CulturalDC Announces Sunset of Operations After 27 Years 

Celebrating Over Two Decades of Innovation, Space-Making, and Artist Support 


For nearly three decades, CulturalDC has been a leader in developing artist spaces, presenting multidisciplinary work, and fostering creative community engagement across Washington, DC. We are proud of the organization’s enduring impact and are deeply grateful to the hundreds of artists, staff, board members, partners, and community supporters who helped us make space for art since 1998. 

 

Key Milestones and Impact 

  • 1998 – Cultural Development Corporation Founded 
    Launched as an outgrowth of the Mayor’s Interactive Downtown Task Force to increase arts and culture investment in the city. 

  • 2001–2016 – Flashpoint Gallery & Mead Theatre Lab 
    Provided a downtown hub where visual and performing artists presented experimental work and gained new followings. 

  • 2006 – Purchase and Redevelopment of Source Theatre 
    Created a renovated 150-seat black box theatre and arts hub that became home to Constellation Theatre Company, IN Series, Washington Improv Theater, and many others. 

  • 2008–2017 – Source Festival 
    Produced three weeks of new plays annually, featuring 25+ new works per year and engaging over 1,500 artists during its decade-long run. 

  • 2017 – Shift Toward Mobile and Community-Based Programming 
    Expanded into creative placemaking and neighborhood activations. 

  • 2019 – Launch of DC’s First Mobile Art Gallery 
    Reached all eight wards, welcomed more than 150,000 visitors, and hosted projects such as MIGHTY MIGHTY: The Barbershop Project by Devan Shimoyama and Culinarialism by Umar Rashid.   

  • 2022 Capital Artist Residency 
    Supported visual and multidisciplinary BIPOC artists annually with housing, stipends, childcare support, and public engagement opportunities. 

  • Torrents: New Links to Black Futures 
    Incubated and grew a celebrated multidisciplinary festival centering Black art, culture, and community, now returned to its Creative Director, Jamal Gray. 

We Made Space for Art 1998 - 2005

〰️

We Made Space for Art 1998 - 2005 〰️

 

Sunset Legacy Poster designed by Donald Ely of Three Ring Studio

From Left to Right: Anne Corbett, Juanita Hardy, Ava LaTanya Hilton, Kristi Maiselman

Leadership Legacy 

CulturalDC’s success was shaped by the vision of its Executive Directors:  

Kristi Maiselman (Executive Director & Curator, 2018–2025) 

Ava LaTanya Hilton (Executive Director, 2015–2018) 

Juanita Hardy (Executive Director) 

Anne Corbett (Executive Director & Founding Leader) 

“
For 27 years, we’ve been a catalyst for bold ideas and creative connections in DC. This transition allows us to carry forward that mission in a new way, through lasting endowments and direct investments in artists. Our impact will live on in the classrooms, galleries, and communities we’ve helped nurture. We’re deeply proud of what we’ve built and grateful to every artist, partner, and supporter who made it possible.”
— Kristi Maiselman

Legacy Planning and Investments 

CulturalDC has directed its resources to ensure its mission lives on through lasting investments in artists and cultural organizations, including: 

* Howard University Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts – $500,000 to continue the Capital Artist Residency program. 

* Hamiltonian Arts - $150,000 to aid in facilitating housing and space as part of the Capital Artist Residency program.  

Kristi Maiselman, Former Executive Director and Curator, CulturalDC, Dr. Raimi Gbadamosi, Howard University Department Chair + Professor, Lily Siegel, Executive Director, Hamilton Artists

Additional Legacy Planning and Investments 

* Theatre Alliance – Contributing $250,000 to help build a new multidisciplinary wing for performing arts, visual art exhibitions, rehearsal space, and community gatherings. 

* The Nicholson Project – Donating 100K and the Mobile Art Gallery to continue presenting exhibitions east of the river.  

* Additional grants to Partners – Providing direct funding to like-minded organizations including Black Public Media, JCINTIME Creatives Foundation, The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Capital Fringe-The Tyler Fund, Extreme Lengths Productions, Sarah Ewing Dance, In Series, and more. 

Continuing to Make Space While Looking Ahead 

Through these investments, CulturalDC’s mission to support innovative artists and make their work accessible will continue to thrive across Washington, DC and beyond! The organization’s tagline — “We Make Space for Art” — will live on in the classrooms, galleries, public spaces, and neighborhoods touched by these programs. 

To view the full sunset press release click here…