Durham Creative Arts Community

Mission

DCAC’s mission is to empower and connect the diverse creative community of Durham Region by providing accessible art spaces, resources, and programs that foster individual and collective artistic growth. Through both for-profit and nonprofit initiatives, DCAC aims to support sustainable creativity and social engagement, ensuring all artists and community members feel valued and included.

Vision

To become the foremost creative hub in Durham Region, where artists, students, and organizations collaborate, create, and grow. Over the next 5-10 years, DCAC envisions a community deeply connected through the arts, enriched by inclusive spaces, innovative programs, and a shared commitment to cultural and environmental sustainability.

Core Values

Collaboration: We believe in the power of working together to foster connection, creativity, and mutual growth among artists, organizations, and the broader community.

Accessibility: DCAC is committed to making spaces and services affordable, inclusive, and flexible, ensuring equal opportunity for creatives of all backgrounds and abilities.

Creativity: We support artistic expression in all its forms, encouraging exploration, innovation, and artistic risk-taking.

Sustainability: Our operations and programs are grounded in eco-friendly practices, aligning with our values of environmental responsibility.

Community: DCAC invests in building a vibrant, inclusive community that celebrates diversity and fosters support, connection, and shared achievement.

DCAC is a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to enriching Durham Region by providing accessible, sustainable, and community-oriented spaces for artists, creative professionals, and community organizations.

DCAC operates through a dual-entity model comprising:

DCACentre (For-Profit): A creative hub providing affordable workspaces, professional-grade equipment, and tools for local artists, freelancers, and organizations. Revenue generated by DCACentre sustains its operations and contributes to funding DCACommunity’s nonprofit initiatives.

DCACommunity (Nonprofit): A nonprofit organization that offers arts programming, educational opportunities, and community engagement activities to ensure equitable access to art. DCACommunity is focused on inclusivity, promoting underrepresented voices, and removing barriers to artistic expression in Durham Region.