Anacostia Arts Center Breaks Ground on Transformative Renovation, Marking a New Era for Creativity, Community, and Entrepreneurship East of the River

Groundbreaking marks the start of a 9–12 month transformation on a reimagined, community-informed hub supporting artists, small businesses, and local residents in historic Anacostia

[Washington, D.C. – January 13, 2026] The Anacostia Arts Center (AAC), powered by the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF), is proud to announce that construction is starting on its long-awaited renovation. The project marks a major milestone in the AAC’s evolution and reaffirms WACIF’s commitment to expanding economic opportunity and deepening community impact in historic Anacostia. The renovation is being led by a DC-based design-build team grounded in community-centered design: Corenic Construction Group as the construction partner and Drummond Projects as architect. The AAC has retained Beltway East as owner’s representative. Construction is expected to take 9–12 months. During the renovation period, the AAC will continue supporting artists, entrepreneurs, and residents through Satellite Programming, bringing workshops, activations, and community events to partner venues throughout Anacostia and beyond.

A Community-Informed Vision for the Future:

The redesigned space will significantly enhance the AAC’s programmatic capacity and reposition the center as a dynamic hub for arts, retail, and entrepreneurship east of the Anacostia River. The transformation reflects years of engagement with artists, residents, local entrepreneurs and the broader Anacostia community, whose insights directly shaped the AAC’s future direction.

“Renovating this building isn’t just about brick and mortar improvements.” says Messay Derebe, General Director of the AAC  “It’s about ensuring a deeply valued arts, entrepreneurship and community center with a heart and soul is strengthened and improved, so it can continue to serve as an anchor and home for the community for decades to come.”

Key Features of the New Anacostia Arts Center:

• Window-line retail frontage that improves visibility, access, and economic opportunity for local businesses
• Flexible event, meeting, and exhibition spaces designed to support arts programming, community gatherings, and cultural expression
• Enhanced integration with The Hive, the AAC’s modernized and expanded coworking space for entrepreneurs, freelancers, community organizations, and creatives
• A future-forward programming plan shaped by extensive community feedback and collaboration with neighborhood partners

Deepening WACIF’s mission and commitment to impact:

The improvements to the Anacostia Arts Center extend far beyond its physical footprint. Since acquiring the building and assuming operations in 2021, WACIF has developed a deep understanding of the challenges local entrepreneurs face and the AAC’s vital role as a cultural and economic anchor in the community.

The renovation reinforces WACIF’s mission to increase equity and economic opportunity in underinvested communities across the Washington, D.C. region by investing knowledge, social, and financial capital in low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs. This transformation builds on successful program pilots including the Creator’s Academy, Afro House, Collective Wellbeing and the Fusion Festival, which expanded access to resources, networks, and opportunities for local creatives and business owners.

As the AAC evolves, WACIF will continue strengthening this mission through expanded programming, new strategic partnerships, and ongoing community engagement. A series of upcoming events  will invite residents to help shape the AAC’s future and ensure its legacy as an accessible, welcoming “third space” for all.

Continued Commitment During Construction:

While the building undergoes its transformation, the AAC will remain connected and committed to its community. WACIF is ensuring that programming the community has counted on and expects from the AAC continues uninterrupted. In addition to the relocation of the HIVE co-working space to a satellite location for the duration of the project, the AAC will be presenting exhibitions in partner sites across Anacostia and beyond, producing signature programs such as the Afro House, Umoja Market, Art All Night, planning entrepreneur trainings like Contracting for Creatives, programming designed for retailers, as well as strengthening collaborations with numerous partner organizations like Building Bridges Across the River and the Anacostia BID.   The closure will not only be a critical time to enhance operations for the re-opening but a dynamic period of intentional development of new opportunities to serve entrepreneurs and creatives through the space to further refine our offerings at opening. Our Satellite programming strategy will ensure uninterrupted access to arts engagement, business support, and cultural experiences, reaffirming AAC’s mission to uplift creativity and opportunity east of the river, even while its doors are temporarily closed. 

Acknowledging Our Partners and Supporters

The Anacostia Arts Center redevelopment is made possible through the generous support of public and private partners committed to advancing equitable development, cultural preservation, and economic opportunity in the District of Columbia. We extend our sincere gratitude to the following sponsors for their investment in this transformative project: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development (DMPED), Truist, Meyer Foundation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, Surdna Foundation, and DC Commission of the Arts and Humanities. Their support reflects a shared belief in the power of arts, culture, and entrepreneurship to strengthen communities and create lasting impact East of the River.

About Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF)

Established in 1987, the Washington Area Community Investment Fund’s mission is to increase equity and economic opportunity in underserved communities in the Washington, DC area by investing knowledge, social, and financial capital in low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs. Our mission is driven by three strategic pillars: inclusive entrepreneurship, community wealth building, and equitable economic development, and is fulfilled by providing access to capital products and services, and capacity building technical assistance to low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs. WACIF has been continuously certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) since 1996, making the organization one of the nation’s first CDFIs. 

About Anacostia Arts Center

The Anacostia Arts Center powered by WACIF is a home for the arts, culture, and small businesses, where the physical space is used to employ and nourish the local arts and creative economy. Within the Anacostia Arts Center, community members will find our Black Box Theater, gallery, retail, HIVE coworking space, meeting and event space.

Media Contact:

For more information about WACIF and its programs, please contact:
Kaelyn Green
Director of Communications
+1 202-964-5875