Can the creative economy spur economic development in Anacostia?

courtesy of BBC News

Last month, BBC News paid a visit to our neighborhood to investigate how art is being used to revitalize economically depressed communities. The segment includes interviews with Duane Gautier, CEO of ARCH Development Corporation (1227 Good Hope Rd SE)  and William Fadel, Owner of Grubb's Pharmarcy Southeast (1800 MLK Jr. Ave SE). Currently Anacostia is home to four art galleries, two museums, a fine art print lab,  a radio station, numerous street murals, an art and light festival,  and more talented artists than you can shake a paint brush at!  Come spring, the Anacostia Playhouse and Anacostia Arts Center will be a reality.

So with that in mind, what do you think? Can art be used as a catalyst to drive economic development? If the artists come will business and other amneties be sure to follow?


Go HERE to view the BBC News segment.