Home Is Where The Arts Are
CAAPA Opens Doors At New Fort Washington Location In Henson Valley Church
By Raoul Dennis
The Coalition for African Americans in the Arts opened the CAAPA Cultural Center at the Henson Valley Christian Church in Fort Washington December 9.
The CAAPA Cultural Center (CCC) will continue to present concerts and recitals, as well as housing the CAAPA Arts Academy (CAA) a free-of-charge Saturday arts program for youth, ages 5 to 18 in areas of music (instrumental and voice), dance, visual art, opera, and theater arts.
In addition, the space includes four meeting rooms, an auditorium, kitchen, restroom facilities, three pianos, a large welcoming lobby/gathering space, and an outdoor space. It will hold auditions, rehearsals, and workshops including theater technology, backstage, and career development for youth.
“This has been a longstanding vision for the creation of the center that can be shared and enjoyed by everyone in our community”, stated CAAPA Co-Founder Pamela T. Simonson..
The ribbon cutting ceremony included remarks by Henson Valley Christian Church’s Rev. Charles Lucas, Prince George’s County Councilmember Sydney Harrison, Diana Leon Brown of the Prince George’s County Office of the County Executive, and CAAPA’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Reggie Van Lee. (see interviews in video above, right)
Simonson and CAAPA Executive Director Terri Allen led the festive event attended buy some 50 guests and arts community VIPs. The event was hosted by Mistress of Ceremonies Kathi Muhammad. Ronald Walton performed Inpromptu No. 3 in G-Flat Major, Op 90, D899 by Franz Schubert.
