The Cedars Union (The CU) was founded in 2015 as an arts incubator dedicated to supporting visual artists and fostering a diverse and vibrant arts community. We provide artists with essential resources they need to thrive economically and build resilient small businesses utilizing their creative talent.
In 2018, the organization opened a proof-of-concept space, called The Annex in the Cedars neighborhood, a mixed-use community south of Downtown Dallas. This location was chosen because of the Cedars’ reputation and history as a home and workplace for artists and creatives central to downtown Dallas, Texas. The Annex is a 7,000 sq/ft space that includes modular artist studios, shared workspaces, computer labs, and a well-appointed woodshop and fabrication space.
Since the summer of 2018, the Annex has housed The Cedars Union’s signature incubator program, the Cohort Program. This low-residency style incubator program selects 15 to 18 emerging artists through a juried process to lease affordable micro-studios from The CU for 18-months. Through the program, artists see tremendous growth in a nurturing environment with meaningful peer-to-peer dialog, all while being able to remain in their home city and balance the realities of work and life.
In the Summer of 2019, The CU added the Community Member Program, allowing for a non-juried opportunity for individuals to receive 24/7 access to the shared workspaces, member programs, and exhibition opportunities available at The Annex. CU Community Membership has no juried barrier to entry, and any type of artist, creative, or maker may join at any time for a low monthly fee. In 2022, we also added a non-monetary Co-Op level of Community Membership, where artists receive full membership in exchange for a few hours of facility up-keep every month. This no-cost entry point to The CU allows us to remain in-tune with the needs of the city while keeping staff costs down so we can focus more on programs and new initiatives.
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. As much as art gives life to its patrons, it can provide for its creators.
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.
Dear Friends,
At The Cedars Union, tools are more than equipment — they’re catalysts for creativity, career growth, and bold new ideas. And you are the reason these tools end up in the hands of the artists who need them most.
Every artist member at The Cedars Union has access to our full suite of tools, software, and facilities — resources that can be life-changing for their practice. Thanks to the generosity of our community, in just the past 18 months we’ve added incredible new equipment: a RISO printer, printing press, lithography press, kiln, tufting gun, exposure unit, planer and jointer, an additional table saw with router, a Juki industrial sewing machine, and a Bambu 3D printer.
These aren’t just showpieces — they’re put to work. We hire local professionals to teach workshops so artists can confidently master the tools and incorporate them into their practices. Your gift ensures that these resources don’t sit idle but instead spark new bodies of work, exhibitions, and opportunities for our artists.
Of course, tools require care. We’re fortunate to have Matthew Bowdon, a mechanically minded industrial designer on staff, who repairs, upgrades, and keeps our equipment running in top shape (you can even watch him in action on our Shop Work YouTube shorts). But the costs of purchasing, maintaining, and upgrading these tools are real — and ongoing.
That’s where you come in.
When you give today, you’re not just funding equipment — you’re fueling the future of North Texas arts. You’re giving an artist the exact resource they need to bring their next idea to life.
Please make your gift now to invest in the tools for tomorrow — and the artists who will use them to shape our cultural landscape.
With gratitude,
The Cedars Union Staff & Board of Directors
THE CEDARS UNION'S EQUITY STATEMENT
The Cedars Union believes artists thrive in strong, diverse, and inclusive communities. Institutions such as The CU must be an integral part in breaking down barriers that have created these elitist environments in the arts ecosystem. We are committed to helping foster an equitable and inclusive community of artists that respects artists' creative expression, protect artist's rights, and inspire collaboration within the community and the arts, regardless of age, ethnicity, ancestry, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or any other status.
Questions, comments, or feedback? Please contact development@cedarsunion.org
View our current participation opportunities.
In-Person Event
Cyanotypes with Arthur Fields
The Cedars Union
September 13, 2025 - September 14, 2025
In-Person Event
Member Critique with Antonio Lechuga
The Cedars Union
September 20, 2025 - September 21, 2025
Organization name
The Cedars Union
Causes
Arts & Humanities
Operating Budget
$500,000 - $999,999
Counties Served
Dallas
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American
BIPOC Leadership
Board Chair
Address
1219 S. Ervay