Multiple artists and arts advocates told the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities on Aug. 18 that CulturalDC’s recent sale of Source Theatre breached the group’s mission and charter and urged the commission to investigate. Amber Gibson, an artist and producer in the D.C. theater community, asked the commission to “do a full audit of Cultural DC's financial statements and whether they should still be granted nonprofit status.”

The request was echoed by other public commenters who said Constellation Theatre, a longtime tenant of Source Theatre, made multiple offers — including a final $4,100,000 bid — that were not accepted. For the record, Luke Turbel, an actor, director and educator who has frequently worked at Constellation, described the company’s artistic track record and said CulturalDC "ignored" Constellation’s offers. Heather Bagnall, a performing artist and a member of the Maryland General Assembly, called CulturalDC’s action “a huge betrayal of the arts community, their tenants, their supporters, and their funders.”

Speakers said Source Theatre has served the U Street corridor and communities in Ward 1 for decades and that Constellation’s offers were mission-aligned. Amber Gibson told the commission that CulturalDC’s publicly posted charter and values — including “equity, inclusivity, transparency” — are in tension with the sale of the theater to a restaurant group and the organization’s reported lack of a recent independent audit. Gibson said CulturalDC’s 990 filing did not show an independent audit of its most recent financial statements.

Commissioners acknowledged the speakers and said the issue was “on our radar screen.” Executive Director Gary Myers said only that the commission would “play the appropriate role in engaging in the issue” but did not announce a formal investigation or vote during the meeting.

Discussion-only items raised by speakers included requests that the commission try to stop the sale, insist on a forensic or financial audit of CulturalDC, and examine whether the sale violates CulturalDC’s stated mission. No formal motion, vote, or directive to staff was recorded in the public meeting minutes during this session.

The public comments took place during the meeting’s public-comment period; commissioners and staff indicated they had received the remarks and would follow up as appropriate.