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mt.
rainier arts facility makes headway |
 photo taken by Christopher Anderson/The Gazette |
Joe's
Movement Emporium has purchased 3309 Bunker Hill Road in Mount Rainier,
a major step closer to making a new location feel a little more
like home. The new site, negotiated Dec. 22 by the board of Joe's/World
Arts Focus, is about two blocks from 3802 34th St., the Emporium's
present location. The proposed new 20,000 square foot complex will
include three dance studios, a 150-seat theatre, an arts education
center, production shops for costumes and props, and a welcoming
front lobby. There will also be an outdoor performance space, offices
and storage for artists/non-profits, a cafe and concession area
and art exhibition space in the lobby and hallways. The property
purchase is one phase of a $2.5 million capital campaign that will
continue throughout the year. In addition to a $200,000 Economic
Development Initiative grant from the Department of Housing and
Urban Development, Joe's recieved another $200,000 from the Eugene
and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation. Construction is scheduled to begin
in February with a six to eight month of completion time in sight.
"It's thrilling and scary to own a big warehouse but I feel
really excited about the organization's vision coming to life in
that new space," said co-owner Brooke Kidd. "We're thrilled
about it. It will allow us to have more space and better meet the
needs of the community with that space," said Jessica Byler,
Joe's marketing coordinator. "I'm really thrilled they've been
able to move this effort along," said Congressman Chris Van
Hollen (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington. "This is a movement that
a lot of people have been waiting to see. It's going to be a great
asset for the entire community." Hollen helped sponsor the
Housing and Urban Development grant with Senators Paul Sarbanes
and Barbara Mikulski. Other sponsors included the Prince Charitable
Trusts, the Redevelopment Authority of Prince George's County, the
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Morris
and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. While no exact opening and fully
operational date has been set for the new facility, Byler put the
targeted timeframe for hte fall of 2005. Several art groups, including
Balafon West African Dance Company, Gamelan Mitra Kusuma, Cat Scratch
Theatre and Thriving Arts Productions, have already chosen the proposed
site as residence. "It's a wonderful plan to have a local community
arts organization and we look forward to continuing to be a part
of Joe's," said Latifah Alsegaf, Gamelan Mitra Kusuma's general
manager. "It's great because for Joe's it's permanent space
and they'll be additional studio spaces for the artists." Alsegaf
said the new building would provide a creative environment for many
artists of diverse cultures who would be at one venue and work together. |
