ABOUT CEDARS UNION
In 2015 The Cedars Union was formed to create community work space and training opportunities for artists, featuring private and shared studio spaces with state-of-the-art facilities and tools. The Boedeker, a historic 50,000 square foot building, was purchased for the project, but due to its large scale, a proof-of-concept model was built in the space next door. This test space, the Annex, opened in August 2018 and began fulfilling the CU mission of providing tools and studio space for 15 studios artists, along with public programming. In 2019, The CU expanded its offerings by creating a Community Membership to serve artists unable to obtain a private workspace in the Annex. We will welcome a second cohort of studio artists into the Annex in Spring 2020, and our list of Community Members is ever-growing.
We are continually working towards an expansion in the Boedeker and are both eager and patient to announce more information on this project. Today the building houses our administrative offices and is used for special events and pop-up exhibitions.
The 7,000 sq. ft. building hosts micro-studios, a common work space, tools, equipment, and classrooms for all members. Artists of all mediums work side by side in the custom studios, creating a collaborative and supportive community.
The CU has a comprehensive approach to helping emerging artists become financially successful. We have a team of experienced professionals with skills that are unique to this concept of arts, entrepreneurship, and business. Our programs equip emerging creatives with the business skills and acumen to thrive as working artists.
North Texas is a vibrant international art community where art is celebrated and artists thrive.
As much as art gives life to its patrons, it can provide for its creators.
Inspire collaboration between the community and the arts; be inclusive and diverse; uphold the highest standards; respect artists’ creative expression and protect their rights.
ABOUT CEDARS UNION
Our Story:
In 2015 The Cedars Union was formed to create community work space and training opportunities for artists, featuring private and shared studio spaces with state-of-the-art facilities and tools. The Boedeker, a historic 50,000 square foot building, was purchased for the project, but due to its large scale, a proof-of-concept model was built in the space next door. This test space, the Annex, opened in August 2018 and began fulfilling the CU mission of providing tools and studio space for 15 studios artists, along with public programming. In 2019, The CU expanded its offerings by creating a Community Membership to serve artists unable to obtain a private workspace in the Annex. We will welcome a second cohort of studio artists into the Annex in Spring 2020, and our list of Community Members is ever-growing.
We are continually working towards an expansion in the Boedeker and are both eager and patient to announce more information on this project. Today the building houses our administrative offices and is used for special events and pop-up exhibitions.
About the Annex:
The 7,000 sq. ft. building hosts micro-studios, a common work space, tools, equipment, and classrooms for all members. Artists of all mediums work side by side in the custom studios, creating a collaborative and supportive community.
The CU has a comprehensive approach to helping emerging artists become financially successful. We have a team of experienced professionals with skills that are unique to this concept of arts, entrepreneurship, and business. Our programs equip emerging creatives with the business skills and acumen to thrive as working artists.
North Texas is a vibrant international art community where art is celebrated and artists thrive.
As much as art gives life to its patrons, it can provide for its creators.
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 art community often lacks cohesion and a collective vision. Many artists are never able to be integrated and admired in the broader community. We seek to cultivate, integrate, and proliferate the work of artists of every background and style.
Meet the Team
Matthew Bowdon
Rachel Stanfield
Adrienne Lichliter-Hines
Betsy Lewis
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.
Dr. Diane Durant
Member
Harley Cozewith
Member
Jeffrey Sone
Member
Michael Heinlen
Chairman, Governance Committee
Kenneth Bowdon
Chairman
Megan Bowdon
Secretary
The Cedars Union selects Studio Artists through a juried process. The Jury is comprised of five diverse jurors from the local creative community who are dedicated to building a thriving collaborative environment. Applications are reviewed in batches based on micro-studio vacancies and availabilities.
Lauren Cross
Juror
Rachel Rogerson
Juror
Jordan Roth
Juror
Sarah Blagden
Juror
Leslie Moody Castro
Juror
Ruben Nieto
Juror
Frequently Asked Questions
Artist Questions
The Jury is comprised of six diverse jurors from the local creative community who are dedicated to building a thriving collaborative environment. Applications are reviewed in batches based on micro-studio vacancies and availabilities.
Monthly Members are not approved through the jury process; only artists seeking to become a CU Studio Artist.
The entrance for Studio Artists and Monthly Members is through the back gate behind the Annex building. A key card is required for all entries and exits. The front door is only open during public operating hours.
While we are not a public exhibition space, all CU artists can use the Gallery Hall. The space is set up as a showroom and can only be accessed during public operating hours, events, and programming. In preparation for specific events or tours, there will be times the staff will ask and/or encourage CU artists to display their work outside of their studios instead.
The monthly membership has two tiers. Both membership levels include the use of the tools, equipment, and shared common spaces at The CU. For more information, visit the Join page.
No, we do not allow sublets.
Group projects are encouraged but all individuals working with CU equipment or tools must be either a Studio Artist or a Monthly Member.
Guests/non-members may work with CU artists in the meeting space or common areas.
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.
No, The Cedars Union is a space for artists to create and cultivate their art, not to sleep or be used as living quarters.
Space Questions
The Cedars Union has on-site parking located on the side of the building. Additional parking is located behind the red building next door, which can be accessed through the main lot.
Street parking in front of the building on Ervay Street is also permitted.
The CU has several areas where art or materials can be stored for up to 48 hours. Note: These are not permanent storage spaces. Anything stored in common spaces or lockers must be labeled with your name, email, and phone number. Lockers are available to Monthly Members or those without a studio space.
Operational Questions
Many CU programs are open to the public. CU workshops are only for Monthly and Studio Artist Members as they are generally hands-on and designed for smaller groups who have taken the CU Shop Safety Class.
For further information on specific programs, events or workshops, please refer to the Programs and Events page on the website.
The public operating hours for The Cedars Union are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The Artist Members, which include Studio Artists and Monthly Members, have 24/7 access to the Annex facility.
Yes, the Cedars Union is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. If you’d like to support The Cedars Union and the community of artists focused on building and enhancing their creative careers, visit our Support page to learn more about our Donation Memberships.
No, we do not. Our focus is to equip emerging creatives with the business skills and acumen to thrive as working artists. We celebrate the successes and achievements of each CU artist and are there to help further their careers as creators.
Tours are every Friday at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. They are open to the public, but require a reservation in advance. Contact us at info@cedarsunion.org to reserve your place.
The CU has rental rates for two of our common areas – the Meeting Room and Fabrication Lab. The staff approves the use of the rental areas, which are dependent on date, capacity, and whether the mission of the organization requesting the space aligns with The CU.
The maximum capacity of the rental area is 40 people.