D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1403
1403.1 The District has made great strides in preserving, rehabilitating, and expanding arts and cultural facilities. Since 2005, numerous cultural venues have been established across the District, including the GALA Hispanic Theatre, which moved into the refurbished Tivoli Theatre; the Woolly Mammoth Theatre downtown; the Howard Theatre on U Street NW; The Edgewood Arts Center, Dance Place, and the Arts Walk have anchored revitalization near the Brookland-CUA Metro station; and organizations, such as the Anacostia Arts Center and the THEARC, that are leading a resurgence of community-oriented arts and cultural facilities in Wards 7 and 8. In addition, public space and facilities have become increasingly important venues for arts and culture. In particular, the public libraries are valuable creative hubs that connect residents to technology, books, and other media in support of local arts and culture.
1403.2 Washington, DC’s wide range of commercial cultural venues also have a growing role in increasing opportunities for District residents to present and experience cultural works. These spaces range from small art galleries to large concert venues that are distributed throughout Washington, DC. For residents, small and mid-sized venues are particularly important because they support formative opportunities to present arts and cultural work. Increasing awareness and the accessibility of these spaces is an important step toward reaching the District’s cultural potential.
1403.3 Yet Washington, DC’s ability to sustain creators is threatened by its high-value real estate, which is driving higher costs for cultural facilities, as well as higher costs of living. As the District continues to grow and evolve, it faces a persistent need to preserve and enhance community-based arts and cultural facilities.
1403.4 Looking forward, a collaborative approach is needed to reach the District’s cultural potential that includes leveraged funding and financing for facility maintenance, development, and programming. The collaborative approach will foster a more equitable cultural community.
Preserve and enhance existing District-owned or controlled neighborhood arts and cultural spaces. Assist in the improvement of arts and cultural organizations’ facilities to enhance the quality, diversity, and distribution of cultural infrastructure.
Support and promote libraries and recreation centers as community anchors that support cultural learning, production, and presentation. The District’s libraries and
recreation centers are unique, community-oriented facilities that increase access to cultural space and programming.
For additional guidance on policies for libraries, see the Community Services and Facilities Element for content pertaining to library facilities. Additionally, see the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Element for information on parks and recreational facilities.
1403.7 Policy AC-1.1.3: Development of New Cultural Facilities Grow cultural organizations through shared and collaborative facilities across the District. Provide technical and financial assistance to organizations to help secure or create new facilities when needed and as appropriate.1403.8 Policy AC-1.1.4: Distribution of Facilities Promote improved access to facilities that offer arts and cultural resources, including development of arts facilities and venues in Wards 7 and 8 and in other parts of Washington, DC where they are in short supply.1403.9 Policy AC-1.1.5: Cultural and Artistic Diversity Neighborhood cultural facilities should accommodate a wide variety of arts disciplines, cultures, individuals, and organizations. Facilities should also accommodate persons with disabilities. In addition, arts and cultural organizations are also encouraged to explore virtual and other types of digital programming that can reach residents who are unable to visit events in person.1403.10 Policy AC-1.1.6: Siting of Facilities Encourage arts and cultural facilities to locate near public transit or sites where shared parking facilities are available.1403.11 Policy AC-1.1.7: Performance and Events in Public Space and Facilities Encourage the provision of spaces for performances and art events in neighborhood parks, community centers, recreation centers, schools, libraries, transit stations, streets, sidewalks, and public areas of private property. These venues can help reach new audiences and increase access to the arts for all residents.1403.12 Policy AC-1.1.8: Using District-Owned Facilities Encourage the shared-use of District-owned facilities, such as public schools, libraries, parks, and recreation centers for cultural uses. This may be accomplished by incorporating programming and equipment into the facilities that support cultural activity. For example, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation offers a variety of equipment and facilities that support cultural events.1403.13 Policy AC-1.1.9: Cultural Uses in Transit Station Area Planning
Encourage cultural facilities and publicly accessible cultural space in reuse plans for transit station areas.
Developing long term, low-cost cultural space should be considered an important and desired benefit in discretionary development reviews. Where appropriate, it should be provided in addition to, not instead of, any affordable housing deemed appropriate for the project.
Encourage collaboration between cultural and community-based organizations, such as places of worship, to increase access to cultural opportunities.
When large sites are planned and developed, cultural facilities should be incorporated where feasible. Planning for these facilities should consider both their neighborhood-serving role and how they relate to the network of cultural facilities District-wide.
Support the development of facilities designed to incubate and grow arts and cultural organizations. These facilities should provide production space, technical assistance, and access to shared equipment.
Encourage the provision of space for arts and cultural presentation in public areas within and adjacent to new buildings. Examples include plazas designed as performance spaces or incorporation of gallery lighting in publicly accessible lobbies to provide exhibition space.
See the Urban Design Element for policies and actions on streetscape and public realm improvements.
Encourage additional arts and cultural establishments that balance the distribution of facilities throughout the District, increase programming diversity, and improve residents’ access to arts and cultural facilities, including theaters and cinemas in Wards 7 and 8.
Assess opportunities for increasing public access to government-owned cultural
facilities, such as increased use of recreation centers for the production and presentation of cultural work by community organizations.
1403.21
Evaluate vacant and unused District-owned or controlled properties for use as arts and cultural facilities. This includes underused portions of occupied buildings.
1403.22
Explore the potential for increasing publicly accessible cultural space through the master facility planning processes for publicly owned assets, such as libraries, schools, parks, recreation centers, and public safety facilities.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).