COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ADAPTIVE REUSE: THE INTERSECTION OF SUSTAINING MULTI-USE ART SPACE IN WASHINGTON, DC

Washington, D.C. has experienced an accelerated development period over the past fifteen years. In an effort to revitalize neighborhoods devastated by the race riots of 1968, the adaptive reuse of historic community buildings is often employed in an effort to preserve civic identity and culture. Through an in-depth qualitative case study analysis of multi-use arts organizations, this study uncovers the roles these institutions play within their respective communities as well as identifies commonalities and indicators of success and barriers to community engagement and revitalization. Through this analysis, the researcher draws conclusions about the makeup of the multi-use art space community and their constituencies over all, the challenges, weaknesses and barriers they face in community engagement and revitalization, and the current climate for management and operation of these spaces.