About Us
The Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center is a multi-purpose cultural space in the southeast community of Newport News, VA. The building is owned and operated by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Newport News.
The center houses several event spaces and large/small group gathering rooms available for event rental. The core of the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center is the Ella Fitzgerald Theater, a 276-seat venue named for the “first lady of song.” Other event spaces in the building include the Anderson Johnson Gallery, the Newport News Community Gallery, the L. Marian Poe Meeting Room, the banquet room, and the Charles C. Allen Execute Board Room.
While the building primarily functions as an event venue, several exhibits are open during normal business hours. Our permanent exhibit, the Anderson Johnson Gallery, provides a vignette into the life of a legendary folk artist whose work had an impact on the residents of Newport News. The Newport News Community Gallery is a rotating exhibit, featuring various local and national visual artists.
The facility also holds instructional spaces on the third-floor, including the Thaddeus Hayes Dance Studio, an art studio, a music room, and other classroom studio spaces. These spaces hold various programs dedicated to continuing arts education in our community.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center is to provide high quality cultural arts activities that will:
Encourage innovation and partnerships among community and regional organizations;
Inspire the development of arts and life skills education;
Provide opportunities for performing and visual arts presentations;
Foster creative and diverse programming;
Be fiscally responsible;
Provide a venue that cherishes the City’s youth and is inviting to all;
thereby enhancing the quality of life in our community and throughout the entire city.