The boundaries of the arts district centered around the 14th and U Streets corridor are 16th St. on the west, Florida Ave. on the north, 7th St. on the east and Massachusetts Ave. on the south. (MidCity Arts District map)
The second of three townhall discussions on branding and marketing the arts district centered around the 14th and U Streets NW corridor is Tuesday from 6 to 8 pm at the Warehouse Theater, 645 New York Avenue NW.
The first meeting was August 31 at Busboys & Poets on 14th Street (see Borderstan’s wrapup.) The final meeting is 7:30 to 9:30 pm on Monday, September 13, in Theatre J in the DC Jewish Community Center, 16th and Q NW.
The boundaries of the arts district centered around the 14th and U Streets NW corridor are 16th Street on the west, Florida Avenue on the north, 7th Street on the east and Massachusetts Avenue on the south.
Tuesday’s Agenda
Tuesday night’s meeting is co-hosted by Paul Ruppert, producing director of the Warehouse Theater, and Alex Padro, executive director of the Shaw Main Streets progam and and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for ANC 2C-01.
Key topics on Tuesday’s agenda include:
- What do you think are the unique/special characteristics of this district?
- What does “ART” and “ARTS DISTRICT” mean?
- How do you think the district should be named?
- Do the proposed boundaries capture the intensity of the marketable arts assets in this district?
$200,000 Grant
Last year ANC 2F-Logan conducted a study to examine the zoning and economic development needs of the 14th, U and 7th Street NW corridors, which the city calls the Uptown Arts District. Among the noteworthy findings of the study was the desire for more daytime foot traffic, to help struggling arts and retail establishments, and the need for a strong, visual brand at street level.
Earlier this year $200,000 in grant money from NIF was awarded and pooled by four non-profits, Cultural Tourism DC, the Logan Circle Community Association, the Constance Maffin Memorial Fund, and the MidCity Residents Association.
Approximately $75,000 is budgeted for street graphics, light pole banners, billboards and street tattoos. The name being brought forth for the arts district is Mid City Arts District–as opposed to the city’s Uptown name.
MidCity Name
One possible name for the arts district is MidCity and the working group used the it on its grant application. However, one of the main purposes of the branding initiative, and the public meetings, is to determine what name would be used for the arts district. The MidCity Business Association and Mid City Artists group have been using the MidCity / Mid City moniker for several years. Neither group is officially part of the branding and marketing group.
