BALTIMORE — There’s a new energy in the air these days in downtown Baltimore. That’s because the Downtown Cultural Arts Center (DCAC), located at 401 N. Howard Street, opened its doors this summer bringing with it a variety of creative programs to enliven the city.
Cassandra N. Vincent
With all of the progress the center has made, one might think the Downtown Cultural Arts Center has been around for years, but it has not. CEO and Founder, Renny Bass acquired the building in 2011 and worked to create a beautiful venue he envisioned would offer city residents a place to explore and fall in love with the arts. Bass believes that the center will be a beacon as well as a resource to the city.
In October the center hosted a dinner and the play, “The New Teachers’ Lounge” written by Ursula V. Battle. DCAC has an exceptional amount of space, which allows for multiple uses of the building including a rental hall and performing arts and community activities.
Dance is the newest offering and is led by Macee Whitehead. Currently, classes are available for children from preschool all the way to high school. Adult dance and fitness will soon be added to the schedule of events for the center.
In addition to dance, the center offers a weekly preschool art program as well as serving as a gallery for local artists. The multi-purpose center also offers a first floor theater space, senior programs, and instructional language classes. Bass is enthusiastic about closing out 2013 strong with holiday programming and is gearing up to publish the 2014 calendar of events.
“We are here as a resource to our community, offering a multicultural and multipurpose space,” says DCAC Director Adrian Bobb.
Bass has plans to expand the space to include a venue that offers live music. His long term goal is to turn the three-storey former financial institution into a hub of art and creative expression.
The center is seeking grant funding to continue to grow community programs for youth and seniors. “This is a major undertaking and requires funding, support, and community involvement,” Bass said. He welcomes the community to come take advantage of the spacious location and the art programs.
For more information about The Downtown Cultural Arts Center, call 410-837-2787 or visit: www.dculturalartcenter.org.