ABOUT THE CEDARS UNION

Our Mission:

The mission of the Cedars Union is to provide resources such as studios, tools, programs, and pro-bono services for creatives, foster a collaborative and supportive artist community, and advance the arts in North Texas.

Our Vision:

North Texas is a vibrant international art community where art is celebrated and artists thrive.

Our Values:

Inspire collaboration between the community and the arts; be inclusive and diverse; uphold the highest standards; respect artists’ creative expression and protect their rights.

The Cedars Union is a W.A.G.E. certified organization. W.A.G.E., Working Artist and the Greater Economy, creates minimum wage standards for creative work with a mission to establish sustainable economic relationships between artists and the institutions that contract our labor, and to introduce mechanisms for self-regulation into the art field that collectively bring about a more equitable distribution of its economy. Being certified by W.A.G.E. is a promise from The Cedars Union to abide by their payment standards for artists we hire. We see this promise as an essential part of our larger Opportunity and Belonging Initiative, and our value to protect artists' rights. To view the rest of the plan for our Opportunity and Belonging Initiative, click HERE

Why We Exist:

Dallas is bursting with artistic potential, but too often, when we talk about the “arts,” we mean institutions. Not the artists themselves.

At The Cedars Union, we exist to change that.

Our city has invested generously in museums, major public programming, and formal arts education. But working artists, the people who create the culture we celebrate, are being left behind. Many of Dallas’ most promising creatives still feel they have to leave town to build sustainable careers. We’re exporting our talent and importing finished work to fill our walls.

That’s why The Cedars Union was created: to give emerging artists what they actually need to stay and thrive here.

Founded by artists who experienced this gap firsthand, The CU is a nonprofit arts incubator that supports local creatives not just as artists, but as entrepreneurs, educators, and community leaders. We believe artists are essential to the city’s future—and we’re building the infrastructure to make Dallas a place where they can put down roots.

What We Do:

At our 7,000 sq. ft. pilot facility, The Annex, we offer the full bundle of resources artists need to turn talent into livelihood.

Studio Artist Incubator

Our 18-month flagship program is designed for artists at a pivotal moment in their careers. Juried by local leaders, this competitive incubator provides private studio space, business and legal training, mentorship, and access to tools, supporting each artist as they level up their creative practice and professional goals.

Community Membership

Artists at any stage of their journey can join as Community Members, gaining flexible access to shared tools, classroom spaces, and programs: from how to form an LLC to how to price and protect their work. Membership is subsidized to ensure accessibility.

A Thriving Ecosystem

We don’t just give artists space and tools, we surround them with a collaborative, cross-disciplinary community and connect them with collectors, curators, and opportunities. Our alumni are showing at Meow Wolf, getting picked up by the DMA, and winning major public commissions. They’re building real careers, and staying in Dallas to do it.

Art in Progress

Most people only encounter art when it’s complete - hanging on a white wall. At The CU, we invite the public behind the scenes. Visitors experience art as it’s being made, connect with the artists who make it, and learn what it takes to create and collect. This transparency fosters deeper appreciation, stronger community, and a more inclusive creative economy.

Where We’re Headed:

We’ve proven the model. Now it’s time to grow.

The 43,000 sq. ft. historic Boedeker Building, just steps from the Annex, has been generously promised as a gift to The Cedars Union. Once renovated, it will become a permanent, purpose-built hub for artists in the heart of Dallas, a space to anchor our creative community for decades to come.

We’re in the very early stages of capital planning for the Boedeker’s transformation. In the meantime, the building is already in use for storage, tool access, large-scale art fabrication, exhibitions, and events. We’re seeding the future as we plan for it.

And while the need for space is urgent, the demand from artists already far exceeds our capacity, our growth is intentional. Guided by a bold new strategic plan, we’re investing in our team, our board, and the long-term sustainability of our model.

Support from visionary funders like the Eugene McDermott Foundation is helping carry us forward. Now, we’re looking for others ready to join them.

Meet the Team

Emma Vernon

Executive Director

Matthew Bowdon

Creative Director and Co-Founder

Danielle Naylor

Director of Operations

Cat RIGDON

Manager of Development & Marketing

Photograph of Taylor, staff member of The Cedars Union

taylor gibson

Programs Manager

Board of Directors:

Our Board of Directors provides support and guidance for the collaborative community and ensures the needs of the artists are met by upholding the standards and principles the non-profit was founded on. We are currently looking to expand the focus and directive of the board and are actively recruiting qualified members.

Caroline Kim
President

Andrea Perez
Vice President

Kristina Hart
Secretary

Jennifer Luney
Treasurer

Jessica Bell
Member

Kenneth Bowdon
Member

Megan Bowdon
Member

Arthur Fields
Member

Anne Lenhart
Member

Lynett Rogers
Member

Mike Geisler
Member

Cedars Union Partners

Frequently Asked Questions

Good question! We work towards answering that for ourselves every day. At our formation The Cedars Union used business incubators as a model for the arts -- centers where entrepreneurs would receive counsel and investment in new ventures. The Cedars Union version is best seen in our Cohort model, where fifteen artists spend eighteen months in our studios receiving increased exposure, community, and tool access as well as guidance in art business, project design, grant applications, and more. How much one gets out of the incubator is largely dependent on the artist as we have no requirements for participation, but when taken advantage of, artists at The Cedars Union experience impressive growth in their artwork, network and professional practice.

Visit our Join Page for information and applications.

Artists can join the Cedars Union in two ways: by being accepted into our Cohort program with a private studio, or by becoming a Community Member.

Community Members require no formal application and can join any time, paying $80/month for six months or $100/month for a single month. They receive RFID Keycards with 24/7 access to shared workspaces and tools and are invited to attend all member critiques, demos and workshops. Those in the Cohort program are accepted through a juried process and receive a private microstudio for eighteen months. They too receive training via critiques, demos, and workshops but also get a curated group show and benefit from exposure through studio tours, open studios, and studio visits from local art professionals.

Visit our Join Page for information and applications.

Towards the end of the current Cohort, The Cedars Union opens applications for the next, asking for art images or files, a written statement of intent or a short video. While applying artists state preference for a studio size. After the deadline The Cedars Union’s jurors (none of which are on staff) review applications and assign each one with a numerical value. The jurors rank artists based on the merit of the work and application, need for community, and capacity to grow within the incubator process. All of the scores are tabulated together, giving us the top applicants. The Cedars Union is currently on its fourth Cohort. Cohort 4 will run from July 5th, 2023 through January 3rd, 2025. Applications for Cohort 5 will open in October of 2024. Stay Tuned! All practitioners are welcome and encouraged to apply.

Monthly Members are not approved through the jury process; only artists seeking to become a CU Studio Artist.

Absolutely. We have public programs that range from talks with gallerists and artists, hands-on workshops, private lessons, and community events. Many of our lectures focus on entrepreneurship in the arts, offering much needed education on topics like copyright, taxes, marketing, and grant writing. Please join our mailing list and follow us on social media to stay up to date with upcoming events. Sign up Now

Micro-studios are open-format spaces for working artists. They were designed by our founders with use and function in mind. Each studio is built without doors and features custom walls with varying heights based on the size of the studio.

Their design reinforces the communal focus of our space — each space has open sight lines across the entire studio floor to encourage communication and critique while still providing privacy and security. The walls create a grid-based modular system which allow artists to customize the arrangement and height of both their working surfaces and storage to suit their needs.