportunities for our residents. One of CHACC’s highest priority is to weave children + youth into the fabric of the economic revitalization occurring in the communities within Wards 7 and 8.

CHACC is not just a home to EOR creatives but home full of legacy. Formerly the residence + business space of the Executive Director's father, the arts + culture center serves as a tangible example of black ownership, generational success + cultural legacy.

PROJECT CREATE
2028 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE

Project Create provides accessible arts education to promote positive development in children, youth and families experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Our Vision

Project Create envisions a community in which all children and youth, particularly those affected by homelessness and poverty, have access to high-quality arts education in order to improve their lives and their communities.

Values

We believe that every child should have a safe place to be creative, expressive and imaginative. We welcome children of any level of artistic skill, and we engage them through a wide variety of artistic disciplines and a broad range of arts enrichment activities.
We believe that art fosters confidence, self-knowledge and resilience, which children need to reach their dreams. Our classes teach more than art skills; we help children navigate challenges in their lives in order to succeed academically and socially, now and in the future.

We believe that a creative community can instill a sense of belonging and positive cultural identity. These anchors make it easier for children to resist destructive influences and make constructive choices. Through art, we encourage our students to use their voices to represent and advocate for themselves in their communities.