Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center

What Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center does

Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center is a municipal multi-purpose cultural arts facility located at 2410 Wickham Avenue in Newport News, Virginia, owned and operated by the City of Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The center opened to the public in October 2008 inside the restored historic Walter Reed School building and is anchored by the 276-seat Ella Fitzgerald Theater. Supporting spaces include the Anderson Johnson Gallery, Newport News Community Gallery, Foyer Gallery, L. Marian Poe Meeting Room, Banquet Room, and Charles C. Allen Executive Board Room. The organization reports 7 employees.

The center's core products are its performance and exhibition venues, which it monetizes through event ticket sales (DG Mainstage theater productions, Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival, 3Sixty Concert Series, 25 Mics open mic), facility rentals for weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings, and class registration fees via the Rec1 municipal recreation platform. Educational programming includes Foundations of Art classes (watercolor, acrylic, manga/anime, drawing), machine-sewing classes for youth, adults, and special-needs participants, puppetry programs, and the Mosaic Steel Orchestra. Digital offerings include SOAR (Students Obtaining Artistic Refuge) arts-and-crafts videos and the Flashback Fridays archival series.

The business model combines earned revenue from tickets, rentals, and class fees with municipal funding through the city budget; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Customers are predominantly Newport News residents and Southeast-community members across three segments: general community members, event planners seeking affordable venue rental, and local artists/performers. Marketing relies on the Squarespace-hosted website, email newsletter, Facebook/Instagram accounts, and earned media in WAVY TV 10, Daily Press, Distinction Magazine, and Veer Magazine. The center is a government entity, not a venture-backed company, and there are no funding rounds, M&A activity, or external ownership interests in the record.

Name

Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center

Legal name

Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center

Website

https://downinggross.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center is a City of Newport News-owned, multi-purpose cultural arts facility in Newport News, Virginia, that runs the 276-seat Ella Fitzgerald Theater, multiple galleries, classes, festivals, and facility rentals serving local residents, event planners, and artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts and Cultural Facility

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Cultural arts programming
• Event venue rental
• Community theater productions
• Visual arts education
• Performing arts facility

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport News

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue from theater productions, concerts, and performances held in the 276-seat Ella Fitzgerald Theater and other venue spaces.
2. Facility Space Rentals: Rental income from event spaces including the Ella Fitzgerald Theater, Anderson Johnson Gallery, Newport News Community Gallery, L. Marian Poe Meeting Room, Banquet Room, and Charles C. Allen Executive Board Room for weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings. Discounts offered for Newport News residents.
3. Class and Program Registration: Fees from art classes, workshops, and educational programs including sewing classes, youth programs, and special needs programs. Some programs offered free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center is a municipal cultural arts facility that hosts performing arts events, art exhibitions, and educational classes. It operates the 276-seat Ella Fitzgerald Theater, multiple gallery spaces, and meeting/banquet rooms available for events, weddings, and corporate functions. Programming includes community theater productions, concert series, art classes, sewing classes, puppetry programs, and free community events such as movies and open mic nights.

