RARE. GRITTY. BRILLIANT.

Mission

Joe’s Movement Emporium is the community performing arts center of World Arts Focus, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that was launched in 1992. The mission is to promote participation and practice in dance, movement, and performing arts traditions from around the world while using the arts as a key tool to revitalize community.

In 1992, World Arts Focus was launched as a catalyst for community arts programming in Washington, D.C. In 1995, the organization relocated to Mount Rainier, Maryland, and merged with local dance studio called Joe’s Movement Emporium. In 1998, the leadership of Joe’s became active in the creation of Maryland’s first Arts and Entertainment District. This district currently comprises a two-mile, commercial redevelopment zone along the Route 1 corridor in Prince George’s County. The area stretches from the border with northeast Washington, D.C. (Ward 5) to the City of Hyattsville. There are several zoning overlays that also officially designate neighborhoods and municipalities as Economic Empowerment Zones and Priority Funding Areas in Maryland. In tandem with the adoption of this arts-based revitalization strategy, the organization decided to engage in a capital campaign to purchase a nearby warehouse facility and transform this structure into a 20,000 sq. ft. performance center with studios, administrative offices, and educational resources. In 2007, the New Joe’s Movement Emporium opened its doors; and in 2009, the Board of Directors and staff dedicated a new performance theatre as part of the center.


Vision

The Prince George’s Gateway County Arts District provides a unique opportunity to create a dynamic artist community almost from scratch. It provides a strategy for establishing the relevancy of arts by linking programs to the overall health and vitality of a community. Through advancing its mission and programs, Joe’s Movement Emporium is an anchor project for community revitalization. Sensitivity to the needs of artists is what keeps the organization accessible to emerging performing groups, to those seeking affordable performances and educational opportunities, and to those seeking to build unique audience experiences through the use of an intimate performance space.

Joe’s Movement Emporium attracts many artists who see themselves as agents of change. The facility offers more space not only for artists to create, perform, and teach, but also for community members and visitors to experience the benefits of movement and dance. This understanding of community engagement intimately informs the organization’s artistic process, which is reflected in both public art projects and the deep commitment to the education of youth and adults. The organization’s staff works with a host of community partners to provide program delivery. As an artist-centered organization, Joe’s keeps the needs of artists at the forefront, while balancing its responsiveness to the needs of audience members and program participants.


Constituency

In the immediate service areas of Mount Rainier, Brentwood, and North Brentwood, the organization serves neighborhoods that, according to 2005 Census tract data, more than half of families identify as having low to moderate incomes. More than 70% of families also identify themselves as ethnic minorities. Prior to the current economic recession, the poverty level of the population was 13%. Since the start of 2009, the area has experienced a decrease in the job growth rate by more than 4%. More than 75% of elementary school children receive free or reduced price lunches, and there is a high mobility rate among students during the school year.

Over the past decade, Joe’s Movement Emporium has provided many children with learning opportunities outside of school, job training for at-risk teens, and year-round arts experiences for low- to moderate-income families. In addition, the organization has created a hub of resources and services to support work of many artists who have gravitated to the area.

According to the most recent Cultural Data Profile of the Maryland Cultural Data Project (a joint project of the Maryland State Arts Council and the Pew Charitable Trusts), Joe’s Movement Emporium receives 14,800 attendants to paid events and 11,900 attendants to free events. The organization also serves more than 2,400 local children through year-round arts and learning programs, and employs more than 250 artists, teens, and program staff throughout the year.

Goals

Through programs promoting education, production, and artist services, Joe’s Movement Emporium fulfills its mission and artistic vision with the following major objectives:

• Provide culturally diverse programs dedicated to the study and presentation of performing arts traditions from around the world.
• Support a growing local arts industry by sharing resources, studio space, and administrative services.
• Provide jobs and creative space for local artists, educators, and teens.
• Engage patrons to participate in civic activities and programs involving community-wide support.
• Provide free or reduced-cost programs and performances to low-income families or to community members traditionally unable to access high-quality arts programming.
• Offer a haven for local youth to learn about the arts and technical aspects of production.
• Provide leadership in Prince George’s County for arts, community development and nonprofit organizations.