CuDC’s approach is to create affordable, urban, live/work opportunities for area artists and their families to support the creative workforce, thereby building a culturally rich and diverse community. Exemplary artist housing opportunities cultivate a healthy, stable and creative workforce, retaining the valuable creative human capital otherwise lost when artists are priced out of the city. Artist housing spurs small business development, contributes to public safety efforts and reduces transportation demands. Artist residents are dually vested in the community, contributing to the local income tax base and property tax base. To the extent that artist residents create and sell goods in the District of Columbia, they are also contributing sales tax. A vibrant, diverse creative economy inspires culturally rich neighborhoods and accessible arts opportunities for DC residents, visitors and tourists.

Generally, artist housing is open to artists, arts administrators and arts educators of all disciplines – visual art, craft, sound and performance art, theatre, dance, music and literary arts. Eligible applicants may include, but are not limited to: painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, metal-smiths, writers, musicians, actors, dancers, graphic designers, computer animators, arts administrators, educators and other creative entrepreneurs.

CuDC will request various documentation to review an applicant’s artistic eligibility. This may include:

• an artistic resume
• work samples/portfolio
• references

As CuDC uses a variety of sources for project funding, many projects have income restrictions in place. Generally, allowable incomes range from 30% to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI).

Area Median Income (AMI) is the annual median income level for the Washington, DC metropolitan area, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Current limits can be seen at the DC Department of Housing and Community Development.

While each project has separate artistic requirements and financial limitations, all projects are subject to Federal, District and County fair-housing regulations. CuDC will not discriminate against potential residents based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status.

For more information, contact at 202.315.1324.