Product overview

Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center operates as a multi-purpose cultural arts facility offering a unified portfolio of venues, programs, and educational classes. The core offering centers on the 276-seat Ella Fitzgerald Theater and multiple gallery spaces (Anderson Johnson Gallery, Newport News Community Gallery, Foyer Gallery) available for performances, exhibitions, and events. Supporting infrastructure includes meeting rooms and banquet facilities for facility rentals. The center's programming includes DG Mainstage theatrical productions, the Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival, and the 3Sixty Concert Series. Educational offerings encompass SOAR online arts videos, 25 Mics open mic events, Flashback Fridays video archive, visual arts classes (painting, drawing, sewing), and puppetry programs. Additional programs include facility rentals, artist-in-residence opportunities, and the Mosaic Steel Orchestra. The facility serves as a community arts hub for the City of Newport News, offering both in-person and virtual programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ella Fitzgerald Theater Venue Rental and Performances A 276-seat performance venue named for the 'First Lady of Song' Ella Fitzgerald, hosting concerts, theatrical productions, and community events. It is available for ticketed performances and also for private event rentals.
• Visual Arts Gallery Exhibitions Rotating gallery exhibitions in the Anderson Johnson Gallery (folk art and cultural exhibitions), Newport News Community Gallery (local and regional artists), and Foyer Gallery (entrance displays). Open to the public for viewing.
• Facility and Event Space Rentals Rental of event spaces including the Ella Fitzgerald Theater, Anderson Johnson Gallery, Newport News Community Gallery, L. Marian Poe Meeting Room, Banquet Room, and Charles C. Allen Executive Board Room for weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings. Discounts are offered for Newport News residents.
• DG Mainstage Theater Productions Community theatrical productions including musicals and plays performed in the Ella Fitzgerald Theater, featuring local talent. Past productions include Sister Act, The Wiz, Dreamgirls, Little Shop of Horrors, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, Disney's Frozen Jr., and The Color Purple.
• Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival Annual music festival featuring jazz vocal competitions and performances by renowned and Grammy-nominated artists such as Jane Monheit and Lizz Wright. The center has hosted this festival for 20+ years.
• 3Sixty Concert Series Concert series featuring jazz, R&B, and contemporary artists, presented in partnership with 3Sixty Management and Consulting. Past performers include Masego and Melanie Faye.
• Art Classes and Workshops Foundations of Art instruction programs including watercolor painting, acrylic painting, manga/anime drawing, and foundational drawing techniques for various ages. Class registration handled through the Rec1 platform.
• Sewing Classes and Workshops Machine sewing instruction for youth and adults, including beginner, intermediate, and special needs classes, as well as youth day camps and themed workshops such as reversible bucket hat sewing.
• Puppetry Programs Clay puppetry and shadow puppet production classes taught by James Cooper, covering European, Chinese, and contemporary styles.
• Summer Movie Series and Free Summer Programs Free outdoor movie screenings during summer months featuring family-friendly films, plus free summer workshops and classes for all ages.
• 25 Mics Open Mic Monthly family-friendly open mic event featuring local performers, musicians, and spoken word artists. Admission is free.
• Mosaic Steel Orchestra Steel pan musical ensemble program offering instruction and performance opportunities for community members.
• Artist-in-Residence Program Program supporting professional artists to teach workshops and classes in various disciplines at the center.
• Ladies in Red Concert Annual concert and award show celebrating women making a difference in the community, produced by Myra Smith.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served as venue for annual Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival for 20+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 3Sixty Management and ConsultingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBrought the 3Sixty Concert Series to Downing-Gross, featuring emerging artists like Masego and Melanie Faye. This partnership has showcased rising talent in the jazz and contemporary music scene.
• Virginia OperaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Clayton Singleton to design sets for Porgy and Bess and Freedom's Journey productions, showcasing local artist integration with major arts organizations.
• WeddingRule.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured as a top wedding venue provider, increasing visibility and bookings for event rentals.
• Virginia Art Therapy AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Virginia Art Therapy Association Art Show exhibition, supporting professional arts organizations.
• Distinction MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured guest curator Clayton Singleton and Light From All Sides exhibit in magazine coverage.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Peninsula Fine Arts Center: A multi-disciplinary visual arts center in Newport News, VA operating gallery exhibitions, art classes and community programming. Overlaps directly with DGCAC's gallery and arts-education offerings in the same city.
• Charles H. Taylor Arts Center: A municipal visual arts center in Hampton, VA operated by the city, offering gallery exhibitions, art classes and community programs. Highly comparable as another city-owned cultural arts facility in the Hampton Roads region.
• Zeiders American Dream Theater: A multi-purpose performing arts and community venue in Virginia Beach, VA offering theater, music, dance and community programming. Comparable as a mid-size community cultural arts venue with similar programming breadth and rental model.
• Wells Theatre: A historic 350-seat theater in Norfolk, VA operated by Virginia Stage Company, presenting a season of plays and musicals. Comparable regional producing theater with similar scale and community-theater programming mix.
• The American Theatre: A 400-seat performing arts venue in Hampton, VA operated by the Hampton Arts Commission. Comparable regional theater programming, community productions and rental model in an adjacent municipality.
• Ferguson Center for the Arts: A 1,700-seat performing arts complex on Christopher Newport University's campus in Newport News, VA. It is the most direct local competitor for theater productions, concerts and touring acts in the same primary market.

Broad incumbents

• Chrysler Hall: A 2,500-seat performing arts hall in Norfolk, VA operated by the city's cultural venues authority. Comparable as a larger regional theater competing for concerts, Broadway tours and community programming.
• Sandler Center for the Performing Arts: A 1,300-seat performing arts venue in Virginia Beach, VA hosting national touring concerts, comedy and Broadway productions. Comparable as a larger regional venue competing for the same touring content pool.
• Harrison Opera House: The 1,632-seat home of Virginia Opera in Norfolk, VA. Comparable as a regional opera and performing arts presenter, and a current partner of DGCAC, that competes for opera and large-scale musical programming audiences.

Regional players

• Virginia Arts Festival: A multi-venue performing arts festival presenting concerts, opera, dance and theater across Hampton Roads venues. Comparable as a regional programming curator that occasionally uses venues comparable to DGCAC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/downinggross
• Facebookfacebook.com/DowningGross
• Instagraminstagram.com/downinggross
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/downing-gross-cultural-arts-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center